Welcome to the Program
Shikha Gupta-Bhatnagar, MD, MSc (HQ), FRCPC
Neonatal Perinatal Medicine Fellowship Program Director
The McMaster Neonatal Perinatal Fellowship Program is based in the Division of Neonatology, Department of Pediatrics at McMaster Children’s Hospital. Originally founded by Dr. Jack Sinclair in 1988. Our program has an unparalleled track record of training leaders in Academic and Community Neonatology. Our alumni have held positions within Canada and internationally including leadership positions as Medical Director, Division Chiefs, and Program Directors.
We offer a two-year program focused on clinical excellence and scholarly goals. A comprehensive clinical experience in Neonatal Perinatal Medicine is provided through a 47-bed Level III NICU and a 14-bed Level 2C NICU at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ontario. Scholarly activities and research experiences are tailored to each trainee’s interests, with mentorship from highly engaged and experienced faculty within our department.
Our program is fully accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and meets the subspecialty training requirements in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine of the American Board of Pediatrics.
Trainees gain broad exposure to Clinical Neonatology through rotations in our NICU, Level II Nursery, Labour and Delivery suite, high-risk Maternal Fetal Medicine Clinics, Prenatal Diagnosis Clinic, and Growth and Development Neonatal follow-up clinics. They also have opportunities to participate in neonatal transport runs with the dedicated McMaster regional neonatal transport team throughout their training period. Additionally, trainees can choose two elective rotations during their training.
Trainees have access to Echo and Ultrasound machines in the unit to develop and optimize their Targeted Neonatal Echocardiography (TnEcho) skills and perform point-of-care cranial and abdominal ultrasounds. Our program also features high-fidelity manikins for NRP and PICC insertion simulations. Furthermore, trainees benefit from extensive online educational modules, digital libraries, mock written exams, and practice OSCE exams to thoroughly prepare for the Neonatology examinations.
Our program is deeply committed to teaching research skills through annual workshops on Research Methodology, Biostatistics, and Evidence-Based Medicine. Trainees are provided with protected time for their research activities, ensuring they can focus on their projects without interruption. We encourage our trainees to present their work at national and international conferences, and we support them with sufficient funding to cover their travel costs.
We have a structured curriculum with academic half days scheduled on Thursday afternoons, which are pager-protected to allow for uninterrupted learning. Our educational activities include weekly journal clubs, seminars, cross-Canada rounds, combined half days with other subspecialties, Maternal Fetal Medicine (MFM) rounds, Pediatric surgery rounds, Pediatric grand rounds, and monthly morbidity and mortality rounds. Trainees have the opportunity to formally present at these rounds, which helps them improve their presentation skills and learn how to handle challenges to their knowledge and ideas. Additionally, fellows have numerous opportunities to teach their juniors and Pediatric residents, both at the bedside and during scheduled resident teaching sessions. This teaching experience is invaluable for developing their skills as educators and mentors.
Our evaluation system not only allows staff physicians to assess trainees, but also provides trainees with the opportunity to evaluate the staff and the educational system in place. This dual feedback mechanism is crucial for enhancing the experience of current and future trainees.
We encourage trainees to promptly identify and report any issues that arise during their training, rather than waiting until the end of their program. Addressing problems early allows for quick and efficient solutions.
We are always open to feedback from trainees and periodically incorporate changes to the program to ensure a positive and enjoyable educational experience. This approach helps trainees develop their careers in the best possible way.
We are committed to not only the professional development of our trainees but also ensuring they have an enjoyable social and recreational experience in Hamilton. This wonderful city offers boundless opportunities for recreation. We encourage you to speak with fellows who are a year ahead of you, as they can share insights on the best places to visit and the most enjoyable activities in the region.
Our program periodically hosts social events and financially supports the Annual Fellows Retreat Day, which is a highly anticipated family event for our trainees. This balance of professional growth and social enjoyment helps create a well-rounded and fulfilling experience for everyone in our program.
In summary, our program has a well-established structure that is also flexible enough to accommodate the needs of trainees, helping them achieve their educational and career goals within their two years of training.
