Pulmonology Fellowship
Program Overview
The Pediatric Pulmonology Fellowship Program at the ÎÚÑ»ÊÓƵ Children’s Hospital, Delaware, in affiliation with Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University (TJU), trains physicians in advanced skills in pediatric pulmonology. Our three-year program,Ìýaccredited by the , provides diverse clinical and research-based experience that can lead to specialty certification.Ìý
You’ll have numerous opportunities to build your knowledge base and refine your clinical and research skills through regular contact with a diverse population of pediatric inpatients and outpatients.
- Curriculum
- Research & Training
- Salary & Benefits
- Location & Living
- Faculty & Participants
Our Fellowship ProgramÌý
Our pediatric pulmonary fellowship program balances clinical experience with research training.
The program seeks to:
- Train physicians in diagnostic and therapeutic methods for inpatient, outpatient and consultative pediatric pulmonary medicine
- Provide strong clinical expertise in the care of children with a wide range of pulmonary disorders
- Educate physician colleagues in pulmonary diseases
- Advance medical research in the field of pulmonary medicine through clinical or laboratory-based research projects
- Help physicians prepare for and develop their pulmonary professional careers
Clinical Experiences
The clinical experience includes a balance of inpatient and outpatient opportunities to refine your clinical skills.
Training in a Wide Range of Conditions:
- Disorders of the upper airway
- Neuromuscular diseases
- Congenital disorders of the lower airways
- Asthma
- Tracheostomy
- Mechanical-ventilator dependent patients
- Bronchiolitis
- Cystic fibrosis
- Interstitial lung disease
- Pneumonia
- Disorders of the chest wall, diaphragm and pleural space
- Acute lung diseases of the newborn infant
- Respiratory failure
- Aspiration/inhalation injuries
- Bronchopulmonary dysplasia
- Pulmonary vascular diseases in childhood
- Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS)
- Pulmonary complications in immunocomprised/immunosuppressed patients
- Control of breathing disorders (including sleep disorders)
- Miscellaneous lung disease
Our inpatient pulmonary team serves as the primary care team for the inpatient pulmonary service. We also consult with the care teams for general pediatrics, physical medicine & rehabilitation, orthopedics, orthopedic surgery, and our intensive care units (pediatric, neonatal and cardiac). Additionally, elective time is available to individualize your clinical experience to align with your professional goals.
Our Pulmonology Facilities
Our division includes several pediatric pulmonologists, many of whom are dual-boarded physicians — with combined certification in pediatric pulmonology and sleep medicine, for example, or internal medicine and pediatrics.
Nursing staff and care coordinators round out the division, which typically performs, every year, more than 1,500 new outpatient evaluations and 250 bronchoscopic evaluations. Your inpatient experience includes a significant consultative role, 350-plus inpatient consults and at least 200 inpatient admissions annually.
Our 4-bed sleep laboratory performs more than 1,500 polysomnograms each year. Our intensive care units are equipped to provide Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) when necessary. Additionally, the division plays an active role in teaching residents, fellows, and medical students.
Research
Your research education begins with comprehensive training in biostatistics, lab research methodology, clinical research methodology, study design, grant preparation, and preparation of protocols for the institutional review board (IRB). These areas are covered during the first year of your fellowship.
In subsequent years, you’ll have access to our world-class laboratories, equipment, and resources, along with guidance from research professionals located on campus.
You’ll be encouraged to tailor the program’s research component to your interests and professional career plan. This may include laboratory research in our NIH-funded Lung Center, or clinical research with application for funding from both institutional and outside sources. While research funding is encouraged and supported, it is not a requirement to maintain the fellowship position during any year.
Salary & Benefits
Salary
- PGY1: $71,923
- PGY2: $74,799
- PGY3: $77,792
- PGY 4: $80,904
- PGY 5: $84,139
- PGY 6: $87,505
- PGY 7: $91,005
- PGY 8: $94,646
Benefits
Our comprehensive benefits program allows you to choose a combination of benefits to best meet your — and your family's - needs:
- Health Advocacy and Navigation Services
- Medical
- Additional features in our medical plans include:
- Coverage for assisted fertility (two cycles)
- Maternity and child-rearing support
- Expert second opinion program
- Surgical centers of excellence
- Virtual excercise therapy for back and joint pain
- Type 2 diabetes management program
- ÎÚÑ»ÊÓƵ-funded Health Reimbursement Accounts for eligible associates
- Additional features in our medical plans include:
- Prescription
- Vision
- Dental
- Voluntary Accident Insurance
- Voluntary Critical Illness
- Voluntary Hospital Indemnity Insurance
- Retirement Benefits
- 403(b) Plan
- ÎÚÑ»ÊÓƵ Matching Contribution
- Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
- Basic & Supplemental Life and Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D) Insurance
- Supplemental Life Insurance
- Paid Parental Leave
- Short-Term Disability (STD)
- Long-Term Disability (LTD)
- Voluntary Long-Term Care (LTC)
- Identity Theft Protection
- MetLife® Legal Plan
- Paid Time Off (PTO)
- Residents and fellows receive a 160-hour block of PTO during each academic year, July 1-June 30. There is no PTO carryover.
- Paid HolidaysÌý— Full-time and part-time associates receive six holidays per year. There is no waiting period for eligibility.
- Volunteer Time OffÌý— Full-time associates who have completed the 90-day evaluation period receive eight hours of paid Volunteer Time Off (VTO) each year to use for community service activities (four hours for part-time associates).
- Tuition Reimbursement
- Work Life Benefits
- Employee Assistance Program (EAP)
- Financial Education
- Adoption Assistance
- Mortgage Loan Assistance Program
Wellness Benefits Include
- Free fitness center membership at ÎÚÑ»ÊÓƵ Children’s Hospital, Delaware, ÎÚÑ»ÊÓƵ Children’s Hospital, Florida, and the Home Office
- Access to group fitness classes and personal training (at select locations), at an additional cost
- Reduced cost fitness center membership to more than 18,000 gyms nationwide through Active&Fit Direct program
- Gym/fitness app reimbursement for benefits-eligible associates
- Free health coaching for benefits-eligible associates, spouses, and dependents over age 18
- Wellness challenges
- Reduced cost membership to WeightWatchers for benefits-eligible associates, spouses, and dependents over 18
- Resources for meditation and stress management
- Rewards for participating in healthy activities
Training at ÎÚÑ»ÊÓƵ in Delaware Valley
ÎÚÑ»ÊÓƵ Children’s Hospital, Delaware, sits on a scenic, 300-acre estate in Wilmington’s Brandywine Valley. It’s the largest pediatric training site in our system, big enough to offer nearly every specialty, yet close-knit enough that faculty know their learners well. From the start, you’ll notice a culture built on collaboration, mentorship, and curiosity.
Hospital & Training Environment
Most of your training takes place at our children’s hospital in Wilmington, a nationally recognized destination for complex pediatric care. It’s the state’s only Level I Pediatric Trauma Center and home to a Level IV NICU, so you’ll see the full range of high-acuity cases. Families come from across the region, giving you exposure to diverse conditions and hands-on learning in a true referral hub. Take a video tour of the hospital now.Ìý
Along with ÎÚÑ»ÊÓƵ, you may also spend time at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia and other partner hospitals. These rotations bring variety in community pediatrics, rehabilitation care, and patient populations you won’t see every day in Wilmington.Ìý
Living in Wilmington & Delaware Valley
Wilmington is easy to settle into. It’s affordable, manageable in size, and just a short train ride from Philadelphia. Baltimore and Washington, D.C. are also close by. Need fresh air? The Brandywine Valley has trails, rivers, and historic gardens. Want more energy? Philly has food, arts, and sports at a world-class level. Here, you get the best of both worlds.Ìý
Research Opportunities
Research is part of daily life here. Some trainees work in the lab, others join clinical trials, and many focus on quality improvement. Supported by faculty mentors and dedicated resources, trainees may also present at national meetings or publish in peer-reviewed journals.Ìý
Resident & Fellow Life
Training here isn’t only about rotations and research. It’s also about having the space and support to enjoy the journey.
Community & CultureÌý|ÌýColleagues quickly become friends. Alumni talk about the camaraderie, the sense that you’re part of something bigger, and the ease of finding mentors who genuinely care.
Wellness & Support |ÌýWellness is built into the experience. From apps and peer networks to professional counseling, resources are there when you need them. There's also a free 24/7 gym on campus and regular wellness programming.
Everyday Perks |ÌýFree parking. Meals at noon conference. On-site child care center. Call rooms and quiet spaces when you need rest. These make a difference in the rhythm of daily training.
Train With Recognized Leaders
If you’re looking for a rewarding program built on academic excellence and family-centered care, ÎÚÑ»ÊÓƵ Children's offers outstanding medical, surgical, pharmacy, nursing, therapy and psychology programs. Train with faculty who are respected leaders in their fields, a patient care model that stands apart and access to groundbreaking research.Ìý
Apply Today
Application Requirements
Accreditation ID: 3300912066
Accepting Applications: July 2 through September 1, 2025
Training Begins:ÌýJuly 1, 2026
Currently Accepting Applications. Please contact the program coordinator with any questions.
1.Ìý
2.ÌýAll candidates must have completed or are completing an ACGME–accredited pediatric residency and are becoming board-eligible for general pediatrics.
3.ÌýOur program participates in the . All candidates must be registered for the NRMP Pediatric Specialties Fall Match and meet all associated deadlines.
4.ÌýComplete theÌýÌýand follow all instructions on the Association of American Medical Colleges website.
5.ÌýOur program requires a letter of recommendation (LOR) from the pediatric residency program director and two additional letters of recommendation.
6.ÌýFor each letter of recommendation, please have letter-of-recommendation writers complete theÌýÌý, along with the written letter and submit them to theÌý.
7.ÌýIn addition to the LORs, a personal statement, transcript and Dean’s letter from a medical school, and USMLE or COMLEX transcripts are required.
8.ÌýOur program begins reviewing applications in August, and any applications that are incomplete or missing documents on October 1 will not be considered.
Questions About Roations or How to Apply?
April Aguilera
Fellowship Coordinator
(302) 577-0319
april.aguilera@nemours.org
Robert Heinle, MD
Program Director
(302) 651-6400
robert.heinle@nemours.org