MedStar Health Georgetown University Program

The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at MedStar Washington Hospital Center is a one-year, ACGME-accredited program designed to train surgeons specifically in the subspecialty of surgical critical care. This fellowship program emphasizes a robust education in the management of critically ill surgical patients, offering a multidisciplinary approach within a well-integrated faculty that includes specialists from trauma and acute care surgery, emergency medicine, anesthesia, and pulmonology. The program is firmly established within the Department of Critical Care, ensuring a comprehensive educational experience.

One of the hallmark features of the program is the structured yet flexible curriculum that allows fellows to tailor their training according to individual clinical interests and career goals. The fellowship is committed to providing a solid foundation of advanced surgical and critical care knowledge, enabling fellows to master the skills needed for managing patients across all age groups. Trainees will have the opportunities to engage deeply in both clinical and academic settings, developing skills requisite for teaching and research in critical care medicine 1.

Curriculum

The curriculum for the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship is designed to adequately prepare the fellows for various clinical environments. The program focuses on critical care principles applicable in both academic centers and high-volume clinical settings. Throughout the fellowship, a significant emphasis is placed on bedside teaching and administrative procedures. Core components of the curriculum include substantial clinical exposure to surgical ICUs, cardiovascular ICUs, and palliative care rotations, ensuring a well-rounded experience. In addition to core rotations, fellows may choose electives in related disciplines such as trauma surgery, acute care surgery, anesthesia, and echocardiography. Furthermore, fellows are encouraged to design personalized electives tailored to their interests 1.

Rotations and Call Schedule

Fellows in the program engage in core SICU rotations aimed at achieving clinical mastery. The program acknowledges the adult learning model and self-assessment, allowing fellows to set specific educational goals and tailor their experiences. Each fellow is expected to cover four calls per month—two involving trauma service coverage and two covering surgical critical care units, providing a balance of responsibilities and learning opportunities 1.

Training Location

The fellowship is situated at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, one of the largest hospitals in the Mid-Atlantic region. This location offers a unique surgical critical care program supported by an integrated, multidisciplinary system for managing critically ill patients resulting from surgical conditions and traumatic injuries. This dynamic environment plays a crucial role in enriching the fellows' training experiences 1.

Application Information

Eligibility for the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship includes surgical residents who are completing their general surgical residency by June 30 or those who have completed three years of surgical residency. The application process requires candidates to apply directly through the Surgical Critical Care Program Directors Society website. Furthermore, the program generally accepts applications from candidates who have not exceeded a certain number of failed STEP exams, although specifics can vary depending on the program's guidelines 2.

Visa Support

The program provides visa support for international medical graduates seeking to enroll in the fellowship. Visa sponsorship is typically oriented toward J-1 visas, which allows for temporary visits for educational purposes. It is advisable for international applicants to verify the specific types of visas supported by the program during the application process.

Competitiveness

The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at MedStar Washington Hospital Center is considered competitive, attracting a diverse applicant pool, including U.S. citizens and international medical graduates. The program actively seeks to create an inclusive environment and encourages applications from candidates with various backgrounds, including DO and IMG candidates who meet the eligibility criteria.

Current Fellows

The fellowship hosts a diverse group of current fellows, each coming from various prestigious medical backgrounds and possessing unique experiences. By engaging with peers who have graduated from respected medical schools and completed rigorous residency programs, fellows benefit greatly from diverse perspectives and mentorship opportunities available throughout their training 3.