About

Goals and Objectives

1. Acquire knowledge of all pediatric subspecialties within Texas Children’s Hospital to allow for diagnosis, treatment and management of the pediatric population
2. Strengthen physical assessment skills essential for the care of the pediatric and adolescent surgical patient
3. Develop baseline understanding of potential complications related to the diagnosis and treatment of specific surgical diagnoses
4. Develop skills in performing invasive procedures
5. Provide opportunities to explore the physician assistant professional role
6. Experience the physician assistant collaborative role among Physicians and Advanced Practice Providers within Texas Children’s Hospital
7. Integrate a knowledge base necessary to educate patients and families
8. Provide fundamental knowledge on the physician assistant first-assist role within the operating room

About the Program

Didactic curriculum

Structured to provide the PA with a solid foundation of fundamental knowledge in which to develop and hone clinical acumen in the care of the surgical patient, the didactic curriculum will combine live lectures and conferences to be complemented by reading assignments, PowerPoint presentations and written articles. The content is vast, encompassing topics in physiology and pathophysiology, surgery, critical care management and the advanced surgical techniques associated with the treatment of department-specific disease processes.

Clinical curriculum

Developed to work in concert with the didactic portion, the clinical curriculum features strategically formulated OR days, inpatient rounds and division-specific surgical procedures. The PA fellow will be expected to perform daily rounds, present to patients articulately and accurately, describe and implement the plan of care, perform therapeutic procedures, and participate and become proficient in all surgical aspects of the intra-operative care of the surgical patient. The final goal is to foster and instruct the PA so that they develop proficient clinical skills in the pre-, peri-, and post-operative care of the surgical patient.

Our Advanced Practice professional team operates as a cohesive group that engages in active partnership with our physician colleagues to provide World Class pediatric healthcare.