The fetoneonatology fellowship: a unified subspecialty for the fetal-neonatal continuum

Advances in fetal diagnosis and therapy have created a need for clinicians with expertise spanning prenatal assessment and neonatal care. Current maternal fetal medicine and neonatology training pathways remain largely separate, leaving gaps in knowledge of placental pathology, fetal surveillance, antenatal interventions, and their neonatal consequences. We propose a fetoneonatology fellowship for graduates of neonatal and potentially obstetric residency programs at academic centers with maternal fetal medicine services, Level IV neonatal intensive care units, and placental pathology expertise. The three-year curriculum would include one year of fetal medicine and placental biology and two years of neonatal intensive care training integrated through a Fetal Neonatal Bridge Curriculum. An optional advanced track would emphasize continuity care, research, and artificial intelligence-supported practice. This model aims to improve prenatal neonatal correlation, trainee preparedness, and family communication, and could evolve from a super fellowship into an accredited subspecialty.