Didactic Curriculum

A major strength of the fellowship program is the commitment to didactic education. The fellows and staff play an active role in both scheduling and participating in these bi-weekly conferences.

One fellow assumes responsibility choosing an educational theme, choosing lecture topics, and inviting speakers for each two-month block of lectures. As one of the largest pediatric departments in the country, the program is also fortunate to be able to draw on the collective expertise of colleagues within the Texas Medical Center to complement the didactic series.

Didactic session formats include:

Journal clubs

A monthly review of 2-3 articles. Fellows select one clinical and one basic science article and review the study design and results in an evidence-based format during Monday conferences.

Morbidity & mortality conferences

This monthly Monday conference is led by a fellow who reviews an interesting case from the PICU or PCU. Sub-specialists and pathologists review laboratory test results and participate in summarizing the case.

Core physiology lectures

These conferences occur twice monthly on Thursdays and are structured as directed readings. While faculty, fellows, and advance practitioners attend these conferences, one fellow is in charge of leading the group discussion of the physiology topic. Two sessions involve a “hands-on” review of pathological specimens in the congenital heart disease museum.

Evidence-based medicine seminars

These conferences are held monthly.  Early in the year lectures address study design, statistics, and library skills. During the latter part of each year, one fellow leads the group in performing an in-depth evidence based analysis of different types of studies. Fellows submit their formal appraisals for publication.

Patient care conferences

Led by a fellow on Thursday mornings, these conferences offer an opportunity for in-depth review of the management of an ICU patient. Fellows select the patient reviewed and often invite sub-specialty guests.

Formal lectures from invited guest speakers

Fellows may invite speakers within the section or anywhere within the Texas Medical Center to provide a formal Monday section conference.

Joint Critical Care and Emergency Medicine Conferences

Twice each year, these sections meet jointly to discuss the management of a group of common patients.

While most topics are repeated on a three-year cycle, the core physiology series (six months of pulmonary physiology and six months of cardiac physiology) is repeated yearly. (See the listing of these core physiology lectures below) The goal of the series entitled "Seminars in Evidence-Based medicine" is to introduce the concepts of evidence-based medicine and basic statistics in order to develop effective appraisal skills and apply relevant results of research to clinical practice. Fellows practice these skills by performing in-depth reviews of peer-reviewed literature.

Core Physiology Series

1. Functional anatomy of the lung - prenatal/postnatal growth and development of the lungs, lymphatics and nerves
2. Ventilation
3. Pulmonary Circulation
4. Diffusion of gases, oxyhemoglobin and carbon dioxide equilibrium
5. Gas exchange and oxygen transport
6. Acid-base equilibrium
7. Cardiopulmonary interactions I
8. Cardiopulmonary interactions II
9. Pulmonary edema
10. Renal physiology and diuretics
11. Acute renal failure
12. Cardiac cath lab calculations
13. Cardiovascular anatomy and pathology of congenital heart lesions - Part 1
14. Cardiovascular anatomy and pathology of congenital heart lesions - Part 2
15. Regulation of myocardial blood flow and oxygen consumption
16. Cardiac contractility & pump function
17. Physiologic changes with cardiopulmonary bypass
18. Physiology of congenital heart disease and absent pulmonary valve