Pediatric Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship

The UC San Francisco Department of Emergency Medicine and Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine offer a one-year Pediatric Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship Program. 

Our fellowship program recruits pediatric emergency medicine (PEM) fellowship-trained physicians seeking to become leaders in PEM ultrasound education, research, and management. Curriculum consists of scanning shifts supervised by ultrasound faculty at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals (San Francisco and Oakland), and at our other clinical sites (the emergency departments at UCSF Helen Diller Medical Center at Parnassus Heights and Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center). 

In addition to exposure to a medically, socially, and ethnically diverse local and referral patient population, fellows benefit from individualized video review, didactic sessions, and opportunities for rotations in other departments. Compensation is commensurate with the PGY level set by UCSF.

Pediatric Fellowship Alumni

Recruitment Mission Statement

The Pediatric Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship is committed to training future leaders in pediatric point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) through comprehensive clinical training, academic mentorship, and a strong focus on health equity. Our mission is to equip fellows with the skills and confidence to deliver high-quality, image-informed care to diverse pediatric populations, contribute to the growing body of ultrasound scholarship, and advance the field of pediatric emergency ultrasound through education, innovation, and advocacy.  

We:

• Seek to recruit applicants who are passionate about POCUS and aim to be leaders and innovators.  
• Strive to provide a broad range of exciting and unique opportunities through the vast resources UCSF and the Bay Area provide and are looking for applicants who seek to take advantage of and leverage those opportunities.  
• Aim to promote diversity among our providers and facilitate a culture that is inclusive for the division, staff, and our patient population.

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Why Choose UCSF for Pediatric Emergency Ultrasound Training

• Train in diverse clinical environments, including a top-ranked children’s hospital: UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals consistently rank among the nation’s best pediatric hospitals by U.S. News & World Report, with a high-volume, high-acuity emergency department that offers clinical exposure to a medically, socially, and ethnically diverse local and referral patient population. 

   

• Integrated clinical and academic training: Gain hands-on experience and mentorship in bedside ultrasound from nationally recognized faculty who are leaders in point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) application, research, and education. Our program offers a unique combination of passionate mentors and experts working at the intersection of POCUS and medical education, machine learning, diagnostic strategy research, and nerve blocks, among other areas.

• Comprehensive POCUS curriculum: Master a wide range of pediatric and general emergency ultrasound applications through a structured curriculum that includes image review, simulation, didactics, and one-on-one scanning sessions.

• Collaborative, multidisciplinary environment: Work alongside experts in pediatric surgery, critical care, radiology, and general emergency medicine in a culture that prioritizes innovation, equity, and evidence-based care.

• Protected time for scholarship and career development: Benefit from dedicated time for research, quality improvement, and professional growth, with support to present at national meetings such as SAEM, ACEP, and PEM-specific conferences. Fellows also have the opportunity to take an additional medical education (e.g., the Health Professions Education Pathway) or research course (TICR Program Seminar for First-Year Master's and Certificate Program Scholar).

• Bay Area lifestyle: Live and train in San Francisco, one of the most dynamic and culturally rich cities in the United States, with access to world-class food, outdoor activities, and a vibrant medical and academic community.

Maytal Firnberg, MD – Fellowship Program Director

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Dr. Maytal Firnberg is the Director of the Pediatric Emergency Ultrasound Fellowship, an assistant clinical professor of Emergency Medicine, and a pediatric emergency physician who cares for patients with a variety of urgent conditions. Her areas of expertise include point-of-care ultrasound, medical education, machine learning, and prehospital care.  Dr. Firnberg earned her medical degree from New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York. She then completed a residency in pediatrics at Northwell Health Cohen Children's Medical Center, an affiliate of Hofstra University, followed by fellowships in pediatric emergency medicine (at NewYork-Presbyterian Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital) and emergency ultrasound (at UCSF)

Faculty

Our faculty have taught extensively at the regional and national level and are actively conducting research in the field of emergency ultrasound. 

In addition to Dr. Firnberg, our pediatric emergency medicine ultrasound faculty include:

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Aaron Kornblith, MD

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Margaret Lin-Martore, MD

 

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Ashkon Shaahinfar, MD, MPH

Our emergency ultrasound faculty, all of whom are all ultrasound-trained, include: 

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Nancy Anaya, MD

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Kavita Gandhi, MD, PhD

 

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Sally Graglia, MD, MPH

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Starr Knight, MD

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Liz Kwan, MD

 

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Ralph Wang, MD, MAS

How to Apply

Eligibility

• Graduate of an ACGME-approved Pediatric Emergency Medicine fellowship program
• Board eligible or board certified in Pediatric Emergency Medicine
• Must possess a California Medical License and a valid DEA license in order to begin the training program
• Visas: Our department cannot sponsor J-1 or H-1B visas for non-ACGME fellows

Application Process

Please submit the following documents online:

• A cover letter explaining your interest in pediatric emergency ultrasound and any previous experience
• Curriculum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation (one of which must be from your fellowship director and another from your department's ultrasound director, if you have one at your institution)

Prospective applicants must also register for the match through the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Our NRMP Program Code is 1062E01F0.

Contact

For questions about the application process:

• [email protected][email protected] , fellowship coordinator

For questions about the program:

• [email protected][email protected] , fellowship program director (and/or visit EUS Fellowships for more information)