Developmental and Behavioral Pediatric Fellowship Program
The Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics offers an accredited three-year fellowship program for one pediatrician each year.
Fellows in the program work closely with the seven ABP-certified developmental-behavioral pediatricians and one neurodevelopmental disabilities pediatrician. With their supervision, fellows see and evaluate several children a day. The issues addressed include diagnosis, the medical work-up indicated, what, if any, pharmacotherapy is needed, behavior management and a knowledge of the other intervention strategies that would be helpful (educational, psychological, nutritional, etc.).
The fellows and other physicians work very closely with the other clinicians on the unit, including our neuropsychologists, speech and language pathologists, social workers, educators, physical therapists and occupational therapists in evaluating and devising intervention strategies.
In addition to the CCSN, the Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics also is responsible for a satellite evaluation center in a town about 1 hour north-west of Boston, and for the care of children in a residential facility for children with developmental disabilities.
We are a teaching unit of the Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine. We participate in various medical school teaching programs. All pediatric residents have rotations with us (one month each in their first year). Family medicine, child neurology and child psychiatry residents also spend time with us. Fellows are an integral part of our teaching program and are expected to participate in the clinical precepting and seminar presentations we provide.
Over the course of the three-year fellowship each Fellow designs and carries out an original clinical research study. This can be an independent project or a specified part of a project that is ongoing at the Center. Current research in the Division includes:
-Early intervention for children at risk for developing ADD/ODD (parent training groups located in pediatric practices).
-Association of TV watching with children’s development and behavior problems.
-Early identification of feeding difficulties and growth problems among premature infants.
-Barriers to early identification of children with autistic spectrum disorder
-Children’s understanding and response to stigma.
-Development of obesity among children with autism.
-Effect of parental peer mentoring on health and wellness of children with special health care -needs.
-Effect of a neuro-feedback program on children’s ability to maintain focus on tasks
Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) Program
In the third year fellows participate in our Leadership Education in Neuro-developmental Disabilities (LEND) program in which they focus on policy and system issues that impact on the lives of children with chronic health problems and disabilities.
The LEND Program provides Fellowships in interdisciplinary leadership training to health care professionals, teachers and family members who have had experience working with children or adults with disabilities and their families.
In a milieu that is designed to nurture and challenge potential leaders, fellows attend seminars, conduct projects pertinent to improving maternal and child health service delivery systems, develop partnerships with families, engage in grant writing, and participate in outcome and other research projects.
Over the course of the year, Fellows gain in-depth knowledge of the systems within which people with special health care needs and their families live and work, improve their interpersonal leadership skills, and work on the development of their own vision of change. Many of the seminar sessions are given by today’s leaders in the field, encouraging the development of a network system that will continue beyond the fellowship year.
As a result of a unique relationship with Suffolk University, fellows have the option to have their LEND coursework be credited toward a Master’s degree in Health or Public Administration. Details about this program can be found on the EK Shriver Center LEND Program Web site.
For further information about Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship:
Karen J. Miller, MD, Program Director
Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Training Program
Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics
Floating Hospital for Children at Tufts Medical Center
800 Washington Street, Box 334
Boston, MA 02111
Contact information:
kmiller7@tuftsmedicalcenter.org
Phone: (617) 636-8011
Fax: (617) 636-5621