Mission

The mission of the Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine Fellowship Program at West Virginia University is to train diverse neonatologists who will provide compassionate, evidence-based care to neonates, particularly the underserved communities in West Virginia and our nation. In addition to being well-rounded clinicians, graduates will also show an aptitude for teaching, research, clinical quality improvement, or advocacy to further the field of Neonatology.   

To accomplish our mission, the curriculum is designed to help fellows reach the following aims:

1. Educate fellows to be excellent clinical neonatologists, who can care for critically ill neonates in any hospital setting and who can assess and appropriately incorporate new research into their practice.
2. Provide fellows with opportunities and resources to become excellent teachers at the bedside, in the simulation lab, and in the classroom.
3. Prepare fellows to plan clinical research and quality improvement projects and to lead a multidisciplinary team in these efforts.
4. Help fellows adapt to the needs of underserved communities unique to Appalachia and become expert facilitators of transitions across healthcare settings.
5. Build fellows’ resilience, time-management skills, and recognition of the need for a lifelong strategy for personal wellness to have personal and professional success.
6. Guide fellows to develop a particular expertise in at least one facet of clinical practice, research, education, quality improvement, or advocacy that allows them to serve as a content expert in local, regional, and national medical communities.