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Pediatric Ethics Fellowship

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Children’s Mercy is among the country’s premier free-standing independent children’s hospitals. We are consistently ranked among the leading children's hospitals in the country and host 40+ subspeciality training programs, including the Pediatric Ethics Fellowship. This 12-month fellowship, established in 2013, is open to professionals from multiple disciplines.

The mission of the Children’s Mercy Pediatric Ethics Fellowship is to advance the interprofessional field of pediatric ethics by training future leaders in bioethics scholarship, education, and consultation to improve the health and welfare of all children.

Each fellow undertakes at least one mentored research project, engages in the Clinical Ethics Consult Service with an aim of earning the Healthcare Ethics Consultant-Certified (HEC-C) Credential, completes the Certificate Program in Pediatric Bioethics, and actively contributes to the Children’s Mercy Ethics Committee and other unit-specific ethics forums. Learn more about Graduate Medical Education at Children’s Mercy, including benefits.

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Clinical Experience

Fellows actively participate with our Clinical Ethics Consultation Service, gaining skills in responding to ethical dilemmas around the institution in preparation for obtaining HEC-C credential at the end of the fellowship.

Academic curriculum

At a minimum, the Pediatric Ethics fellow participates in the Certificate Program in Pediatric Bioethics, the Ethics Committee (and related Ethics Brown Bag and Ethics Forums), Alumni Speaker Series, VitalTalk communication training, and Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction Training.

Research and Scholarship

Fellows are expected to complete a minimum of one mentored project during the academic year. Fellows must also prepare and submit at least two abstracts, including one to the American Society of Bioethics and Humanities, and present at least one educational seminar.  

Faculty and fellows

Fellows work alongside faculty from the Children’s Mercy Bioethics Center.

Apply for the program

Learn how to apply for this fellowship and begin the application process. 

Our Pediatric Ethics Fellowship team

Kelstan Ellis, DO, MS-CR, MBe
Program Director
(816) 458-4913
klellis1@cmh.edu

Sarah King, MS, C-TAGME
Director of Fellowships
srking@cmh.edu

Jennifer Pearl, BS
Fellowship Liaison 
(816) 731-7154
jepearl@cmh.edu

More about Children’s Mercy fellowships

Fellowship Home

Common Curriculum and Didactics

Conferences and Events

Salaries and Benefits

Wellness Programs

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