Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship Program
Application period will be open Jan. 12-23, 2026.
Register for our webinar on Dec. 4 to learn more.
APP Fellowship Program
Transform your career in just 10 short months through the Cook Children’s APP Fellowship Program. This fellowship is designed to support the clinical and professional growth of highly motivated nurse practitioners and physician assistants. You'll engage in both core and elective immersive rotations, developing expertise in general pediatrics, while benefiting from a structured didactic curriculum for each rotation. The program emphasizes hands-on learning through skills practice, simulation and real-world patient care experiences to help foster confidence and clinical proficiency.
Our team will support you through dedicated mentorship and interprofessional collaboration, all while you have the opportunity to complete an evidence-based practice project, translating your learning into meaningful improvements to patient care and outcomes.
Mark your calendar.
Learn more about the APP Fellowship at our live informational session on Dec. 4. Your future awaits!
What our team is saying:
We are excited to welcome passionate APPs to our Pediatric Fellowship! We hope that these APPs will cultivate their skills and take this journey with us to grow their talents, confidence, and competence, and stay with us for decades to come.
The APP Fellowship is committed to supporting your growth as you transition into your new role. We’re excited to see how you will improve patient outcomes, support families, and shape the future of pediatric healthcare.
The fellowship combines didactic education, simulation training and mentored clinical rotations. Core topics include:
- Emergency medicine
- General pediatrics
- Hospital medicine
- Otolaryngology
- Professional development and leadership skills
- Pulmonology
- Urgent care
The Cook Children’s Advanced Practice Provider Fellowship is dedicated to developing highly skilled pediatric advanced practice providers, who deliver high quality, evidence-based, and compassionate care. Through comprehensive clinical training, practical learning, and interdisciplinary collaboration, we prepare fellows to advance child health outcomes, improve access to quality care, and embody our organization’s commitment to improve the well-being of every child in our care and in our community, recognizing that every child's life is sacred.
To develop exceptional APPs who deliver comprehensive, evidence-based care and are well-equipped to navigate pediatric health care as skilled, resilient and compassionate professionals.
- Prepare fellows with advanced pediatric knowledge, evidence-based practice skills and specialty-specific training to improve child health outcomes that recognize and respect the diverse needs of families.
- Develop advanced practice providers who demonstrate proficiency in pediatric clinical competencies and deliver patient care in alignment with established benchmarks in all core clinical rotations.
- Foster fellows’ ability to integrate research findings, quality improvement methods and emerging technologies into their clinical practice culminating in a scholarly project to be presented at the end of the fellowship.
- Prepare fellows to deliver coordinated, full-spectrum pediatric care across inpatient and outpatient settings.
- Cultivate a fellowship environment that models empathy, teamwork and professional resilience, ensuring graduates are well-equipped to thrive in a demanding health care environment using a structured mentorship program, wellness education and interprofessional, multidisciplinary team training that supports professional growth and work-life balance.
- Expand the impact of the APP fellowship program over the next three years by developing additional training opportunities across multiple sites with the Cook Children's Health Care System.
What is the General Pediatric Advanced Practice Fellowship?
This 10-month fellowship is a structured postgraduate training program designed to support newly graduated or transitioning nurse practitioners and physician assistants in developing advanced clinical skills in pediatric care. Fellows receive intensive clinical and didactic education while working under the guidance of experienced pediatric providers.
What is the goal of the fellowship?
The program’s goal is to bridge the gap between academic preparation and independent practice, fostering clinical confidence, competence, and professional growth in the care of infants, children and adolescents.
Where does the fellowship take place?
The fellowship is based at Cook Children’s Medical Center, a leading pediatric health care institution located in Fort Worth, Texas, with clinical rotations across our inpatient, outpatient and specialty care settings.
How long is the program?
The fellowship is 10 months in duration, beginning in September and concluding in July of the following year.
How many fellows are accepted into the program?
There will be two APP fellows accepted into the program this year with plans to expand to more fellows in the future.
Who is eligible to apply?
Applicants must be:
- Licensed or license-eligible nurse practitioners (PNP, FNP) or physician assistants.
- Recent graduates or practicing APPs seeking to transition into pediatrics.
- Must have Texas licensure and national certification by June 1, prior to program start date.
How do I apply?
Applications are submitted online through our hospital’s career portal at: LINK. Required materials include:
- Current CV/resume
- Personal statement
- Two letters of recommendation
- Fellowship questionnaire
What is the application timeline?
Jan. 12-23, 2026: Application window is open
Apply at Careers at Cook Children's.
Feb. 2-6, 2026: First round of interviews via Zoom
March 5: Final in-person interviews
April 1: Final candidates will be notified
How competitive is the selection process?
The program expects to receive a high volume of applications each year. Candidates are selected based on academic excellence, clinical experience, professional references and demonstrated commitment to pediatric care.
What does the curriculum include?
The fellowship combines didactic education, simulation training and mentored clinical rotations. Core topics include:
- General pediatrics
- Urgent care
- Emergency medicine
- Hospital medicine and newborn care
- Pulmonology
- Professional development and leadership skills
How much clinical time will fellows have?
Fellows spend approximately 90% of their time in direct clinical practice under the supervision of experienced pediatric providers, with 10% devoted to didactic learning and simulation.
Are there research or quality improvement opportunities?
Yes. Fellows participate in an evidence-based project during the program.
Are fellows employed by Cook Children’s?
Yes. Fellows are full-time employees of Cook Children’s and receive salary and benefits during the program.
What is the compensation and benefits package?
Fellows receive a competitive salary, health and dental insurance, paid time off, and access to professional development resources. Specific salary information is available upon request or during the interview process.
Will fellows be offered a position after completion of the program?
While employment is not guaranteed, fellows who successfully complete the program are highly competitive for APP positions within our health care system.
Who can I contact for more information?
Please email appfellowship@cookchildrens.org for questions about the fellowship or application process.
Where can I learn more about Cook Children’s?
Visit Cook Children's Health Care System for more details about our system, Careers at Cook Children's for open positions.
Contact us with questions about our fellowship
Email: appfellowship@cookchildrens.org.
Dana Landavazo, MS, PA-C, serves as the manager of the Advanced Practice Provider (APP) Fellowship at Cook Children’s. She's been part of the Cook Children’s family since 2016, practicing in urgent care and serving as an APP supervisor for eight of those years. In her leadership role, Dana developed a comprehensive onboarding program for new hires that incorporates hands-on simulation experiences to promote confidence, skill development and patient-centered care.
A graduate of Saint Louis University’s Physician Assistant Program, Dana began her career after earning a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from the University of Kansas. She is Lean Six Sigma Yellow Belt certified, has been recognized as a Peak Performer twice during her tenure at Cook Children’s, and is currently pursuing her doctorate degree in medical science at Shenandoah University.
Originally from Kansas, Dana has called Texas home since 2011. Outside of work, she enjoys spending time with her husband and their two children. She loves cheering on her kids in their various sports and finds joy in baking and gardening.
Dana is passionate about supporting APPs in their professional growth, fostering lifelong learning and creating innovative training opportunities that enhance both provider confidence and quality of care for the families served by Cook Children’s.