NYU Langone’s Division of Neonatology offers a three-year, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education–accredited fellowship in neonatal–perinatal medicine, with training in two neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) locations: the NICU at Tisch Hospital and the NICU at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue. Training in clinical care as well as basic science and clinical research is provided through comprehensive programs designed for fellows who are interested in a career in neonatology.

See below for frequently asked questions about the program.

Neonatal Clinical Care Training

Fellows develop competence in the management of critically ill neonates, which include techniques of neonatal resuscitation, venous and arterial access, endotracheal intubation, preparation for transport and the actual transport of critically ill infants, ventilatory and cardiovascular support, continuous monitoring, temperature control, nutritional support, selective cooling for hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) patients, clinical management of neonatal extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) patients, long-term developmental assessment tools such as Bayley 4 tests, and general principles of critical care.

Through a joint venture with City University of New York, fellows have access to neonatal simulation training, including mock codes and procedural training, at the New York Simulation Center for the Health Sciences (NYSIM). Fellows practice airway management, chest tube placement, needle aspiration, and electroencephalogram electrode placement at procedural skill stations. In megacode scenarios with high-fidelity mannequins, you perform a variety of procedures, such as perinatal depression for HIE. Fellows also learn how to manage hydrops fetalis, difficult and emergent airways, and abdominal wall defects.

Fellows train in the outpatient Neonatal Comprehensive Care Program and cardiac follow-up clinic, which provide multidisciplinary evaluation services and comprehensive care for premature and low-birth-weight babies at risk for neurological or developmental problems, as well as those with cardiac conditions. Fellows also have the opportunity to complete a rotation at the Congenital Cardiovascular Care Unit (CCVCU).

Neonatal Research Training

In addition to clinical training, the fellowship includes 18 months of research. Fellows may pursue scholarly activity in a variety of areas including basic, clinical, or translational biomedicine; health services; quality improvement; bioethics; education; and public policy. They work with faculty mentors in neonatology and focus on bench-to-bedside research that translates basic scientific findings into therapeutic treatments for patients and increases understanding of disease processes and interventions.

Training in basic science or clinical research involves a series of scientific seminars in case management and research that help you present research ideas and clinical observations. Trainees also learn about grant preparation and research administration skills.

Funding is provided through generous gifts to the Division of Neonatology.

Neonatology Fellows

Fellows in the division help treat children and participate in research to prepare for a career in neonatology. They also mentor medical students conducting neonatology research projects though the Jack Cary Eichenbaum Summer Scholars Program.

Third-Year Fellows

Aashish V. Shah, MD
Hometown: Dix Hills, New York
Residency: NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Favorite thing to do: Knicks games at MSG
Email: Aashish.Shah@NYULangone.org

Second-Year Fellows

Reshma Silas, MBBS
Hometown: Melbourne, Australia
Residency: Apollo Hospitals, India
Favorite thing to do in New York City: To walk around and explore the city
Email: Reshma.Silas@NYULangone.org

Margaret Christian, MD
Hometown: Lake Hopatcong, New Jersey
Residency: Columbia University, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital
Favorite thing to do in New York City: Exploring small cafes to find the best pastries and coffees (so far, the winner is the Hungarian Pastry Shop)
Email: Margaret.Christian@NYULangone.org

Natalia Mavrogiannis, MD
Hometown: Westfield, New Jersey
Residency: NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Favorite thing to do in New York City: the parks (especially Bryant Park during the holidays), all the restaurants, and socializing with my co-workers
Email: Natalia.Mavrogiannis@NYULangone.org

Jordan Nelson, MD
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Residency: Morristown Medical Center, Atlantic Health
Favorite thing to do in New York City: Watch a Leafs vs Rangers game at MSG
Email: Jordan.Nelson@NYULangone.org

First-Year Fellows

Nadia Campbell, MD
Hometown: Bronx, NY
Residency: NYU Grossman Long Island School of Medicine
Favorite thing to do in New York City: try new restaurants/Brunch
Email: Nadia.Campbell@NYULangone.org

Ronique Gordon, MD
Hometown: Jamaica
Residency: Flushing Hospital Medical Center
Favorite thing to do in New York City: sightseeing, Broadway shows, visiting museums and experiencing food from different cultures
Email: Ronique.Gordon@NYULangone.org

Paige Siegenthaler, MD
Hometown: New Providence, NJ
Residency: NYU Grossman School of Medicine
Favorite thing to do in New York City: try new restaurants, discover all the coffee shops, and visit the winter village around Christmas time
Email: Paige.Siegenthaler@NYULangone.org

Neonatology Fellowship FAQs

Below are some commonly asked questions about the NYU / Bellevue Neonatology Fellowship.

What is the schedule overview for the three years?

Our schedule is broken down by calendar month. Over your 36 months in the program, you will have approximately 14 to 15 months of service time and 3 months of vacation (broken into two-week blocks every 6 months), with the remaining months a combination of research and sick call and an elective block in the pediatric cardiac intensive care unit.

First-year fellows usually have six months of service, with never more than a month consecutively on service. Second years usually have about five months of service, and third years have about three months of service.

What is the day-to-day schedule for a fellow?

On-service fellows start their day at 7:00AM by receiving sign-out from the night team. Rounds usually begin at 9:00AM, with the time before devoted to looking at lab results and imaging studies. Rounds are usually until 12:00PM, depending on the acuity, with fellows leading rounds but also available to step away for emergency deliveries or procedures. Afternoons are devoted to patient care, lectures and conferences, and family meetings. Sign-out is at 4:00PM to the night fellow on weekdays or the following morning for weekend 24-hour shifts.

How does the call schedule work?

Team 1 (the resident team) and Bellevue service fellows are on call the Friday and Saturday of that week to keep continuity for those teams the following week. The other six fellows are on call Sunday through Thursday. On average, you have one call about every eight days.

What is the breakdown of teams between the units?

NYU’s NICU has two medical teams, Team 1 and Team 2. Team 1 is the resident team, consisting of a second-year senior resident and two first-year residents. Rounds and the patients placed on the team tend to be more academic in nature, with scheduled learning throughout the week. Team 2 at NYU Langone is the provider team, usually consisting of three NP/PAs per shift; this is the designated team for ECMO. There is also a Team 3 at NYU Langone consisting of one attending, who helps triage new admissions, transports, and emergent deliveries. Bellevue has one team that also consists of three NP/PAs per shift.

How do transports work?

The NICUs at NYU Langone and at NYC Health + Hospitals/Bellevue are the regional perinatal centers for their respective hospital systems. Transports are received through our transport centers and coordinated on timing with the referring hospital. Any transport where patient is not on room air at NYU Langone and all transports going to Bellevue require a fellow to be the transport. Although the fellows who are scheduled to work are ultimately responsible for the transport, off-service fellows are offered the opportunity to go on the transport for extra pay.

What research opportunities / expectations are available through the fellowship?

One of the benefits of the NYU Langone ecosystem is the access to the many different schools and disciplines to shape one’s research idea for a vast array of subjects in neonatology. Previous research done by fellows have ranged from traditional bench and clinical research within the unit to medical education, financial implications of prematurity, social inequality in neonatology, palliative care in the NICU, and many other areas.

First-year fellows are expected to start exploring research ideas by talking to various faculty and seeing their research projects and starting to formulate their own idea. By the beginning of the second year, the project should be solidified and approved by the Institutional Review Board. Third years are expected to complete their research, write a manuscript, and present at various research conferences.

Where do fellows normally live?

Fellows have lived happily in a variety of areas. The majority live somewhere in Manhattan or in northern New Jersey. Some live very close to the hospital, but other options abound. The Upper East Side and Long Island City are also popular options, as they are a relatively easy commute to the hospital.

Is there maternity / paternity leave?

Yes. Many of our fellows have children and we are happy to offer maternity / paternity leave. Fellows are allowed to take six to eight weeks of leave, which can be combined with vacation time. Service blocks will be worked around the leave time, and calls for the academic year will be made up either before or after the leave, depending on the schedule.

How do holidays and vacations work?

There are eight federal holidays (Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year’s Day) that we make into three-day weekends. Fellows work two out of these eight holidays and are on sick call for one other holiday. Vacations are broken up as two two-week blocks every six months.

Are there fellow events or socials?

We love to do monthly get-togethers, birthday celebrations and events with our fellows. We also have a yearly retreat during which all fellows are excused from clinical duties; previous retreats have included a Broadway show, a boat cruise, and axe-throwing.

Contact Us

For more information about the neonatal–perinatal medicine fellowship, contact Elizabeth Tavarez, program coordinator, at Elizabeth.Tavarez@NYULangone.org; Dhurata Baci, MPH, program manager, at Dhurata.Baci@NYULangone.org; Erin L. Cicalese, MD, associate fellowship director, at Erin.Cicalese@NYULangone.org; or Robert M. Angert, MD, fellowship director, at Robert.Angert@NYULangone.org.