Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Fellowship
The Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Fellowship is a one-year program that prepares individuals for the clinical and academic practice of children's orthopedics.
The Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Fellowship is designed to prepare trainees to become leaders in all facets of pediatric orthopedics. Our program fosters a supportive and dynamic learning environment that empowers fellows to recognize their strengths, address areas for growth, and achieve their professional goals.
We are committed to training compassionate, skilled, and thoughtful surgeons who are equipped to deliver safe, comprehensive care across all practice settings—including ambulatory clinics, trauma care, surgical procedures, teaching, and leadership roles.
To support competency-based education, our curriculum emphasizes direct observation, individualized mentoring, and timely feedback. Fellows benefit from structured academic and research time, with access to dedicated mentorship and resources to support scholarly activity and career development.
Our program encourages lifelong learning and professional connection beyond the fellowship year. We take pride in preparing future colleagues who will advance the field and improve outcomes for pediatric patients now and in the future.
What You Need to Know
Curriculum
The Pediatric Orthopedic Surgery Fellowship is a one-year training program using the preceptor model of teaching. The fellow is assigned to a pediatric orthopedist attending physician (preceptor) on a two-month rotation throughout the year. This program is ACGME accredited.
During the rotation, the fellow works in a close relationship with the preceptor and their respective practices in both the clinic and surgical setting. The fellow is involved in clinical decision making for inpatients consults, outpatient evaluations and surgical decisions in tandem with their assigned preceptor. The fellow takes emergency room call when their preceptor is on call.
In the surgical setting, the fellow participates at a level deemed appropriate by the preceptor and in accordance with the hospital's rules and regulations. In the clinical setting, the fellow evaluates and treats patients under the supervision of the preceptor. The fellow assists in decision-making and continuing care of the patient, including initial management (operative and/or non-operative) and follow-up care.
In all settings, the fellow is expected to teach and mentor rotating orthopedic residents, emergency medicine rotators, medical students and allied staff. Administrative, academic, clinical and surgical functions are evaluated throughout the course of the program to ensure progression in mastering the Pediatric Orthopedic Fellow goals and objectives and to provide feedback for performance improvement and self-directed learning.
The program is structured to provide graduated clinical responsibility under direct supervision and guidance of the surgical faculty.
Didactics
- Daily Indications/ Rounds: Review emergency room and operative cases of the previous day, review the x-ray of consultations and discuss the cases and care plan.
- Weekly Reading Conference: Curriculum from standard texts with current literature incorporated into the program every 8 weeks.
- Weekly X-Ray Conference: Interesting cases are presented by Staff, Orthopedics Residents and Fellow. Cases are from staff clinics, unusual cases, preoperative presentations or emergency room consultations and are open discussion.
- Morbidity and Mortality Conference: The conference is incorporated ever eight weeks.
- Orthopedic Grand Rounds: Citywide, attended by three orthopedica teaching programs and staff. Grand Rounds occurs monthly September through June.
- Pediatric Fracture Conference: Pediatric specific fracture topics are presented and discussed. All levels of teaching staff and fellows participate. Occurs monthly September through June.
Faculty and Fellows
Research
Research education and training are vital to the mission of Nationwide Children's Hospital and The Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital. As a top-ten free-standing pediatric research center and an academic affiliate of The Ohio State University, The Research Institute has an outstanding faculty, dedicated to training and mentoring the next generation of scientists in pediatric research.
Research space and assistance for pediatric orthopedics use is made available in the Wexner Institute for Pediatric Research on an individual project basis. Additionally, the department has a dedicated Orthopedic library containing all texts, journals (bound and electronic versions), DVDs, CDs, etc. The fellow will attend a module lecture series entitled "Clinical Research Methodology". Staff biostatisticians are available as well.
Research at Nationwide Children's Hospital
Advocacy
Advocacy training fosters and encourages interest in child advocacy by early involvement and exposure to its many aspects such as addressing social determinants of health, community collaboration, health finance, health policy and legislative advocacy.
Eligibility and Application
Interested candidates should have completed an ACGME-accredited orthopedic surgery residency program and should be certified board-eligible by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery.
Application Requirements
- This program utilizes the San Francisco Match platform.
- Application Deadline: December 15, 2025 at 11:59 PM.
- Please note that although registration is open up until the match deadline, applicants are encouraged to register as early as possible to allow time for application and interviews, ideally by November 2025.
Interview Process
Interviews will take place in January and February of 2026. Please note that the interviews will be held in person. Please contact Jennifer Denny if you have any questions regarding this process.
Contact
For more information, please contact:
Kevin E. Klingele, MD
Program Director
Jennifer Denny
Program Director
Phone: (614) 722-3393
Fax: (614) 722-3373
Jennifer.Denny@NationwideChildrens.org
