Research Training

Fellows participate in a variety of seminars and didactics in research design, methods, and analysis, offered through the hospital for all pediatric fellows, the Section for DBP fellows, and through the Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) program. A research mentor is chosen or selected for each fellow, based on his or her area of interest. Each fellow is supported to develop and implement a scholarly project, with opportunities for additional funding for projects from the hospital or the university-based Colorado Clinical & Translational Sciences Institute. Collaborations are possible with researchers from other Sections and Departments within Children’s Colorado and the CU SOM. We are one of 14 Autism Treatment Networks (ATN) in the country, with a number of active research studies in which fellows may also participate.

Faculty Research Interests:

• Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Fragile X
• XY Chromosome Disorders
• Down syndrome
• Children with Special Health Care Needs
• Palliative Care
• Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia

Fellowship Education

Fellows are provided with a core curriculum of didactic lectures and seminars, as well as clinical conferences. In addition, considerable importance is given to the development of individual learning and scholarship. In addition to a research mentor, each fellow is assigned an advisor to support the learning of core material. Reading assignments and close clinical supervision are integral to the educational program. The fellows also develop teaching skills, through didactics and feedback from faculty. Professional development is provided through use of teaching portfolios and individual learning plans.

Teaching Conferences

The following conferences are an integral component of our program:

1. DBP Seminar Series
2. Journal Club
3. Clinical Conferences
4. LEND seminar series : Key concepts; ASD curriculum; Research practicum; Teaching, Consultation, and Leadership Dialogues
5. Works-in-Progress Research Conference
6. Child Neurology Seminars
7. Biostatistics
8. Departmental Fellowship Education Series
9. Pediatric Grand Rounds

Additional Learning Opportunities:

Subspecialty Excellence in Educational Leadership & Scholarship (SEELS) Program :

• The University of Colorado Department of Pediatrics is proud to offer the Subspecialty Excellence in Educational Leadership & Scholarship (SEELS) Program for subspecialty pediatric fellows committed to an academic career in medical education.
• The SEELS program guides fellows through an 18-month program that provides research mentorship, coaching, and instruction.
• The overall  goal of SEELS is to equip these fellows with the necessary knowledge/skills/attitudes for success as future medical educators through educational scholarship and professional identity development, faculty and peer mentorship, and engaging in an educational community of practice.

Pediatric Fellowship Educational Series

This educational series has been developed by the Committee on Fellowship Education to address areas  of scholarly interest common to all pediatric fellows. Nearly 100 sub-specialized physicians in training will attend 5-6 half-day seminars spread across their 3 years of fellowship.

• Attendance is mandatory and the trainee is excused from clinical responsibilities.
• In addition to providing core educational material, these sessions allow trainees in different disciplines and throughout the department to meet and interact with one another in an informal and collegial environment.
• Occurs several times per year throughout fellowship with fellows of different subspecialties

Pediatric Biostatistics for Clinicians Course:

This course is primarily intended for 2nd and 3rd year Department of Pediatrics fellows as part of the comprehensive fellowship educational program. Designed to help fellows to develop an ability to be a critical consumer of the literature and develop familiarity with many commonly used statistical methods.

• This course comprises for six  2-hour sessions
• Designed for second year fellows, but any fellow or resident an register for the course.
  

Advanced Degrees Available at CU:

Masters of Public Health

Masters of Science in Clinical Science

The Application Process

1. Applicants must register through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).
2. Submit application materials through the Electronic Residency Applications Service (ERAS). (https://www.aamc.org/students/medstudents/eras/). ERAS will being taking applications starting July 1, 2021.

ERAS Application Timeline

NRMP Fall Match Timeline

Our pediatric fellowships will be conducting virtual interviews for this upcoming interview season.  We look forward to sharing our programs with you and getting to know more about you.  Our planned virtual interview dates are forthcoming.

If you have questions about the online application and interview process feel free to reach out to our program coordinator.

The NRMP Match day for Fall Medical Specialties is December 4th, therefore, completed applications and letters of recommendation must be received by September 31st. Interviews will be completed by November 28th. Only candidates with US citizenship will be considered.

*International candidates may not apply at this time.

Entry into the fellowship program is typically at the PL-4 level (fourth year post-M.D.) or later. Fellows receive a concurrent appointment of Clinical Fellow at The University of Colorado School of Medicine as they participate in the teaching of medical students.

Applications and inquiries from physicians seeking training elsewhere are always welcome. The Section is particularly interested in applications from highly qualified minority pediatricians. A visit to the Section and its programs will usually provide a comprehensive picture of the Section’s activities, clinical programs and an opportunity to meet with current faculty.

For additional questions or inquiry, please contact:

Department of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics

Program Coordinator Kimberly Mondragon
Children's Hospital Colorado
13123 East 16th Avenue, B140
Aurora, Colorado 80045
Tel: 720-777-6870
E-mail: Kimberly.Mondragon@childrenscolorado.org

1st Year Fellows

Allison C. Mahon, MD

• Medical School: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
• Residency: University of Colorado Pediatric Residency
• Email: Allison.Mahon
• Research Interest:  TBD

2nd Year Fellows

Melissa Magallanes, MD, MS

• Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine
• Residency: Advocate Children's Hospital-Park Ridge
• Research Interest: Experiences in transition planning for adolescents from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds with Autism Spectrum Disorder and other developmental delays
• Email: Melissa.Magallanes

3rd Year Fellows

Karen Lee Garay, MD

• Medical School:  Foreign Medical School
• Residency:   Tulane School of Medicine Pediatric Residency
• Email:  Karen.Garay
• Research Interest: Exploring parental knowledge and sharing of sexual health and dating information with their autistic adolescents

3rd Year Fellow

Kristen Slaymaker, MD

• Medical School:  University of North Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
• Residency: Tulane Ochsner Pediatric Residency
• Email: Kristen.Slaymaker
• Research Interest: Developmental Characterization of Children in Foster Care