Pediatric Pulmonology Fellowship Program

Why Choose Our Program?

  • Opportunity for a Combined Curriculum: The opportunity exists for medicine-pediatrics trained individuals to pursue a combined five-year curriculum. At the completion of this curriculum, fellows are able to become certified in pediatric pulmonology, and dual certified in pulmonary disease and critical care medicine.
  • Sleep Medicine Expertise: Our fellows have the opportunity to learn from national experts in sleep medicine about disorders such as sleep apnea, insomnia, and narcolepsy. Dr. Heidi Connolly, an alumna of our Pediatric Pulmonology Fellowship, holds four board certifications and is Director of Pediatric Sleep Services at the Strong Sleep Disorders Center and Division Chief of Pediatric Sleep Medicine at URMC.
  • Engaged Program Director: The Program Director serves on all of our fellows’ Scholarship Oversight Committees, complementing the work of the committee and helping to insure the professional development of each trainee’s research portfolio. This close guidance has contributed to fellows consistently obtaining departmental and external funding awards and presenting at national meetings.
  • Department Support: The Chair of the Department of Pediatrics and/or the Vice Chair of Education, meet quarterly with fellows from our subspecialty training programs in an informal roundtable setting to offer mentorship and research guidance. The department provides financial support for each fellow to present at one national conference as this contributes to their professional development and hones their presentation and networking skills.

Welcome from the Program Director


Our Mission


  • Develop skills to provide expert clinical care for children and adolescents with disorders of the respiratory system
  • Provide scientific skills and expertise that will allow fellows to become independently funded investigators
  • Establish a solid knowledge base and skills to guide, instruct, and teach others the fundamentals of lung function and clinical care
  • Build administrative and time management skills


What Sets Us Apart



Flexible Curriculum

There is flexibility in the program, and it is not uncommon for residents to change tracks during training as their learning objectives and career goals evolve. The division is extremely supportive of fellows pursuing an advanced degree, including a Master of Science in Clinical Investigation (MS-CLI), by providing dedicated time for course work. Ninety-five percent of tuition is covered by the University.


State-of-the-Art Children's Hospital

Our state-of-the-art children's hospital encompasses nearly 245,000 square feet of space dedicated to children and their families. Phase II, completed in 2017, includes new pediatric operating rooms, a pediatric cardiac surgery center, a gastroenterology procedure suite, and a new PICU. The Pediatric Intensive Care Unit/Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care Unit is the largest intensive care service for children in western and central New York.

A National Leader in Improving Quality and Safety

ACGME has chosen URMC to be one of eight institutions to help transform the way we improve quality and safety. Our fellows play a key role in changing the clinical learning environment here at our institution and across the country. This initiative furthers our commitment to continuously improve health care by advancing the quality of physician education.


What Our Graduates Say...

Hannah Giunta

In this fellowship, you are not just a number or a body. Your education is personalized which allows you to pursue unique interests and passions.

Hannah Giunta, D.O., Ph.D., M.P.H.


Current Position: Assistant Professor, Neonatology & Pediatric Pulmonology, Nationwide Children’s Hospital, Columbus, OH

Medical School: Michigan State University
Residency: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN
Hometown: Peoria, IL