The University of Iowa’s ACGME-approved Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship Program provides exceptional training opportunities and experience in clinical care, research, and teaching. Fellows in our program receive outstanding training from a world class group of faculty in a state-of-the-art clinical environment that abounds with research opportunities.
We welcome your application. Applicants who come for on-site interviews will have a portion of their visit costs covered. For questions, general information, or a brief phone interview to gauge your interest in applying to Iowa's program we welcome your contacting us!
Yes. While we have traditionally been known as a research institution, we are a full service clinical division of Neonatology. We have very busy clinical services with a rich diversity of neonatal pathology. A wide range of patient conditions allows us to educate our trainees so they are ready for any clinical situation. Fellows completing our program are ready to excel in the highest level NICUs caring for the most critically ill infants.
We have an incredible NICU team that works together to provide our patients with the highest level of care. We realize that dozens of people need to make thousands of good decisions for our babies to do so well. We respect our families and our co-workers and we appreciate the various roles that we all play in the outcome of each baby.
We realize that you may need help here and we take your research training very seriously. During the first few months of training, fellows usually meet with several clinical and basic science investigators who have ongoing projects that match their own interests. Should a fellow enter the program with a strong background in research or an identified project, a mentor with similar interests will be identified. A strong mentor-fellow relationship is imperative to success in research.
Like many university towns, we have a large international community. Growing cultural diversity is another reason Iowa City is an interesting place to live. Diversity is embraced and celebrated with city and university events, festivals, clubs and programs. The University works hard to recruit and retain minorities with its affirmative action policies. About 13% of Iowa City residents are non-white, as are almost 13% of the patients seen in our pediatric clinic.
Iowa City is 220 miles directly west of Chicago on Interstate 80. It's also within a 4-5 hour drive to Milwaukee, Madison, Minneapolis, Omaha, Kansas City and St. Louis. It has the cultural, educational, social and political opportunities of a bigger city with the values and ambiance of a midwestern town. Its clean, safe, nothing is farther than a 15 minute car ride, it has a great city bus system (with bike racks!), wonderful parks, sports, schools and even sailing. Those who have lived here and left, frequently return because what they were looking for was in their own back yard. What is there to do in Iowa City when you're not working?
There are 15 different festivals and art fairs, plus concerts and race events. There are many music venues, sports events and neighborhood street fairs and garden walks. We also have a really big mall and several smaller ones, 41 parks, 9 golf courses, 6 public tennis courts, 6 public pools, some lakes and a reservoir with trails, camping and boating. There are bike trails, some famous bookstores, a ton of galleries and excellent museums. There are half a dozen or more performing arts venues including Hancher Auditorium. There's always something going on. Find more information from the Iowa City/Coralville Convention and Visitors Bureau.
There's ice skating, bowling, organized sports, 50 public parks, miniature golf, a great public library, a toy library, fun centers, swimming pools and 3 beaches, 9 museums including a children's museum, dance companies and public recreation centers that feature many activities for kids and families at little or no cost. We also have 20 movie screens and 50 licensed daycare providers. The Iowa City schools are perennially ranked among the top schools in the nation. Iowa City is unique in the facilities and services available for individuals with disabilities. Many families who have a family member with a disability are reluctant to leave Iowa City because they cannot duplicate those services in another location.
Fellows start with two weeks of orientation to orient new fellows to key research and clinical aspects of our program. A major goal during the first months is to assist new fellows in beginning the process of selecting an area of research, a mentor, and a research project. During this period, first-year fellows shadow senior fellows in the NICU and in their research laboratories. First-year fellows are encouraged to spend two or three one- to two-week blocks of time with funded investigators in finding one that is "a good fit."
Clinical service time is completed in either our high acuity 13-bed NICU1 or in our lower acuity 36-bed and 15-bed NICU2s. During clinical months, fellows' call is one night a week. All clinical activities take place in one hospital, University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital.
Non-clinical time blocks are devoted primarily to research, but also include other training-related activities, e.g., fellows' core curriculum seminar, journal club, physiology review, lectures/seminars, etc. A primary goal in the second and third years is to provide several contiguous, uninterrupted blocks of research time. During research blocks, fellows average one call night per week.
Vacation is included in the 3 weeks per year of paid time off.
The fellows' night and weekend call schedule is prepared by the fellows with approval and oversight by our faculty. On call days average one in every six over the course of the year and are done in house.
The diverse clinical experiences and wide array of teaching conferences and seminars offered by our program provide our fellows with exceptional clinical training. Clinical training is provided at our one teaching hospital, the University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital. Our hospital is the only comprehensive health care center in the State offering training in a full range of neonatal therapies, including:
First-year Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine fellows spend a majority of their first month being oriented to clinical and research fellowship activities with limited on-call duty.
Fellows may take inpatient and outpatient apprenticeship electives with permission of the Program Director. Electives are of 1- to 2-week duration and are taken in addition to the required inpatient clinical rotations. Depending on availability and with agreement with the responsible elective faculty member, electives are available in high-risk obstetrics, pediatric cardiology, pediatric intensive care, perinatal regional outreach, and international perinatal medicine. Prior to beginning an elective, specific goals and objectives are developed by the Program Director, fellow, and appropriate faculty.
Fellows attend two or more professional meetings annually.
Our Fellows' Weekly Stead Family Department of Pediatrics Core Curriculum Seminar Series provides fellows with opportunities to:
University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital is the only children’s hospital in Iowa nationally ranked for pediatric care by U.S. News and World Report. The 13th annual Best Children’s Hospitals rankings recognize the top 50 pediatric facilities across the U.S. in 10 pediatric specialties: cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, diabetes and endocrinology, gastroenterology and gastrointestinal surgery, neonatology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, pulmonology and lung surgery, and urology.
UI Stead Family Children's Hospital and the UI Stead Family Department of Pediatrics are recognized nationally for a number of achievements.
Pediatric researchers at the University of Iowa have a long history of breakthrough discoveries in both the clinical and laboratory setting. Meet members of our research team:
The Incubator Podcast recently reviewed "a series of interesting papers, notably the effect of azithromycin to prevent maternal and neonatal sepsis/death, screening and management of hemodynamically significant PDA from the amazing folks at the University of Iowa, and much more." Dr. Regan Geisinger's PubMed paper, Impact of early screening echocardiography and targeted PDA treatment on neonatal outcomes in "22-23" week and "24-26" infants is one of the reviewed publications.
Structured mentoring of fellows by neonatology faculty and by faculty research mentors elsewhere in the College of Medicine enhances training experiences and fosters career planning.
There are many research opportunities available to pediatric fellows, including outstanding training in perinatal research to prepare fellows for careers in academic neonatology. Research training is carried out with experience investigators in the Stead Family Department of Pediatrics and other departments. Prior fellows have conducted both clinical and laboratory research.
Fellows have the opportunity to pursue a graduate degree or certificate in one of the following programs:
Post-Graduate Program in Translational Biomedicine
One of a few such clinical graduate programs in the U.S., the GPTB trains scientists in the principles and techniques of scholarly, patient-oriented research, including epidemiological and translational research and clinical trials. The GPTB has attracted a stellar team of trainees from a multitude of diverse disciplines and backgrounds, and has proven unparalleled in providing a strong, interdisciplinary core curriculum and expansive cutting edge research opportunities and mentoring.
College of Public Health
Iowa's COPH helps society respond to new and emerging threats, as well as other long-standing public health concerns, including air and water quality, aging, cancer, health care quality and services, obesity, tobacco, and substance abuse.
Masters in Clinical Investigation
A 2-year interdisciplinary program designed for post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty from the Colleges of Medicine, Nursing, Dentistry, and Pharmacy pursuing careers in clinical research. This program is supported by Iowa’s NIH Clinical and Translational Science Award and provides a structured didactic curriculum in research methods in the context of a mentored research experience.
Masters in Medical Education
A 2-year program coordinated through the Office of Consultation and Research in Medical Education (OCRME). The program requires the completion of 30 semester hours and is designed for post-doctoral fellows and junior faculty from the Colleges of Medicine wishing to pursue careers in medical education. The program includes all facets of medical education, including the practice and principles of educational research
The Neonatal-Perinatal Fellowship Program accepts up to three (3) new fellows annually with a maximum of eight (8) fellows at a time. Our program participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) using the Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS). Applications are accepted from July to early November. We interview through mid-November with the NRMP rank list deadline typically at the end of November with the match date often in December (please see the NRMP website for deadline dates.
Requirements for this program include the completion of a three-year pediatric residency program and the necessary qualifications for a medical license in the State of Iowa.
Application requirements for this program include:
If you have questions, please contact:
Glenda Rabe, MD, MME
Program Director
Phone: 1-319-384-6531
E-mail: glenda-rabe@uiowa.edu
Jill Kinnaird
Fellowship Coordinator
Stead Family Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatology
200 Hawkins Drive, 8801 JPP
Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone: 1-319-384-5258
Email: jill-kinnaird@uiowa.edu
ERAS opens for the Fall Match in July. The deadline for receiving an application through ERAS will be September 30 to allow ample time for reviewing and interviewing prospective fellow applicants.
We will conduct interviews in September and October.
Under special circumstances we will consider applications submitted at other times.
Applicants to our program must be currently enrolled in, or have successfully completed, an ACGME-accredited pediatric residency program.
We will interview prospective fellow candidates in September and October. Orientation for all new fellows begins July 1, so you must be available for that start date and be licensed in Iowa by June 30.
I got an interview! Now what?
It takes a special person to dedicate his or her life to the care and healing of children.
At Iowa, you will be exposed to some of the best clinicians, researchers and teachers in our profession. Through formal mentoring programs as well as an open-door philosophy, we provide high-powered opportunities for you to learn career-long lessons from these dedicated professionals.
The neonatology faculty are dedicated to helping you achieve your training aims. Other fellows will share in the support and encouragement that will help you excel.
(2019 – 2022)
Medical School: Universidad Internacional del Ecuador
Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
melanie-reyeshernandez@uiowa.edu
(2020-2023)
Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
Residency: University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics
timothy-boly@uiowa.edu
(2020-2023)
Medical School: University of Damascus Faculty of Medicine Syrian Arab Republic
Residency: Brookdale Hospital Medical Center
mohamed-alkanjo@uiowa.edu
(2020-2023)
Medical School: Universidad del Zulia Facultad de Medicina Venezuela
Residency: Holtz Children's Hospital, University of Miami
stephania-cavallaromoronta@uiowa.edu
(2021-2024)
Medical School: Aga Khan University Medical College Pakistan
Residency: University of Texas Medical Branch
numra-aleem@uiowa.edu
(2021-2024)
Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
amy-hobson@uiowa.edu
(2021-2024)
Medical School: American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine
Residency: Virginia Commonwealth University
nadine-kibbi@uiowa.edu
(2022-2025)
Medical School: Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
jeremy-sandgren@uiowa.edu
(2022-2025)
Medical School: University of Minnesota
Residency: University of Minnesota
erin-mustonen@uiowa.edu
Trassanee (Pearl) Chatmethakul, MD (2018-2021)
Medical School: Phramongkutklao Medical College Thailand
Residency: University of South Alabama Children’s & Women’s Hospital
Brian Juber, MD (2018-2021)
Medical School: University of South Dakota, Sanford School of Medicine
Residency: Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, McGaw Medical Center – Northwestern University
Matthew Rysavy, MD, PhD (2018-2021)
Medical School: Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
Residency: University of Wisconsin-Madison; University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
Amy Stanford, MD (2017-2020)
Medical School: Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine
Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
Jennifer Berger, DO (2016-2019)
Medical School: Des Moines University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: University of Minnesota
Ana Tracey Morgan-Harris, MD (2016-2019)
Medical School: University of South Carolina College of Medicine
Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Patricia Watkins, MD (2016-2019)
Medical School: University of North Dakota School of Medicine
Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Stacy L. Kern, MD (2015-2018)
Medical School: University of Minnesota
Residency: Sanford School of Medicine
Baiba Steinbrekera, MD (2015-2018)
Medical School: Rigas Stradina Universitale Medicinas Fakultate
Residency: University of Iowa
Timothy Elgin, DO (2014-2017)
Medical School: Des Moines University
Residency: Ohio State Nationwide Children's Hospital
Lia Sabalo, MD (2014-2017)
Medical School: University of Santo Tomas, Philippines
Residency: Southern Illinois University
Dinushan Kaluarachchi, MB, BS (2013-2016)
Medical School: University of Colombo Sri Lanka
Residency: Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center
Kok Lim Kua, MD (2013-2016)
Medical School: Dalhousie University, Faculty of Medicine
Residency: University of South Alabama
Michelle Kompare, MD (2012-2015)
Medical School: University of Nebraska
Residency: University of Iowa
Jessica White, MD (2012-2015)
Medical School: Creighton University
Residency: Creighton University
Gary Kummet, MD (2011-2014)
Medical School: University of North Dakota School of Medicine, Grand Forks
Residency:University of Iowa
Erica LeClair, MD (2011-2014)
Medical School: Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion
Residency: University of Iowa
Larry Meyer, MD (2011-2014)
Medical School: Sanford School of Medicine, Vermillion
Residency: University of Iowa
Glenda K. Rabe, MD
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship Program Director
Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Phone: 319-384-6531
Email: glenda-rabe@uiowa.edu
Jill Kinnaird
Program Coordinator
Phone: 319-384-5258
Email: jill-kinnaird@uiowa.edu
Welcome to the University of Iowa's Stead Family Children's Hospital. We are proud to showcase our extraordinary clinical care, dedication to the education of students and young physicians, and our world-class research programs.
Our comprehensive medical, surgical, and nursing services span the full spectrum of pediatric care. The consistently high rankings we receive on national and international benchmarks attest to the exceptional quality of care we provide. With more than 127,000 annual outpatient visits and more than 10,000 admissions to the 165 beds at University of Iowa's Stead Family Children's Hospital, we draw patients regionally, nationally, and internationally. Our commitment to family-centered care and our outstanding facilities have been praised for their innovative and patient-friendly design.
We are dedicated to excellence in the education of medical students, residents, and fellows, as reflected by a competency-based curriculum that is designed to provide practitioners with comprehensive knowledge and outstanding skills. The clinical and research efforts of trainees are closely mentored and nurtured. Our graduates move on to successful careers in clinical practice and academic pediatrics.
From genomics to cancer biology, from clinical trials to outcomes research, the department consistently ranks among the top National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded Pediatric Departments nationally. Our faculty and staff are engaged in cutting edge basic science and patient-oriented research in our unwavering quest to improve the health and well-being of all children.
We have a diverse faculty with wide-ranging clinical and research interests. Many are internationally known and have been in the department for many years. We also have bright young faculty who bring new interests and enthusiasm to the practice and teaching of neurology. All clinical faculty participate in resident training, clinical practice, and research.