Pediatric Anesthesia Fellow Bootcamp 2024
On August 16, 2024, UTHealth Houston hosted its second Pediatric Anesthesia Fellow Bootcamp. Designed to equip incoming fellows with the essential skills and training required in their specialty and foster a sense of community through networking among pediatric anesthesiologists from across and outside Texas, the two-day bootcamp brought together experienced faculty presenters, pediatric anesthesia program directors, and sixteen enthusiastic pediatric anesthesia trainees.
Day 1 began with a “meet and greet” lunch, providing a chance for fellows to connect with one another and with the esteemed faculty. During this session, participants completed a pre-bootcamp questionnaire and continued with a 3-hour training session at the Simulation Center featuring the five stations listed below:
- Hands-on Pig Cricothyrotomy: This session was led by Drs. Sridhar, Upton and David.
- Crisis Scenario Segment: Facilitated by Drs. Vanga, Clark and Pednekar, this session involved a timed and immersive neonatal airway crisis leading to cardiac arrest.
- Airway: Drs. Matuszczak and Mani (MD Anderson) provided hands-on training with fiberoptic and video laryngoscopes.
- Line station: Drs. Elliott and Gangadharan engaged participants in intraosseous (IO) training and interactive mannequin-guided line placements.
- ECMO and Cardiac Bypass: Drs. Scholl and Hill, along with Joe Wagner (perfusionist) and Chad Rupprecht (ECMO), featured an interactive discussion on the ECMO and Cardiac Bypass station, including examination of equipment and understanding of circuit engagement and disengagement.
Day 2 began with a Texan-style breakfast, followed by an interactive session on effective communication skills by Dr. Caplan (TCH), which focused on delivering bad news.
Dr. Ekeoduru then led a lecture on Ethical Concerns in Anesthesiology, covering topics such as peri-operative DNR reconciliation, assent, mature minors vs. emancipated minors, and FDA Pediatric Neurotoxicity warnings. Later, an immersive 1-hour workshop on Disaster Preparedness, led by Dr. Gangadharan and her team, included segments on “Stop the Bleed”, “Incident Command Mass Casualty OR Management”, and Intraop Polytrauma”.
Debriefing sessions provided an opportunity for fellows and volunteers to discuss and ask questions. These non-clinical, yet impactful, topics were selected to broaden the fellows’ knowledge beyond typical one-year fellowship experiences.
The third component of the bootcamp included “Hands-on Workshops” focusing on airway management, regional anesthesia, neuraxial techniques, and Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS). Conducted by experts from various institutions, including UT Houston, TCH (Houston & Austin), ACH, and Moffitt Cancer Center, fellows rotated through 30-minute stations in small groups, with each rotation separated by 5-minute intervals. A mini simulation scenario also demonstrated EKG changes in a pediatric asthmatic patient following albuterol administration. Pediatric anesthesia faculty, anesthesia technicians, and student volunteers actively participated throughout this phase.
Drs. Teima and Khan ensured that the program proceeded smoothly and on schedule, and Miss Nancy Bonilla and Miss Denise Lopez served as program coordinators, further ensuring the success of the boot camp.
Upon conclusion, participants completed a post-bootcamp questionnaire to assess its effectiveness. Feedback was collected through a survey to refine future iterations of the bootcamp.
Overall, the bootcamp met its objectives by promoting collaboration among academic organizations, enhancing fellowship knowledge, and fostering strong professional relationships among attendees. It not only forged strong team bond but also served as a valuable tool for generating interest in pediatric anesthesia among McGovern medical students and school volunteers.
The Division of Pediatric Anesthesiology extends its heartfelt gratitude to Drs. Eltzschig and Artime as well as Mr. Ed Fink for their invaluable contribution in facilitating this highly productive bootcamp and advancing the reputation of UT.
For more information and suggestions, please contact Dr. Sabina Khan at [email protected].