Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship

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Program Overview

We are pleased to offer an ACGME-accredited one-year clinical fellowship in Pediatric Anesthesiology. The fellowship provides outstanding clinical experience in all aspects of pediatric anesthesiology, including neonatal, cardiac, craniofacial, neurosurgical, ophthalmic, head and neck, and outpatient anesthesia, plus pediatric pain management and critical care. The program is designed to navigate trainees through increasing levels of experience and responsibility, and prepare them for board certification in pediatric anesthesiology and careers as consultants in pediatric anesthesiology. The Fellowship Program Director is Wendy Ren, MD, FAAP, and the Associate Program Director is Michelle Harvey, MD.

Training takes place within the UCLA Health System, a tertiary/quaternary care academic referral center comprised of four hospitals: Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (RRUMC), UCLA Medical Center at Santa Monica, Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital at UCLA, and the Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA.

The Mattel Children's Hospital, named among the top pediatric medical centers in the United States by U.S. News & World Report, provides a full spectrum of healthcare to neonates, infants, and children in all subspecialties. It is integrated with the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center (RRUMC), one of the most technologically sophisticated hospitals in the world and a Level I trauma center. RRUMC has been voted one of the top five hospitals in the country and #1 hospital in the West for more than 20 consecutive years by U.S. News & World Report.

Our training environment offers a truly unique experience for the practice of pediatric anesthesia in the context of an integrated adult hospital. Due to UCLA’s wide catchment area, our fellows benefit from diverse patient populations and challenging cases, including transplantation, congenital cardiac, major craniofacial, and neurosurgical procedures. Care sites include the operating rooms and remote locations at RRUMC, UCLA Medical Center at Santa Monica, our Ambulatory Surgery Centers in Westwood and Santa Monica, and the Jules Stein Eye Institute.

For additional information about the fellowship, please contact our Fellowship Coordinator, Lucine Torosian, either by phone at (310) 267-8653 or via email at [email protected].

Thank you for your interest.

Wendy Ren, MD, FAAP
Director, Fellowship Program
Clinical Professor, Pediatric Anesthesiology

Faculty

Ihab A. Ayad, MD

Clinical Professor

Assistant Chief, Pediatric Anesthesiology

[email protected]

Fellowship: Pediatric Anesthesia, Children's Hospital Boston

Residency: Anesthesiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Surgery, USC University Hospital

Internship: Surgery, USC University Hospital

Medical School: MD, Cairo University Hospital

Reza M. Borna, MD

Assistant Clinical Professor

Pediatric Anesthesiology

[email protected]

Fellowship: Pediatric Anesthesiology, Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC

Residency: Anesthesiology, John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County

Internship: General Surgery, Union Memorial Hospital

Medical School: MD, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Judith E. Brill, MD

Professor of Clinical Pediatrics and Anesthesiology, Pediatric Critical Care

[email protected]

Residency: Anesthesiology, Massachusetts General Hospital

Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Boston

Internship: Pediatrics, Children's Hospital Boston

Medical School: MD, Harvard Medical School

John T. Chalabi, MD

Associate Clinical Professor, Pediatric Anesthesiology

Medical Director, Santa Monica-UCLA Medical Center Surgery Center

[email protected]

Fellowship: Pediatric Anesthesiology, Loma Linda University Medical Center

Residency: Anesthesiology, University of Chicago Hospitals

Internship: Surgery, University of Chicago Hospitals

Medical School: MD, Kermanshah University of Medical Science

Michelle L. Harvey, MD

Assistant Clinical Professor

Assistant Medical Director, Westwood Ambulatory Surgery Center

Associate Director, Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship Program

[email protected]

Fellowship: Pediatric Anesthesiology, Children's Hospital Los Angeles

Residency: David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Medical School: MD, Pritzker School of Medicine at the University of Chicago

Diana H. Hekmat, MD

Assistant Clinical Professor, Pediatric Anesthesology

Director, Visiting Professor Program

[email protected]

Fellowship: UCLA School of Medicine

Residency: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Medical School: MD, Albert Einstein College of Medicine/Yeshiva University

Marc Iravani, MD

Clinical Professor, Pediatric Anesthesiology

[email protected]

Fellowship: Pediatric Anesthesia, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center

Surgery/General & Vascular, Stanford University School of Medicine

Residency: Anesthesiology, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center

General Surgery, Stanford University School of Medicine

Internship: Transitional Internship, Santa Clara Valley Medical Center

Medical School: MD, Medical College of Wisconsin

Mary A. Keyes, MD

Clinical Professor, Ophthalmologic Anesthesiology

Medical Director, Wasserman Eye Institute OR Suite

[email protected]

Fellowship: Obstetric Anesthesia, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University

Residency: Anesthesiology, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University

Internship: Internal Medicine, St. Joseph Health Centers and Hospital

Medical School: MD, University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago

Lorraine N. Lubin, MD

Clinical Professor, Pediatric Critical Care

Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology

[email protected]

Fellowship: Pediatric Critical Care, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Residency: Anesthesiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Internship: Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Medical School: MD, University of Michigan

Jure Marijic, MD

Clinical Professor, Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology

Director, Pediatric Cardiac Fellowship Program

[email protected]

Fellowship: Cardiac Anesthesiology,Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals

Cadiovascular Physiology and Pharmacology,Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals

Residency: Anesthesiology,Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals

Internship: Internal Medicine,University Hospital Zagreb Salata

Medical School: MD,University of Zagreb

Swati N. Patel, MD

Clinical Professor

Chief, Pediatric Anesthesiology

Associate Vice Chair of Clinical Services

Medical Director, Ronald Reagan Medical Center Operating Rooms

[email protected]

Fellowship: Pediatric Anesthesiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center

Residency: Anesthesiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Internship: Rotating (Internship), Santa Clara Valley Medical Center

Medical School: MD, Thomas Jefferson University Jefferson Med. College

Wendy H.P. Ren, MD, FAAP

Clinical Professor, Pediatric Anesthesiology

Program Director, Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship Program

[email protected]

Fellowship: David Geffen School of Medicine (Pediatric Anesthesiology)

Residency: Anesthesiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Internship: Pediatrics, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Medical School: MD, Mount Sinai School of Medicine

Johanna Schwarzenberger, MD

Clinical Professor, Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiology

[email protected]

Fellowship: Cardiac Anesthesiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York, New York

Residency: Anesthesiology, Oregon Health Sciences, Portland, Oregon (CA-1) Anesthesiology, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University, New York (CA-2/CA-3)

Internship: Internal Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital and Medical Center, Portland, Oregon

Michael J. Sopher, MD

Clinical Professor, Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology

Vice Chair for Clinical Affairs

Anesthesiology Clinical Director

[email protected]

Fellowship: Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Residency: Anesthesiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Internship: Rotating (Internship), Harbor - UCLA Medical Center

Medical School: MD, UC San Francisco School of Medicine

Joel Stockman, MD

Associate Clinical Professor, Pediatric Anesthesiology

Medical Director, Perioperative Services, UCLA Medical Center, Santa Monica

Director, UCLA Pediatric Acute Pain Management

[email protected]

Fellowship: Pediatric Anesthesiology, Children's Memorial Medical Center

Residency: Anesthesiology, McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern University

Internship: Transitional, Cedar Rapids Medical Foundation

Medical School: MD, University of Iowa College of Medicine

Shirley H. Tang, MD, MS

Assistant Clinical Professor

[email protected]

Fellowship: Pediatric Anesthesiology, UCLA Department of Pediatric Anesthesiology

Residency: Anesthesiology, UCLA School of Medicine

Internship: Anesthesiology, UCLA School of Medicine

Medical School: MD, University of Arizona Medical Center

MS, Stanford University School of Medicine

Christine T. Trieu, MD

Assistant Clinical Professor

[email protected]

Fellowship: Pediatric Anesthesiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Residency: Anesthesiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Medical School: David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Barbara M. VanDeWiele, MD

Clinical Professor

Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs

[email protected]

Fellowship: Pediatric Anesthesiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Anesthesiology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons (Research)

Residency: Anesthesiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Internship: Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Medical School: MD, Columbia University College of Physicians,Surgeons

Tiffany M. Williams, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor in Residence

[email protected]

Fellowship: Cardiac Anesthesiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Residency: Anesthesiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Internship: Surgery, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Medical School: MD, Baylor College of Medicine

Theodora E. Wingert, MD

Assistant Clinical Professor

Anesthesiology & Perioperative Medicine

[email protected]

Fellowship: Pediatric Anesthesiology, UCLA School of Medicine

Residency: Anesthesiology, UCLA School of Medicine

Medical School: MD, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA

Clinical Experience

Required clinical rotations during the fellowship year consist of at least six months of general pediatric anesthesia (general, urologic, orthopedic, otolaryngologic, ophthalmologic, craniofacial, thoracic, neurosurgical, offsite), two months of cardiac anesthesia including pediatric cardiac catheterization lab experience, one month of pediatric pain management, two weeks of neonatal ICU, and two weeks of pediatric ICU. Four weeks of paid vacation time, as well as conference time with an expectation of attendance and presentation at the Society of Pediatric Anesthesia winter meeting are also included. One month of elective clinical anesthesia experience or research time is available subject to an approved research project.

Sample Rotation Schedule

My Mission to India

When Dr. Swati Patel, our department pediatric chief, approached me to join her on a mission to India with Medical Missions for Children (www.mmfc.org), I literally jumped at the opportunity. During my last year of residency at UCLA, I had the opportunity to travel to Arequipa, Peru with the Hearts with Hope Organization (www.heartswithhope.org) on a two-week mission. - by Christine Trieu, MD

More information about clinical research in the Department of Anesthesiology

Curriculum

Our faculty is committed to the continued excellence and improvement of our teaching program. Along with daily perioperative teaching including case-related discussions on preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative management, our didactics include the following:

Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellowship Lecture Series
weekly Monday afternoon faculty-led lectures on core topics in pediatric anesthesiology. Our multidisciplinary lecture series includes relevant didactics by invited expert speakers from other pediatric specialties.
Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellows' Journal Club
quarterly fellow-led journal club on recently published relevant article(s) within pediatric anesthesiology
Pediatric Anesthesiology Fellow Lecture
semiannual fellow lecture, allowing in-depth study of a topic of their choice
Congenital Heart Disease Seminar Series
faculty-led lecture series on congenital heart disease pathophysiology and management
Research Lecture Series
faculty-led lecture series on the fundamentals of research design and conduct, and the interpretation and presentation of data
Department of Anesthesiology Grand Rounds
weekly Wednesday morning departmental conference with CME credit available

Fellows are also encouraged to take advantage of the numerous available conferences and didactics outside of the Department, including but not limited to:

Pediatric Cardiology Case Conference
multidisciplinary weekly Wednesday morning case conference attended by specialists including pediatric cardiology, cardiac surgery and cardiac anesthesia
Pediatric Surgery Case Conference
multidisciplinary weekly Tuesday afternoon case conference

Sample Didactic Schedule

2021 - 2022 Fellow Profiles

Jean Vo, MD

Hometown: Montreal, Quebec/Cupertino, California
Undergraduate: UCLA, BS Neuroscience
Medical School: Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine
Residency: Anesthesiology, University of Southern California/LAC+USC Medical Center
Why I chose UCLA: I'm a strong believer in having a proper and healthy environment to learn. I chose UCLA because of their enthusiasm in fellow education, the myriad of complexity in cases, and the resources for career advancement. I felt that UCLA would provide me with all those things on top of being part of an amazing pediatric anesthesia family. I wanted to come to a program with faculty who were as excited (if not more) than I was to come into work. It was an easy pick, as I have heard strong impressions from previous alumni who also had a great work-life balance.

Dr. Jean Vo emigrated to the US from Montreal when he was 11 years old and spoke French as his first language. He is a culinary enthusiast and enjoys learning about culinary arts and various food cultures. Dr. Vo’s interests also include sport and fitness events (including golf, football, basketball, and nature explorations).

Elizabeth Kremen, MBBS

Hometown: San Francisco, CA
Undergraduate: UCB, BA Physics and English
Medical School: University of Queensland School of Medicine
Residency: Anesthesiology, Illinois Advocate Masonic Medical Center
Why I chose UCLA: I loved how friendly and team-oriented everyone was and appreciated the focus on providing the best multidisciplinary care to our pediatric patients.

Dr. Elizabeth Kremen loves exploring, near and abroad, and has visited over 30 countries. She enjoys finding new restaurants and local cultural events. She appreciates the outdoors and has hiked the Salkantay Trail in Peru and backpacked the Routeburn Track in New Zealand.