Pediatric Fellowships

Pediatric Urology Fellowship

Program Director

Kathleen Kieran, MD, MS, MME, FACS, FAAP

Program Overview

Established in 1990, the Pediatric Urology Fellowship is distinguished by the broad exposure fellows receive to both complex urologic reconstruction and minimally invasive techniques, including robotic-assisted laparoscopy, in addition to general pediatric urology. The second year is unique in that a fellow is given graduated responsibility as a junior faculty member in conjunction with a research emphasis.

Fellows gain clinical exposure at Seattle Children's, a 403-licensed-bed facility. The Pediatric Urology service is responsible for 2,000 surgical cases a year, and fellows are actively involved in patient care in the operating room, clinic and inpatient units. Fellows will also spend some time in patient care at the University of Washington Medical Center.

Year 1 is an ACGME-approved clinical year. The fellow spends the majority of time on patient care responsibilities in the operating room, ambulatory clinic and inpatient units working with the faculty. Year 2 consists of research with some clinical responsibilities. The second year is, in fact, a junior staff position at the University of Washington with a significant emphasis on a mentored research project. This means that the fellow essentially has his or her own practice during the second year while under the umbrella of the fellowship faculty.

During the second year, fellows may engage in basic science or clinical science research. Areas of research include quality, safety, health services and clinical research in the Urology and Neurodevelopmental Departments, with the potential to earn a master’s of science in epidemiology. Other areas of study have included late stage effects of childhood malignancy therapy, long-term fertility outcomes in pediatric oncology patients, robotic/haptic technology research and research in urinary tract infection.

Length of fellowship: 2 years

Number of fellowships available: 1

Recent graduates

2011: Dr. Ismael Zamilpa – associate professor, University of Arkansas
2012: Dr. Micah Jacobs – associate professor, fellowship director, UT Southwestern
2013: Dr. Ruthie Su – assistant professor, University of Wisconsin
2014: Dr. Ardavan Akhavan – assistant professor, director of pediatric robotic surgery, Cornell University
2015: Dr. Katie Willihnganz-Lawson – Pediatric Surgical Associates, Minneapolis, Minnesota
2016: Dr. Jonathan Ellison – assistant professor, University of Washington, Seattle Children’s Hospital
2017: Dr. Jennifer Ahn – assistant professor, University of Washington, Seattle Children’s Hospital
2018: Dr. Courtney Rowe – Connecticut Children’s Medical Center
2019: Dr. Claudia Berrondo – assistant professor, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska
2020: Dr. Katie Canalichio – Norton Healthcare, Louisville, Kentucky
2021: Dr. Shannon Cannon – assistant professor, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin

Application Requirements

Prerequisites/post–medical school requirements

Candidates must have completed an ACGME-approved residency in urology or the equivalent.

Application materials

Society of Pediatric Urology Universal Application
Updated curriculum vitae
At least three letters of recommendation
Personal statement
Application deadline: February 1, 2022
Interview dates: February 28, 2022, and April 11, 2022*
Match date: June 2022

* When interviews are held in person, we host an optional dinner for applicants and division faculty on the evening prior to the formal interview day.