Pediatric Critical Care Fellowship Program
Leadership Statement
As Fellowship Director, it is my privilege and honor to foster the ongoing growth and development of the next generation of Pediatric Critical Care providers. Recognizing that leadership is truly a relationship built upon reciprocated respect and trust, we strive to provide our adult learners with an immersive educational experience that provides graduated autonomy. In the ever-advancing medical field, it is our mission to remain at the forefront of innovation while respecting the importance of securing a strong foundation in the core principals of Pediatric Critical Care.
Tara Petersen, MD, MSEd
Fellowship Director, Pediatric Critical Care
Pediatric Critical Care Fellow Tour
As a fellow, you will...
- Experience a 36-month curriculum that is divided roughly into 16 months of clinical work and 20 months of research activities.
- The first year of fellowship is divided into 2- and 4-week blocks. This first year of Critical Care Training is highly clinically focused with exposure to a diverse patient population across the medical, surgical/trauma and cardiac pediatric ICUs. All first-year fellows receive PALS and ATLS certification as well as attend the National Pediatric Critical Care First Year Fellow Simulation Bootcamp.
- Clinical service during the second and third years is done one week at a time, which allows for increased time dedicated to your scholarly project and ongoing career development including the opportunity to attend classes scheduled at the Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, programmatic development, allowance for increased blocks of time in the laboratory, etc. Second year fellows attend the Clinical Research Course at the semi-annual Pediatric Acute Lung Injury and Sepsis Investigators (PALISI) Conference. Third year fellows attend the National Pediatric Critical Care Senior Fellow Simulation Bootcamp which is hosted right here at MCW/Children’s Wisconsin.
Details
Our Fellowship in Photos
Our Spaces & Places
I find immense value in the ability to work as a multidisciplinary group within the PICU. Our institution has many great minds and leaders in their respective fields. The opportunity to have an open and collegial discussion with other subspecialties regarding not only patient care but ongoing research and education has been instrumental in my growth and development as a fellow. There is a great respect for the fact that our hospital is a teaching institution on many levels and faculty take every opportunity to teach and mentor trainees.”
A former Fellow
Our Third Year Fellows (2019-2022)
John Benson, MD
Medical School: Creighton University School of Medicine
Pediatric Residency: Dell Children’s Medical Center of Central Texas
Favorite ice cream: Cookie Dough
Favorite hobby: Music
Favorite Disney movie: Star Wars Episode V Empire Strikes Back
Kathryn Higdon, MD
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Pediatric Residency: Spectrum Health - Michigan State University
Favorite ice cream: Ben & Jerry's Half Baked
Favorite hobby: Dancing
Favorite Disney movie: Beauty and the Beast
Vickren Pillay, MD
Medical School: Medical University of the Americas – Nevis
Pediatric Residency: Louisiana State University Health Science Center
Favorite ice cream: Cotton Candy
Favorite hobby: Spending time with twin girls
Favorite Disney movie: Winnie the Pooh
Kelsey Wehrenberg, DO
Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
Pediatric Residency: University of Florida at Orlando Health
Favorite ice cream: Jeni's Brambleberry Crisp
Favorite hobby: Scuba Diving and Running
Favorite Disney movie: Mulan
Besma Jaber, MD
Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School
Pediatric Residency: Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals
Favorite ice cream: Leon’s Butter Pecan
Favorite hobby: Makeup Artistry
Favorite Disney movie: Aladdin
Our Second Year Fellows (2020-2023)
Fatima Ajmal, MD
Medical School: University of Birmingham College of Medical and Dental Sciences
Residency: AdventHealth Orlando
Favorite ice cream: Stracciatella
Favorite hobby: Painting
Favorite Disney movie: The Lion King
Cameron Kasmai, MD
Medical School: Meharry Medical College
Residency: Spectrum Health/Michigan State University/Helen DeVos Children's Hospital
Favorite hobby: Golf
Favorite Disney movie: Robin Hood
Christena McBride, MD
Medical School: Loma Linda University School of Medicine
Residency: Oregon Health & Science University
Favorite ice cream: Mint Chocolate Chip
Favorite hobby: Skiing
Favorite Disney movie: Coco
Merritt Tuttle, MD
Medical School: Saint Louis University School of Medicine
Residency: Medical College of Wisconsin
Favorite ice cream: Peanut Butter
Favorite hobby: Hiking
Favorite Disney movie: The Emperor’s New Groove
Our First Year Fellows (2021-2024)
Melissa Chiu, MD
Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine
Residency: Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals
Favorite ice cream: Black Sesame
Favorite hobby: Making my own earrings
Favorite Disney movie: Lilo and Stitch
Angelica Ostrowski, DO
Medical School: Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine of Midwestern University
Residency: Advocate Children’s Hospital – Oak Lawn
Favorite ice cream: Classic chocolate or anything from Jeni’s
Favorite hobby: Travelling
Favorite Disney movie: Moana
Krista Parran, MD
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Residency: Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals
Favorite ice cream: Pistachio
Favorite hobby: Outdoor recreation of all types (hiking, biking, paddling, running, swimming, skiing) and growing plants.
Favorite Disney movie: I was deprived of Disney movies as a child, so my favorite is still probably the first one I saw...a French dubbed version of little mermaid in French class.
Meaghan Reany, DO
Medical School: Lincoln Memorial DeBusk College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
Favorite ice cream: Mint Chocolate Chip
Favorite hobby: Running
Favorite Disney movie: Moana
Our Team
Tara Petersen, MD, MSEd
Director, Fellowship Program
Favorite ice cream: Kopp’s Red Raspberry
Favorite hobby: Exploring new places – both close to home and further away!
Favorite Disney movie: Moana
Shilpa Narayan, MD
Associate Director, Fellowship Program
Favorite ice cream: Cookies and Cream
Favorite hobby: travelling and painting
Favorite Disney movie: Moana
Maggie Reichertz
Fellowship Coordinator
Favorite ice cream: Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Favorite hobby: Hiking
Favorite Disney movie: Mulan
Contact Us
Department of Pediatrics
9000 W. Wisconsin Ave. MS 681
Milwaukee, WI 53226
Maggie Reichertz
Pediatrics Critical Care
(414) 337-6773
mreichertz@mcw.edu