Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics Fellowship Program
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Transforming pediatric care: The Tufts Medicine-Boston Children’s Hospital developmental-behavioral pediatric fellowship

The Tufts Medicine–Boston Children’s Hospital Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics (DBP) Fellowship is an outstanding three-year ACGME-accredited program designed for pediatricians committed to enhancing the well-being and resilience of neurodiverse children, youth and their families. Our program empowers families to navigate and overcome barriers to their child's growth and development through family-centered, multidisciplinary, evidence-based assessment and follow-up care within a culture of mutual respect and understanding.

Fellows gain invaluable hands-on experience in diagnosing and supporting individuals with diverse developmental profiles, including autism spectrum disorders, attention challenges, intellectual disabilities and learning differences. Our program offers a rich tapestry of clinical training, research, and academic development, with rotations through core DBP clinics such as the Early Childhood Clinic, Fellow’s Follow-up Clinic, Learning and Education Assessment Program and the NICU Follow-up Clinic.

Working alongside specialists in psychiatry, genetics, neurology, psychology, speech and language, social work and a variety of learners, fellows provide comprehensive care and participate in weekly didactics, journal clubs and neurobehavioral conferences. We ensure protected time for research, advocacy and scholarly projects, nurturing fellows into clinical scholars and exposing them to the full breadth of the DBP field. Our mission is to mentor fellows as they pursue their professional goals, fostering their growth into leaders and advocates in developmental-behavioral pediatrics.

  • Length: 3 years, ACGME-accredited
  • Conditions covered: Autism, ADHD, learning differences, developmental delays and behavioral disorders
  • Clinical settings: Interdisciplinary clinics including LEAP, NICU follow-up and early childhood
  • Team-based care: Collaboration with psychiatry, psychology, genetics, neurology, speech and language, social work and more
  • Education: Weekly teaching sessions, case conferences and academic mentorship
  • Career prep: Board eligibility in DBP plus a strong foundation for academic or leadership roles
Contact
user
Cindy Bruce
Pediatric Fellowship Coordinator
What you’ll gain during the fellowship
1:1
To support your goals and growth
Mentorship
100%
Training with experts in psychiatry, neurology, genetics, speech and language therapy, social work and more
Interdisciplinary

Fellows gain hands-on experience in a wide range of interdisciplinary clinics, including the Early Childhood Clinic, LEAP Program and NICU follow-up. These settings give you exposure to children with diverse needs and allow you to work closely with families, schools and other providers. You’ll learn how to build strong therapeutic relationships and provide comprehensive, coordinated care.

Our program goes beyond clinical training. Fellows participate in weekly didactics, case conferences and journal clubs to deepen their knowledge and sharpen their teaching skills. With mentorship from faculty across multiple disciplines, you’ll also have dedicated time for research, advocacy and scholarly projects that match your interests.

Whether you want to pursue a role in academic medicine, program development or direct patient care, our fellowship prepares you for the next step. You’ll finish the program board-eligible in DBP and equipped with the tools to make a lasting impact in the lives of children and families.

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