Child Abuse and Neglect Fellowship Program
Specific information by years and/or rotation
Research expectations and opportunities
General information on outcomes of fellows
Additional information about the Child Abuse and Neglect Fellowship Program
Overview and mission
In 2001, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia inaugurated Safe Place: The Center for Child Protection and Health. Safe Place unites the Hospital's many existing services to further enhance the security of vulnerable children by launching innovative and comprehensive initiatives. Safe Place provides comprehensive, accessible quality health care to children who have been maltreated and those in substitute care. Through a multidisciplinary team model, the Center promotes safety, health and developmental well-being in the life of the vulnerable child. In addition to quality patient care, the Center provides an organizational structure that fosters professional collaboration in research, education, patient care, prevention and advocacy.
A three-year fellowship in child maltreatment is included among Safe Place's many endeavors. The fellowship trains a pediatrician to become a leader in the growing subspecialty of child maltreatment.
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia identifies and treats more child abuse victims than any medical institution in Pennsylvania. Abused children are referred to the hospital from physicians, hospitals, law enforcement and social service agencies throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the state of New Jersey. The Children's Hospital Child Abuse Team was created in 1974. This multidisciplinary team consists of physicians, social workers, nurses, psychologists and other hospital personnel who have a long-standing interest and extensive experience in diagnosing and providing intervention for abused children.
Fellowship training program director
David Rubin, MD
Division of General Pediatrics
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4399
215-590-3815
rubin@email.chop.edu
Safe Place co-directors
Cindy W. Christian, MD
Division of General Pediatrics
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4399
215-590-2058
christian@email.chop.edu
Department of Psychology
Judith A. Silver, PhD
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4399
215-590-7723
silverj@email.chop.edu
Division chief
Louis M. Bell, MD
Division of General Pediatrics
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
34th Street and Civic Center Boulevard
Philadelphia, PA 19104-4399
215-590-1964
belll@email.chop.edu
Specific information by years and/or rotation
Year one
The first year is a clinical year, with the fellow focusing on ambulatory and inpatient care as well as participating in all clinical activities associated with the fellowship.
Years two and three
The fellow continues to engage in clinical activities, with the added concentration on research training and conducting activities and projects in consultation with the fellowship director and other faculty.
The fellowship in Child Abuse and Neglect prepares the physician for a career in the prevention and care of abused children. The fellow is involved in the clinical care of abused children, including court testimony related to children seen at the hospital, research in the field of abuse, education of medical personnel and the multidisciplinary approach to caring for abused children. The fellow engages in a variety of activities related to the care of abused children, including:
- Inpatient evaluations: provides consultation to the pediatric and surgical teams in the hospital when children are admitted with injuries or illnesses that are thought to be the result of abuse or neglect
- CARE Clinic: works with the social work coordinator and the attending physician to provide medical evaluations of children who are victims of physical and sexual abuse
- Starting Young: works with an interdisciplinary team to provide comprehensive evaluations of children from birth to three years of age who are served by the welfare system
- Foster Care Clinic: works with the attending physician to provide primary care to children in substitute care
- Research: develops research skills and learns research techniques under the guidance of pediatricians and epidemiologists with expertise in medical research design. The fellowship assumes the publication of scientific papers.
- Teaching: participates in the education of medical students, pediatric and surgical residents, allied health professionals, law enforcement personnel, social workers and lawyers in the area of abuse
- Multidisciplinary work: the identification and care of the abused child is a complex problem requiring expertise from multiple agencies. The fellow works with professionals involved in the evaluation and care of abused children.
Research expectations and opportunities
The fellow is expected to enhance research skills with the expectation that he or she will obtain a Masters Degree in Epidemiology, Biostatistics or the equivalent. The fellow will be expected to publish in a peer-reviewed journal with case reviews/chapters in the first year and experimental research by the completion of the fellowship.
General information on outcomes of fellows
Past trainees continue their active involvement in the field and many have become nationally recognized for their work with abused children.
Additional information about the Child Abuse and Neglect Fellowship Program
Contact Us
- 215-590-4923
