Updates

Education and Training Maternal-Fetal Anesthesia Fellowship Program

Rapid advances in fetal therapy, increasing procedural complexity, and the expansion of indications for fetal surgery have created a growing need for highly specialized anesthesiologists with dedicated expertise in providing high-quality, coordinated care for pregnant patients and their fetuses who are undergoing fetal interventions and surgical procedures.  

 Our fellowship – the first of its kind – addresses this need.

About the Program  

The Maternal-Fetal Anesthesia Fellowship Program is a one-year non-ACGME accredited program, approved by the Texas Medical Board. The fellowship program, which will open for applications for the 2027-28 academic year, takes place at the Texas Children’s Fetal Center. This PGY6 fellowship is designed to seamlessly follow either obstetric or pediatric anesthesia fellowship training. It will provide advanced, structured, and supervised training in the complex anesthetic management of both maternal and fetal patients undergoing fetal surgery. 

Fellows will be exposed to a wide variety of fetal interventions, including minimally-invasive, hybrid, and open fetal surgery as well as EXIT procedures. Fellows will hone skills in the perioperative anesthetic management of both pregnant patients and fetuses, including  

  • Complex, dynamic maternal-fetal physiology 
  • Management of maternal and fetal emergencies  
  • Fetal monitoring during fetal surgery 
  • In utero fetal resuscitation 

Fellows will also have opportunities to develop skills in leadership, team dynamics, ethics, research, and simulation.  

The fellowship is structured as a hybrid academic program with the following approximate allocation: 

  • Clinical Training: 60% (include selective fetoscopic laser photocoagulation, thoraco- and vesicoamniotic shunt placement, intrauterine transfusions, fetoscopic myelomeningocele repairs, fetoscopic gastroschisis repairs, fetal cardiac interventions, fetal endoscopic tracheal occlusion balloon placement, EXIT procedures, coordinated cesarean deliveries, and other innovative procedures) 
  • Academic, Educational, and Research Activities: 40% (to include scientific abstract submission and presentation; clinical research; educational content creation for local, regional, and national presentation; involvement in relevant medical societies such as the SMFA) 

Clinical and academic activities are fully integrated and occur under institutional oversight. 

Meet our Faculty  

About the Texas Children’s Fetal Center 

Learn more at Texas Children's Fetal Center

Curriculum 

Core Rotations 

  • Maternal-Fetal Anesthesia 
  • Pediatric or Obstetric Anesthesia (depending on fellow’s PGY5 training) 

Potential Elective Rotations 

  • Fetal Intervention 
  • Neonatology 
  • Maternal-Fetal Medicine 
  • Blood bank 
  • OB Critical Care 

Didactics 

  • Maternal-Fetal Anesthesia Core Lecture Series 
  • Ethics of Maternal-Fetal Anesthesia Lecture Series 
  • NRP, PALS certification 
  • Perinatal Bereavement Training 
  • Hands-on workshops  
  • Simulation 

Admissions 

Application Process 

Interested applicants will submit the following to Davelyn Smith at dlsmith1@texaschildrens.org.

  • Cover letter 
  • Curriculum vitae 
  • Personal statement 
  • 3 letters of recommendation  

Selected applicants will be invited to interview with members of the Maternal-Fetal Anesthesia Division, as well as representatives from the Division of Fetal Intervention.