Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship
Program Overview
The Developmental-Behavioral Pediatric Training Program is sponsored by the University of Colorado School of Medicine Department of Pediatrics and Children's Hospital Colorado (Children's Colorado). This is a three-year fellowship program approved by the Pediatric Residency Review Committee of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The program is directed by Sandra Friedman, MD, and is based at the University of Colorado School of Medicine (CU SOM) and Children's Hospital Colorado, both of which opened entirely new facilities in 2007 on one large medical campus in Aurora, Colorado - Anschutz Medical Campus. Fellows are supervised by faculty within the Section of Neurodevelopmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, the Neuroscience Institute at Children’s Colorado, and the Department of Pediatrics at CU SOM.
Program Aims
- To prepare subspecialty pediatricians to provide patient-centered, comprehensive care of children and young patients with neurodevelopmental disabilities and associated behavioral problems and their families,with focus on promoting patient safety and quality improvement and developing excellent communication skills.
- To provide outstanding opportunities in basic science, translational,clinical, educational research and quality improvement methodology that prepare fellows for successful careers in academic pediatrics.
- To teach trainees strategies to maintain wellness (of self and others), to build resilience, and to minimize burnout.
- To build and maintain an infrastructure to recruit diverse fellows and provide an inclusive learning environment that promotes and celebrates differences.
Program Requirements
To qualify for the program one must have completed core training in Pediatrics (three years). We pay particularly close attention to the commitment to scholarship, education, research, and clinical excellence, as well as to the letters of recommendation and career performance records. Trainees will be funded at the CU SOM Department of Pediatrics PL 4-6 salary levels, including an excellent benefits package. Annual vacation, educational and sick leave, health, life disability and malpractice insurance are included in the benefits package.
Overview
Our Training Program provides all of the clinical experience necessary to be eligible for certification by the Sub-Board in Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics. Clinical experiences are broad and emphasize comprehensive assessments and management of a wide range of developmental and behavioral disorders, based on evidence-based practice. All trainees participate fully in the structured activities of the program, including:
- Interdisciplinary developmental assessments
- Individual consultations and long-term management
- Community-based clinical experiences
- Core clinical curriculum
- Clinical conferences
Clinical Training occurs primarily at the Developmental Pediatrics Clinic. Fellows also work at other clinical programs within the hospital, as well as community-based training sites.
Training Site - Developmental Pediatrics Clinic
A tertiary referral center for children with developmental and behavioral disorders throughout the Eastern Rocky Mountain region.
- Approximately 1100 outpatient visits per year
- Age-based interdisciplinary assessment teams (infants through school age)
- Individual consultations
- Fragile X and eXtraordinarY Kids Programs
- Oral Feeding Clinic
- Medication management
- Early Start Denver Model of treatment for children with ASD
Training Site - Additional Hospital- and University-Based Services
- Special Care Clinic
- Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND Program)
- Kempe Center for Child Abuse and Neglect
- Neuropsychiatric Special Care program
- Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
- Down Syndrome Program
- Muscle Clinic
- Neurocutaneous syndrome programs
Training Site - Community-Based Sites
- Child care program
- Early Intervention program
- Schools
- Other community agencies
Research Training
Fellows participate in a variety 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:
- DBP Seminar Series
- Journal Club
- Clinical Conferences
- LEND seminar series : Key concepts; ASD curriculum; Research practicum; Teaching, Consultation, and Leadership Dialogues
- Works-in-Progress Research Conference
- Child Neurology Seminars
- Biostatistics
- Departmental Fellowship Education Series
- Pediatric Grand Rounds
The Application Process
- Applicants must register through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).
- 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
| Date | Activity |
| Monday, May 31, 2022 | ERAS 2021 season ends at 5 p.m. ET. |
| Wednesday, June 8, 2022 | ERAS 2022 season begins at 9 a.m. ET. |
| Thursday, June 9, 2022 | EFDO will release tokens to fellowship applicants. |
| Wednesday, July 6, 2022 | July cycle fellowship applicants may begin submitting applications to programs at 9 a.m. ET. |
| Wednesday, July 20, 2022 | July cycle fellowship programs may begin reviewing applications at 9 a.m. ET. |
| May 31, 2023 | ERAS 2022 season ends at 5 p.m. ET. |
NRMP Fall Match Timeline
| Dates | Activity |
| Wednesday, August 24, 2022 | Match Opens |
| Wednesday, September 28, 2022 | Ranking Opens |
| Wednesday, November 2, 2022 | Quota Change Deadline |
| Wednesday, November 16, 2022 | Rank Order List Certification Deadline |
| Wednesday, November 30, 2022 | MATCH DAY |
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 12th, therefore, completed applications and letters of recommendation must be received by September 26th. Interviews will be completed by November 29th. 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
Melissa Magallanes, MD, MS
- Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine
- Residency: Advocate Children's Hospital-Park Ridge
- Email: Melissa.Magallanes
2nd Year Fellows
Karen Lee Garay, MD
- Medical School: Foreign Medical School
- Residency: Tulane School of Medicine Pediatric Residency
- Email: Karen.Garay
3rd Year Fellow
Kristen Slaymaker, MD
- Medical School: University of North Texas College of Osteopathic Medicine
- Residency: Tulane Ochsner Pediatric Residency
- Email: Kristen.Slaymaker
| Diversity / Equity / Inclusion |
We are committed to creating a diverse environment for students, residents, fellows, and faculty. We believe that an environment of inclusiveness and respect promotes excellence and that a setting where diversity is valued leads to the training of physicians who are prepared to practice culturally effective medicine and meet the needs of the various populations we serve. Visit our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion webpage for more.... |
| Well-Being / Resilience |
By embracing wellness and improving personal resiliency, physicians can reconnect with the meaning of their work and fend off stress. Reducing or eliminating burnout also has practical implications for the entire department such as improving patient safety, student advancement, and the overall campus environment. |
