Updates

Community Surgical Physician Assistant Fellowship

Overview of Community Surgical PA Fellowship Program

Providing Advanced Pediatric Surgical Training to Physician Assistants

The Community Surgery Physician Assistant Fellowship Program at Texas Children’s Hospital is the first of its kind in the country to provide a specialized training opportunity specifically for physician assistants. This intensive 12-month didactic and clinical pediatric training program ensures a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a full spectrum of pediatric community surgical subspecialties, including general pediatric surgery, orthopedics, otolaryngology, plastic and reconstructive surgery, surgical hospitalists, and urology. 

The one-year program includes clinical pediatric community surgical subspecialty experience, dedicated research time, and specialty workshops to include suture, cadaver and simulation labs. Training will be provided in clinics, on the surgical floors and in the operating room and will involve pre-, intra- and post-operative care. Learn more about our curriculum.

The program is led by Dr. Larry Hollier, Surgeon-in-Chief, Medical Director; Kris Marsack, Community Academic Director; Jacqueline Broda, PA-C, Program Director; Jordan Rodriguez, Project Manager; Magda C. Gonzalez, PA Fellowship Academic Coordinator; Dr. Shawn Stafford, Chief of Community Surgical PA Fellowship Program; Caitlin Schiro, Community Program Director.  

This fellowship program is suitable for both new PA program graduates as well as experienced physician assistants who would like to plan and/or redirect their future career in a surgical subspecialty.

Credentials Awarded

Upon successful completion of the program, a certificate will be awarded from the Texas Children’s Hospital Department of Surgery.

Physician Assistant Training at Texas Children’s Hospital

The pediatric community surgery PA fellowship program at Texas Children’s Hospital was established in 2020. The fellowship program has evolved, grown, and has proven that physician assistants are integral in the success of the department of surgery.

Accreditation Status

Texas Children’s Hospital Community Surgery Physician Assistant Fellowship Program has applied for Postgraduate Accreditation - Provisional from the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA). Texas Children’s Hospital Community Surgery Physician Assistant Fellowship Program anticipates review of its application for Postgraduate Accreditation - Provisional status at the February 2022 ARC-PA meeting.

The ARC-PA has granted Accreditation-Clinical Postgraduate Program status to the Texas Children’s Hospital Community Surgical Physician Assistant Fellowship sponsored by Texas Children’s Hospital. Accreditation-Clinical Postgraduate Program is the status of accreditation granted when a new or currently accredited clinical postgraduate program is in compliance with the Standards for Clinical Postgraduate Programs. Accreditation-clinical postgraduate program remains in effect until the program closes or withdraws from the accreditation process or until accreditation is withdrawn for failure to comply with the Standards, ARC-PA requirements or procedures. Accreditation-Clinical Postgraduate Program does not ensure any subsequent accreditation status. It is limited to no more than five years from matriculation of the first class. The program’s accreditation history can be viewed on the ARC-PA website at http://www.arc-pa.org/accreditation-history-texas-childrens-hospitalsurgery-physician-assistant-fellowship-pg/

Contact Us

For more information about the Community Surgical Physician Assistant Fellowship program, contact 

Magda C. Gonzalez, PA Fellowship Academic Coordinator
Texas Children’s Hospital, Department of Surgery  
Email: SurgicalPAFellowships@texaschildrens.org
Phone: 832-822-6889