Child Abuse Pediatrics Fellowship Program

We appreciate your interest in the University of Minnesota's Child Abuse Pediatrics Fellowship Program and look forward to reviewing your application. Our program participates in the National Resident Match Program (NRMP) and will accept applications only through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Please contact the Program Director, Dr. Nancy Harper (nsharper@umn.edu), if you have any questions not answered here on the webpage.

Please Note:

• Applicants must have completed an ACGME-accredited residency program by the fellowship start date. 
• We accept only applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card holders), or those who have a J-1 Visa.
• 3 letters of recommendation are required, preferably to include one from the residency program director.

The University of Minnesota demonstrates a commitment to leveraging the transformative power of equity and diversity to advance excellence in teaching, learning and community engagement. Applications from individuals who self-identify as members of underrepresented groups are particularly welcome.

This page provides access to information on stipends and benefits for medical residents & fellows.

Additionally, each medical fellow receives:

• Funding of the ABP General Pediatrics Certifying Exam
• At least $1,500 for professional development
• At least $300 annually in education funds
• MN medical license, or MN residency permit if ineligible for a MN license
• AAP membership with subspecialty section membership

• Provide comprehensive evidence-based medical evaluations for all children suspected to be victims of child maltreatment
• Develop and maintain a standard of excellence in the clinical practice of child abuse pediatrics
• Develop a broad knowledge base in child abuse pediatrics
• Participate in the multidisciplinary team process for the investigation and management of child maltreatment
• Provide responsible and ethical expert witness testimony
• Develop proficiency as educators for medical and non-medical audiences
• Develop proficiency in advocacy on child maltreatment and family violence including prevention of occurrence and recurrence, and the consequences of adverse childhood experiences.
• Initiate and complete a scholarly project with approval by the scholarship oversight committee
• Build a Curriculum Vitae (CV) and Professional Development Portfolio (PDP)
• Develop a personal lifelong program of self-study and professional growth with guidance from faculty supervisors
• Develop strategies for self-assessment and knowledge of resiliency methods and practices as well as develop an understanding of secondary trauma and how it can impact oneself and colleagues.
• Develop an understanding of the effects of trauma on children, adolescents, and families and incorporate this knowledge into clinical practice.

24 months of the fellowship program is dedicated to clinical work.

The Child Abuse Pediatrics (CAP) Fellows actively participate in the diagnosis and treatment for children and adolescents who are suspected victims of child maltreatment. Consultations are provided in the inpatient and outpatient setting with the CAP attending. In the third year the fellow is expected to assume continued increasing responsibility as the leader of the CAP consultation team. This includes functioning as the primary spokesperson of the medical team during patient and/or family contact, leading discussion with the team, and interfacing with nursing, social work, and medical staff. The CAP attending physician will staff each patient, remain fully informed of patient progress, and provide feedback to the fellow regarding patient care management recommendations. Teaching responsibilities of the fellow during the third year continue and include increasingly complex subjects to both families and house staff in addition to the community. Call is taken one weekday per week and one weekend per month. Fellows complete their clinical work at the following sites: M Health Fairview Masonic Children's Hospital, Children's Minnesota, and Hennepin County Medical Center.

12 months of the fellowship program is dedicated to scholarly activity. These activities will occur as follows:

Year One:

• 15-20% of the first year is devoted to research. The fellow participates in the Department of Pediatrics Fellowship Core Curriculum as well as coursework available through the Clinical and Translational Science Institution (CTSI). The fellow is protected from clinical and call activities during this time. With the guidance of the Program Director and Assigned Mentor, the fellow will work to identify an area of interest and Research Mentor.
• In the second half of the first year, members of the fellow’s scholarship oversight committee (SOC) will be identified, and the SOC will meet with the fellow on a scheduled basis.

Year Two:

• 30-35% of the second year is devoted to research. The fellow has the opportunity for additional biostatistics education through the Biostatistical Literacy Course through the University of Minnesota School of Public Health as well as coursework through CTSI.

Year Three:

• 35-40% of the third year is devoted to research. The fellow is expected to write a research abstract to be submitted to a national meeting, to prepare a manuscript for submission to a peer-reviewed journal, and/or complete another identified scholarly product. The research mentor and SOC provide appropriate guidance to ensure that the fellow meets these goals. In the second half of the year, the fellow will have submitted to and/or presented at each of the following venues: Department of Pediatrics/UMN Venue such as Grand Rounds or Research Conference, Annual Pediatric Research, Education, and Scholarship Symposium, Professional Conference, and 3M.

More information on Departmental expectations for fellow scholarly activity can be found here.