Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Fellowship
The Children’s Mercy Division of Critical Care is excited to announce the opening of a Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care Fellowship. We intend to start recruiting in the summer of 2026 for a position starting in July of 2027.
Our Cardiac Intensive Care Unit is a 24-bed dedicated CICU supporting Children’s Mercy’s high-volume Heart Center (link to CMH heart center website). Our unit admits more than 500 patients per year including 300-400 cardiopulmonary bypass surgeries per year. The CICU cares for patients with a wide spectrum of congenital and acquired heart diseases, including active ECMO, heart transplant and ventricular assist device programs.
Program Goals
This one-year fellowship provides additional experience to PICU fellowship graduates seeking to become proficient in the care of critically ill children with congenital and acquired heart disease. The program is looking to match one fellow per year.
In addition to clinical time in the CICU, fellows spend clinical time with multiple other teams within the Heart Center allowing for better understanding of the complex, multi-disciplinary care of these patients. Under the mentorship of dedicated CICU faculty, fellows will be expected to become leaders of the CICU team and participate in the multi-disciplinary planning for patients.
Program Aims
- Understand the common patterns of congenital heart disease
- Understand and manage both normal and abnormal cardiovascular physiology in patients prior to surgical palliation
- Understand the use of cardiovascular diagnostic modalities including: echocardiography, cardiac catheterization, CT angiography, cardiac MRI. Apply the findings of these studies to patient management.
- Participate in surgical planning for patients with common congenital heart disease
- Diagnose and treat pre- and post-operative alterations in systemic and pulmonary blood flow, including appropriate utilization of vasoactive support
- Manage common cardiac dysrhythmias in surgical and non-surgical cardiac populations, including the use of temporary pacing strategies.
- Utilize advanced treatments for cardiac failure, including the use of mechanical circulatory support
- Appreciate and utilize cardiopulmonary interactions to appropriately develop a plan for respiratory support in PCCC patients
- Appropriately treat post-operative pain and anxiety post-operative and non-post-operative patients with congenital and acquired heart disease
- Manage neurologic complications including ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage and seizures in pre- and post-operative patients with cardiac disease
- Understand medications affecting the clotting cascade and appropriately manage prophylactic and therapeutic anticoagulants as well as post-surgical hemorrhage
- Manage a team including medical trainees, advanced practice providers with appropriate communication and leadership skills
- Coordinate care for critically ill patients involving multiple medical and surgical subspecialists.
Salaries and benefits
2026-27 salaries
- PGY 4: $83,720.00
- PGY 5: $84,657.60
- PGY 6: $86,841.60
- PGY 7: $90,043.20
- PGY 8: $92,310.40
Benefits for fellows
- $1,500 Educational stipend per academic year for books, travel and other educational materials
- $2,250 Professional stipend for academic year to present scholarly activity
- Health and dental insurance for trainee and dependents with no premiums
- $800 a year Lifestyle Spending Account
- Hospital-issued Laptop/iPad
- Free parking
- Moving allowance
- 6 weeks paid medical leave
- 6 weeks paid family leave
- 20 days of vacation
- Paid sick time
- Paid board exam
- Access to clinical and research librarians, statisticians, scientific writers and learning specialists
- Tuition allowance of $5,250 per year
- On-site fitness center and wellness center
Your clinical experience
Pediatric CICU (20 weeks)
Cardiac Anesthesia (4 weeks)
Interventional Cardiology (Cath) (4 Weeks)
Echo (4 weeks)
Electrophysiology (2 Weeks)
Heart Failure (Advanced Cardiac Therapeutics Team) (4 Weeks)
Wellness
Finding an appropriate work-life balance can be challenging, especially in fellowship. Children’s Mercy as well as the Critical Care Department are invested in helping fellows achieve their wellness goals. Fellows receive 4 weeks of vacation, as well as time off around major holidays. The Critical Care Department (faculty AND fellows) are a collegial group that enjoy spending time with each other outside of work. Our program has twice yearly fellow retreats to focus on career development and enjoy a social outing with other fellows and faculty. The fellows also organize frequent social outings themselves to explore Kansas City.
As employees of Children’s Mercy, fellows have access to a wide array of wellness resources. CM offers virtual mindfulness meditation classes that are available to fellows for free. In addition, there are multiple lectures and events throughout the year focused on recognizing and managing burnout. Fellows have access to an on-site employee fitness center. The Employee Wellness Center offers primary care services as well as behavioral health and counseling. And through the Take CARE Wellness Program, employees have access to a personal health coach.
More about our wellness programsApply for the program
Our program utilizes the application process outlined by the Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Society.
Inside Pediatrics: Leah's story
Leah was born with half a heart, and despite several surgeries, it’s failing fast. Cardiac and critical care specialists work to keep her alive, hoping a new heart can be found in time.
Our Cardiac Critical Care Fellowship leadership team
Andy Ausmus, MD
Program Director
Toni Zaner, BA
Fellowship Coordinator
tmzaner@cmh.edu