Acute and Reconstructive Burn and Wound Care Fellowship
Akron Children’s is now offering an accredited one-year fellowship in Acute and Reconstructive Burn Care. This unique fellowship will expose the fellow to all facets of burn care including injury prevention, burn education and outreach, acute burn care (including critical care), reconstructive burn care, rehabilitation and out-patient burn care. In addition to the key medical and surgical components, fellows will gain experience in ethics, team building and communication, hospital and practice finance, burn center administration and verification, quality improvement, and research through interaction with various disciplines.
About this Fellowship
The fellowship is open to graduating general surgery and plastic surgery residents as well as residents in the middle of their training (PGY-3 or greater).
An additional 1-year ACGME accredited Surgical Critical Care Fellowship is available in conjunction with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation for candidates desiring to be board certified in Surgical Critical Care.
MISSION
To provide the fellow with an exceptional clinical, operative and administrative experience coupled with a rigorous educational and didactic curriculum enabling the fellow to emerge as not just a leader in burn care, but overall, an outstanding physician.
BURN CENTER
The Paul and Carol David Foundation Burn Institute is an American Burn Association Verified Adult and Pediatric Burn Center – one of only two in Ohio. The technologically advanced 12-bed unit (all critical care capable) is self-sufficient with an attached out-patient clinic, three treatment bays, a triage room, procedure room, and therapy room. The burn center admits approximately 260 patients/year and the outpatient clinic sees over 3,250 visits/year including >1100 new patients.
In addition to thermal, chemical, electrical and inhalation injuries, the burn center provides treatment for frostbite injuries, exfoliative skin diseases and complex wounds – including pressure injuries, traumatic soft-tissue injuries, and surgical wounds.
STAFFING
The burn center is primarily staffed by two dedicated burn and critical care fellowship trained surgeons, one of whom is additionally certified in plastic and reconstructive surgery.
There are ten advanced practice providers that assist with the management of the inpatients and coordinate the outpatient care 24 hours/day, 7 days/week.
CLINICAL EXPERIENCE:
- Fellows clinic for the evaluation of new patients and management of post-operative patients.
- Operative experience:
- Acute burn cases: ~275
- Reconstructive cases: ~50
- Other cases: ~100
- Laser cases: ~100
- Advanced training in Reconstructive Laser Surgery
- Advanced training in sedation practices
DIDACTIC/EDUCATIONAL/ADMINISTRATIVE EXPERIENCE:
- Daily teaching rounds
- Weekly multi-disciplinary rounds
- Weekly Tuesday morning educational conference
- Monthly Burn morbidity and mortality conference
- Quarterly Burn quality assurance and performance improvement
- Monthly Burn research meeting
- Additional lectures and presentations (journal clubs, webinars, etc.)
- Certification as ABLS Provider and potentially Instructor (if not already)
- Fellows will engage with hospital finance, quality officers, and administrators
ADDITIONAL BENEFITS
- Financial support for attendance at the American Burn Association Annual Meeting
- Financial support to attend any meeting at which the fellow is presenting as primary author/researcher.
How to Apply
For more information, please contact Anjay Khandelwal, MD (Fellowship Director) at akhandelwal@akronchildrens.org
Stipends & Benefits
Akron Children’s accredited fellowship programs offer:
Stipends
(Effective July 1, 2025)
PL-4 – $75,794
PL-5 – $77,309
PL-6 -- $78,856
Vacation
House offices are granted 3 weeks of vacation or 15 customary working days.
Conference Time
Fellows are entitled to 5 days of conference time each year for medical conventions and courses outside the hospital.
Educational Allowance
Fellows are provided $1,500 annually for use toward medical-related journals or books, conferences, and license renewals.
Research and Scholarship Travel
The Department of Pediatrics encourages and supports investigator-initiated research by subspecialty fellows. Therefore, the Department supports research-related travel when the fellow is in good academic and professional standing, and when prior written approval of the program director is documented. All hospital policies relating to travel must be followed.
Although the policy relates to presentation at a national forum, requests for support for presentation at a regional forum are considered on a case-by-case basis.
Additionally, funding may be available to offset costs for professional conferences (travel, lodging, registration, meals) if not presenting scholarly activity.
Professional Liability
Professional liability insurance is provided by the hospital.
Health Benefits
Fellows, and their dependents, are eligible to enroll in the hospital’s health, dental, and vision insurance programs. Costs are shared between the fellow and the hospital. Benefits are available immediately.
Retirement Benefits
Fellows may participate in the Hospital’s 403(b) Plan from their date of hire. Match dollars are not available to fellows.
Other Benefits
- Group Term Life Insurance equal to one time the fellow’s annual income, with an option to purchase additional coverage in increments of annual earnings.
- Dependent Life Insurance coverage and Medical Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts.
- Voluntary Universal Life, Accident & Critical Illness through Trustmark & Home& Auto through Met Life.
- Employee Assistance Program available to all fellows and their families.
- Short and Long Term Disability benefits available, effective for three months following start date.
Medical License & DEA
Fellows are required to obtain an Ohio State Medical License and DEA certificate prior to beginning training.
Parking
A key access card for convenient parking is provided at no charge.
Lab Coats
One embroidered lab coat is provided, if desired.
Meals
Fellows are given $70 every week for use in the hospital cafeteria.
Relocation expenses
The hospital provides reimbursement for initial relocation expenses, up to $1,000, subject to current tax laws.
Smoke, Electronic Cigarette and Tobacco Free Campus
Akron Children’s is a tobacco-free healthcare system. Prospective employees who test positive for nicotine will have their offer of employment rescinded and will not be permitted to start work.
