Residents interested in Neonatology should seek out elective and procedure experiences that provide hands-on management of critically ill neonates, advanced procedural training, and exposure to both acute and long-term care of high-risk infants.
Contact
Beth Ann Johnson
Essential Electives
Cincinnati Children’s NICU
This full-block elective will immerse residents in the Level 4 NICU at Cincinnati Children’s, with exposure to surgical patients, infants with congenital anomalies, and complex medical cases transferred from surrounding community hospitals. The rotation emphasizes additional experience in advanced ventilatory support, management of critically ill neonates, and exposure to multidisciplinary rounds with neonatologists, surgeons, and consulting specialists.
- In addition to the two required NICU rotations at University Hospital and/or Good Samaritan. Residents should try to rotate at both.
Good Sam Delivery / Procedures / Level 3 consults (Individualized Elective)
This half-block elective must be arranged as an Individualized Elective. Residents will gain additional procedural experience in the Good Samaritan Level 3 NICU, with an emphasis on delivery room management and acute neonatal stabilization.
Mornings focus on attending high-risk deliveries and performing procedures such as intubations and umbilical line placements.
Afternoons include consults on NICU patients and rounding with neonatologists, offering targeted exposure to delivery room resuscitations and postnatal stabilization.
Recommended Electives
Cincinnati Children’s NICU (Ancillary Observational Experience)
This half-block elective provides additional exposure to complex neonatal cases not seen during the primary NICU rotation. Residents will spend time observing specialized teams, including the Neonatal Neurology Service and Cardiac NICU consults, with a focus on identifying evolving complications in post-surgical and chronically ill infants.
NICU Follow Up Clinic
In this half-block elective, residents will work in the NICU Follow-Up Clinic, caring for infants with chronic conditions such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia and complex congenital anomalies. Emphasis is placed on developmental assessments, feeding and nutrition support, and long-term care coordination. Residents will gain insight into common complications of prematurity and strategies for optimizing developmental outcomes.
Good Sam Newborn
This half-block elective offers residents the opportunity to work alongside Newborn Hospitalists, focusing on routine newborn care in a community setting. The rotation includes well-baby assessments, common newborn pathologies, and discharge planning, with additional emphasis on breastfeeding support and parent education.
Anesthesiology
This half block only elective (8 clinical days) is scheduled with Anesthesiology. Residents are assigned to different OR rooms each day. It is generally limited to PGY-3 and above residents due to limited teaching availability.
Procedures: Endotracheal intubation, bag mask ventilation, peripheral IVs
Other Electives
Breastfeeding Medicine
This half- or full-block elective provides residents with targeted experience in managing breastfeeding challenges in medically complex infants, including preterm infants, infants with oral anomalies, and those with congenital heart disease. Residents will work closely with lactation consultants and pediatricians specializing in breastfeeding medicine, focusing on feeding plans, milk supply management, and maternal health.
Hospice & Palliative Care
This half- or full-block elective provides residents with opportunities to work with the Palliative Care team, focusing on communication strategies for families of critically ill neonates, complex decision-making, and end-of-life care planning.Emphasis is placed on supporting families through difficult transitions, particularly for infants with life-limiting conditions and complex congenital anomalies.
Complex care
This half- or full-block elective allows residents to manage children with significant medical complexity, many of whom have transitioned from the NICU to outpatient care. The rotation provides experience in coordinating care for medically fragile infants and collaborating with multiple specialists, with a focus on optimizing quality of life and preventing hospital readmissions.
Simulation
This half block only elective introduces residents to the simulation center and in-situ simulation trainmen at CCHMC. Residents will learn how a sim is developed, work behind the scenes with sim educators, Learn how to design and debrief a simulation, and observe how multidisciplinary teams train (ECMO, OR, in-situ ED trainmen, Code Conference).
Procedures: Residents may have the opportunity to perform procedures in the sim center including endotracheal intubation, central lines, and chest tubes.
Work Product: Residents will develop a simulation scenario
PICU Elective
This half-block elective supplements the two required PICU rotations and provides residents additional exposure to critically ill infants and children, focusing on the management of complex cardiac, respiratory, and neurologic conditions. The rotation emphasizes advanced ventilatory support, hemodynamic monitoring, and post-surgical care.
Cardiology: ACCU or CICU
This half-block elective allows residents to work with the Cardiology team, focusing on congenital heart disease, cardiac malformations, and postoperative care for neonates with complex cardiac conditions. The rotation includes exposure to diagnostic echocardiography, arrhythmia management, and pharmacologic support of heart failure.
TBD
This half-block elective involves accompanying the Neonatal Transport team, providing experience in stabilizing and transporting critically ill neonates from community hospitals to the tertiary care NICU. Emphasis is placed on rapid assessment, resuscitation, and transfer protocols for high-risk infants.
Recommended procedures
- Bag mask ventilation
- Neonatal intubation
- Umbilical lines (UAC & UVC)
- Lumbar puncture
Optional procedures
- CPR
- Circumcision
- Defibrillation
- Frenulectomy
- IO (Intraosseous Access)
- PAL/Art Stick (Peripheral Arterial Line/Arterial Stick)
- Peripheral IV / Venipuncture
- POCUS (Point-of-Care Ultrasound)
- Thoracentesis/Chest Tube
Other Experiences
Residents Selected to Intubate
This longitudinal training program is designed for residents who demonstrate interest and proficiency in airway management, focusing on the use of video laryngoscopy for endotracheal intubation and the Rapid Sequence Intubation (RSI) protocol.
RESUSC 200
This advanced curriculum builds on the baseline RESUSC program, targeting residents pursuing careers in Neonatology, Pediatric Critical Care, or Emergency Medicine.
NRP Instructor
Residents who complete NRP certification and demonstrate exceptional proficiency in neonatal resuscitation may apply to become NRP instructors.
IBCLC (International Board Certified Lactation Consultant)
Residents interested in breastfeeding medicine may pursue IBCLC certification, an internationally recognized credential for clinical lactation support. The certification process includes coursework, clinical hours, and a comprehensive examination.
Scholarly Activity
Most applicants pursuing Neonatology participate in a scholarly project. The project does not have to be housed in the Division specifically, and a wide array of projects have been completed by residents matching into the field. The quality the mentoring and methodology are the most important criteria programs consider.
Professional Organizations
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
The AAP offers specialized resources and networking opportunities for residents pursuing Neonatology, including access to the Section on Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine (SONPM). Members receive educational content, clinical guidelines, and advocacy updates on neonatal health, as well as opportunities to attend national conferences and join neonatal-focused committees.
Website: https://www.aap.org
Journals & Online Resources
TECAN (Trainee and Early Career Neonatologist Network)
A network and educational resource tailored for neonatal trainees, TECAN offers webinars, research updates, and opportunities to connect with mentors and peers in the field. The network also hosts an annual conference with career development workshops, case presentations, and networking events.
Website: https://www.tecan.org
Future Neos Now
An online resource for residents and fellows interested in Neonatology, Future Neos Now provides access to video lectures, case studies, and practice guidelines on neonatal care. Content is curated by leading neonatologists and covers key topics such as ECMO, congenital anomalies, and neurodevelopmental outcomes.
Website: https://www.futureneosnow.com
Open Pediatrics (NICU Flipped Classroom Lessons)
Hosted by Boston Children’s Hospital, Open Pediatrics offers a series of flipped classroom modules focused on neonatal care. Lessons cover critical neonatal topics such as hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, ventilator management, and post-surgical care. Each module includes case-based learning, video tutorials, and interactive quizzes.
Website: https://www.openpediatrics.org
Journal of Perinatology
A leading peer-reviewed journal that publishes research on perinatal and neonatal medicine, including studies on neonatal outcomes, critical care, and innovative therapies. The journal is an essential resource for residents staying current on emerging evidence and best practices in the field.
Website: https://www.nature.com/jp