"The two challenges I've been following closely over the last year are staffing shortages and the need for more research in the field. This is a unique subspecialty in medicine, and burnout is common among providers and allied health staff. I believe that the right hiring and screening processes can help limit staff turnover and get employees in the positions that are right for them. As far as research is concerned, I recently read about the shift from receiving funding from industry to receiving more federal grants, and this poses a big challenge. I am highly interested in research and innovation in the field, and I would love to someday pursue grants in airway interventions and infection prevention."

Before your PICU Fellowship interviews, research this question and be prepared to talk about a couple of issues. You may also consider offering a suggestion to fix the issues you mention. As you research, you'll quickly see that the field of Pediatric Critical Care medicine deals with issues like staffing, research translation, innovation, and access to care.