Physician Assistant - Pediatric Surgery Fellowship

Overview

The Surgery PA Fellowship Programs at Texas Children’s Hospital are the first of its kind in the country to provide a specialized training opportunity specifically for PAs.

The PA fellowship programs at Texas Children’s Hospital were established in 2013. The program has evolved and together the three programs have contributed to the integration and success of the TCH Department of Surgery.

Program Components

• The Surgery PA program offers an intensive 12‑month didactic and clinical pediatric training program that ensures a unique opportunity to gain hands‑on experience in a full spectrum of pediatric surgical subspecialties, including congenital heart surgery, ENT, general pediatric surgery, hand/microsurgery, neurosurgery, orthopedic, otolaryngology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, surgical hospitalists, transplant, trauma, and urology.
• The Community PA program is an intensive 12‑month didactic and clinical pediatric training program that ensures a unique opportunity to gain hands‑on experience in a full spectrum of pediatric surgical subspecialties, including ENT, general pediatric surgery, plastics, orthopedic, surgical hospitalists and urology.
• The Orthopedic PA program 12‑month program with orthopedic super‑subspecialties, including cerebral palsy, general orthopedic, hip, inpatient, lower extremity, spine, sports, trauma, upper extremity, and general orthopedics.

These one‑year programs include clinical pediatric surgical subspecialty experience, dedicated research time, and specialty workshops including suture, cadaver, and simulation labs. Training will be provided in clinics, on the surgical floors and in the operating room and will involve pre‑, intra‑ and post‑operative care. Learn more about our curriculum:

Program Leadership

The program is led by Dr. Larry Hollier, Surgeon‑in‑Chief, Medical Director; Kris Marsack, MS, PA‑C, Academic Program Director; Jacqueline Broda, PA‑C, Program Director; Jordan Rodriguez, Project Manager, and Angel McKnight, PA Fellowship Academic Coordinator.

Target Candidates

This fellowship program is suitable for both new PA program graduates as well as experienced PAs who would like to redirect their future career in a surgical subspecialty.

Certification

Upon successful completion of the program, a certificate will be awarded from the Texas Children’s Hospital Department of Surgery.

Accreditation

The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the PA (ARC‑PA) has granted Accreditation‑Clinical Postgraduate Program status to the Texas Children’s Hospital Surgery, Community and Orthopedic PA Fellowships. Accreditation is valid for a maximum of five years from matriculation of the first class, and a site visit review for continued status is anticipated in October 2024. The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC‑PA website at

Program Goals

• Acquire knowledge of all pediatric surgical subspecialties within Texas Children’s Hospital to allow for appropriate assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of the pediatric surgical patients in a busy children’s hospital setting.
• Strengthen physical assessment skills essential for the care of the pediatric and adolescent surgical patient.
• Develop baseline understanding of indications and associated benefits, risks, and potential complications related to the diagnosis and treatment of specific surgical diagnoses and procedures using scientific evidence.
• Develop graduated responsibility in providing care to patients, including assisting surgical procedures.
• Develop skills in performing invasive procedures.
• Provide fundamental knowledge on the PA first‑assist role within the operating room.
• Provide opportunities to explore the PA professional role.
• Experience the PA collaborative role among the healthcare team and other medical disciplines within Texas Children’s Hospital.
• Integrate a knowledge base necessary to educate patients and families.
• Learn how to critically review and apply the pediatric surgical literature to clinical practice.

Qualifications

• Required Bachelor’s Degree.
• Required Master’s Degree in Physician Assistant / Associate Studies.
• Preferred current board certification for PA or scheduled PANCE.
• Preferred current or Temporary Texas PA License with the Texas Medical Board.
• Completed career application with current Curriculum Vitae.
• One‑page personal statement focusing on why you are interested in the Surgery, Community or Orthopedic PA Fellowship programs.
• One professional recommendation letter.

Responsibilities

• Under the direct supervision of Physician, PA, and NP team, utilize advanced practice knowledge and skills to systematically collect and evaluate health assessment data.
• Under the direct supervision of a PA, consistently demonstrate effective communication skills and work to eliminate communication barriers.
• Under the direct supervision of a PA, provide educational resources for the patient and family.
• Under the direct supervision of a PA, consistently apply new knowledge relevant to pediatric nursing to clinical practice.
• Under the direct supervision of a team, demonstrate current professional, managerial, and/or technical knowledge and skills.

About Texas Children’s Medical Center

Since 1954, Texas Children’s has been leading the charge in patient care, education and research to accelerate health care for children and women around the world. When you love what you do, it truly shows in the smiles of our patient families, employees and our numerous accolades such as being consistently ranked as the best children’s hospital in Texas, and among the top in the nation by U.S. News & World Report as well as recognition from Houston Business Journal as one of this city’s Best Places to Work for ten consecutive years.

Texas Children’s comprehensive health care network includes our primary hospital in the Texas Medical Center with expertise in over 40 pediatric subspecialties; the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (NRI); the Feigin Tower for pediatric research; Texas Children ’ s Pavilion for Women, a comprehensive obstetrics/gynecology facility focusing on high‑risk births; Texas Children ’ s Hospital West Campus, a community hospital in suburban West Houston; Texas Children ’ s Hospital The Woodlands, the first hospital devoted to children ’ s care for communities north of Houston; and Texas Children ’ s Hospital North Austin, the new state‑of‑the‑art facility providing world‑class pediatric and maternal care to Austin and Central Texas families. We have also created Texas Children ’ s Health Plan, the nation ’ s first HMO focused on children; Texas Children ’ s Pediatrics, the largest pediatric primary care network in the country; Texas Children ’ s Urgent Care clinics that specialize in after‑hours care tailored specifically for children; and a global health program that is channeling care to children and women all over the world. Texas Children ’ s Hospital is affiliated with Baylor College of Medicine, one of the largest, most diverse and successful pediatric programs in the nation.

To join our community of 15,000+ dedicated team members, visit texaschildrenspeople.org for career opportunities.

Texas Children’s is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All applicants and employees are considered and evaluated for positions at Texas Children's without regard to mental or physical disability, race, color, religion, gender, nationality origin, age, genetic information, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status or any other protected Federal, State/Province or Local status unrelated to the performance of the work involved.