About the Program

The Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine (PEM) offers a two-year or three-year fellowship at VCU Medical Center and the Children’s Hospital of Richmond (CHoR).

 

Accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) in 2016, VCU’s Pediatric Emergency Medicine Fellowship aims to develop outstanding clinicians who are dedicated to the advancement of Pediatric Emergency Medicine through leadership, research and education.   

Our program is committed to a comprehensive educational curriculum, in a supportive and inclusive learning environment, that covers the breadth and depth of pediatric emergency medicine content through didactic sessions and simulation training to enhance the fellows’ clinical knowledge, diagnostic and critical reasoning skills while addressing resilience and wellness. We strive to ensure that our fellows are equipped to navigate the continually changing landscape of medicine, the academic environment, and patient needs. We aim to graduate resilient, innovative leaders and educational scholars.

 

 

Clinical Setting

Fellows rotate through the busiest Level 1 trauma center in Virginia, which is the only one in the commonwealth certified by the American College of Surgeons in adult, pediatric and burn care. The emergency department (ED) also operates as the hospital’s tertiary referral center. We see an average of 24,000 patients each year.

 

 

Children's Hospital of Richmond recently completed the construction of the new Children's Tower which consolidates pediatric inpatient and emergency care. This new facility features:

  • 21 Total Exam Rooms
    • 11 “standard” exam rooms
    • 4 behavioral health exam rooms
    • 4 “fast track” exam rooms
    • 1 SANE exam room
    • 1 Bariatric exam room
  • 3 Resuscitation/Trauma rooms
    • 2 major resuscitation/trauma rooms
    • 1 minor resuscitation room
  • CT and Xray

 

Curriculum

Applicants must have completed an ACGME accredited residency in General Pediatrics or Emergency Medicine.

Each year contains 13 four-week blocks, with flexible scheduling as needed. 

Pediatric Track

Those coming to our program from a pediatrics residency will complete three years of fellowship training.

Emergency Medicine Track

Graduates of emergency medicine residencies may complete either two or three years of fellowship training. In the case of a three-year track, the fellow will have the option to obtain additional clinical experiences or pursue coursework toward an advanced degree.

Other Courses

Fellows have the opportunity to participate in certifications and courses offered by VCU and outside institutions, including, but not limited to: 

Academic Development

Every week, fellows have four hours of protected time for educational opportunities including journal club, board review, case conferences, simulation and professional development discussions. 

We match each fellow with a faculty mentor and a scholarly oversight committee to help ensure that they achieve their full clinical and scholarly potential during their time at VCU.

Opportunities to attend major national scientific conferences are available to fellows as well. 

How to Apply

Applicants must be graduates of an ACGME-accredited pediatrics or emergency medicine residency program and be board-eligible in their respective specialty.

We participate in the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP), and accept applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). A complete application includes the minimum documents required by ERAS, in addition to three letters of recommendation, one of which must be from the residency program director. 

You can find our program in ERAS using the ACGME Program ID: 1145111001Specialty: Pediatric Emergency Medicine (Emergency Medicine)

The deadline for ERAS applications is August 15. Completed applications will be reviewed and select candidates will be invited to interview on Tuesdays from September through November. 

Rashida H. Woods, MD

Rashida H. Woods, MD

PEM Fellowship Director

Rashida H. Woods, MD

Rashida H. Woods, MD

PEM Fellowship Director

Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Email: rashida.woods@vcuhealth.org

Ashley Litchfield, MD

Ashley Litchfield, MD

Associate Fellowship Director

Ashley Litchfield, MD

Ashley Litchfield, MD

Associate Fellowship Director

Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine

Email: ashley.litchfield@vcuhealth.org

Sharon Fleming

Sharon Fleming

Fellowship Coordinator

Sharon Fleming

Sharon Fleming

Fellowship Coordinator

Email: sharon.fleming@vcuhealth.org

Life in Richmond

Urban life with a small-town feel

We encourage our students, residents and fellows to maintain a healthy work-life balance, and Richmond is a wonderful place to engage in that well-rounded lifestyle. As the capital of Virginia since 1779, Richmond attracts students, faculty and staff from around the globe. The city’s location affords easy day trips to destinations like Washington, DC, Virginia Beach, Colonial Williamsburg and the Blue Ridge Mountains, among others.

As a mid-sized city with a metropolitan population of 1.3 million, Richmond provides stimulating activities while maintaining its intimate feel and unique vibe. Vibrant neighborhoods offer distinct, diverse experiences, with no shortage of art galleries, museums, music venues, restaurants, breweries and parks. For the outdoor enthusiast, you can’t beat the offerings in the city’s riverfront parks and urban wilderness areas such as white-water rafting, hiking, mountain biking and festivals.

Learn more about our community.

Current Fellows

First Year Fellows

Jordan Hart,DO

Jordan Hart,DO

Jordan Hart,DO

Jordan Hart,DO

Medical School: American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
Residency: General Pediatrics, University at Buffalo School of Medicine

Email: Jordan.Hart@vcuhealth.org

Allison Shaw,MD

Allison Shaw,MD

Allison Shaw,MD

Allison Shaw,MD

Medical School: University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Residency: General Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University

Email: Allison.Shaw@vcuhealth.org

Second Year Fellows

Jillian Korn, MD

Jillian Korn, MD

Jillian Korn, MD

Jillian Korn, MD

Medical School: Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo
Residency: Emergency Medicine, University of Rochester Program - Strong Memorial Hospital of the University of Rochester

Email: Jillian.Korn@vcuhealth.org

Third Year Fellows

Heather Jones, DO

Heather Jones, DO

Heather Jones, DO

Heather Jones, DO

Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Carolinas Campus
Residency: General Pediatrics, Prisma Health/University of South Carolina SOM, Greenville Program

Theodore (Robbie) Parks, MD

Theodore (Robbie) Parks, MD

Theodore (Robbie) Parks, MD

Theodore (Robbie) Parks, MD

Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University
Residency: General Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University

Noreen Petrash, DO

Noreen Petrash, DO

Noreen Petrash, DO

Noreen Petrash, DO

Medical School: Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Virginia Campus
Residency: General Pediatrics, Penn State Milton S Hershey Medical Center Program

Sarah Smith, MD

Sarah Smith, MD

Sarah Smith, MD

Sarah Smith, MD

Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University
Residency: General Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine

Graduated Fellows

2024

Motoki Yasuda, MD

Motoki Yasuda, MD

Motoki Yasuda, MD

Motoki Yasuda, MD

Medical School: Keio University Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
Residency: General Pediatrics, Harlem Hospital Center

2023

Ashley Haggerty, DO

Ashley Haggerty, DO

Ashley Haggerty, DO

Ashley Haggerty, DO

Medical School: Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: General Pediatrics, Lehigh Valley Health Network/University of South Florida College of Medicine Program

2022

Imane Chedid, MD

Imane Chedid, MD

Imane Chedid, MD

Imane Chedid, MD

Emergency Medicine

Medical School: Lebanese University Faculty of Medical Sciences
Residency: Emergency Medicine, American University of Beirut Medical Center

Sarah Williams, MD

Sarah Williams, MD

Sarah Williams, MD

Sarah Williams, MD

Medical School: University of Virginia School of Medicine
Residency: Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern

2021

Michelle Escobar-Medina, MD

Michelle Escobar-Medina, MD

Michelle Escobar-Medina, MD

Michelle Escobar-Medina, MD

Medical School: Universidad Iberoamericana, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
Residency: Emergency Medicine, University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine

2020

Ashley Litchfield, MD

Ashley Litchfield, MD

Ashley Litchfield, MD

Ashley Litchfield, MD

Medical School: Marshall University
Residency: Pediatrics, Virginia Commonwealth University

Sara Marrero-Medina, MD

Sara Marrero-Medina, MD

Sara Marrero-Medina, MD

Sara Marrero-Medina, MD

Medical School: University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
Residency: Emergency Medicine, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan

2019

Deanna Willis, MD

Deanna Willis, MD

Deanna Willis, MD

Deanna Willis, MD

Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University
Residency: Emergency Medicine, Virginia Commonwealth University
Current employment: HCA Chippenham Hospital