Ohio State University Hospital Program

The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at The Ohio State University offers a comprehensive training experience focusing on a range of clinical pathologies. This one-year fellowship is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and has been established for over 30 years. The program includes training for four surgical critical care fellows and two anesthesia critical care fellows. Additionally, there is a two-year Acute Care Surgery fellowship that combines a year of critical care with a year dedicated to acute care surgery.

Training occurs primarily at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, which boasts a variety of specialized facilities, including University Hospital, the Comprehensive Cancer Center, and the Richard M. Ross Heart Hospital. With over 1,600 available hospital beds, including 200 dedicated to critical care, fellows develop the skills necessary to become proficient intensivists. They gain experience in interdisciplinary collaboration, working alongside an array of healthcare professionals including pharmacists, nurses, dietitians, and physical therapists.

The fellowship provides extensive exposure to various critical care situations, including but not limited to:

• Transplant patients at a top Comprehensive Transplant Center.
• Burn patients at an ABA-verified Burn Center.
• Complex trauma cases at a Level 1 ACS Trauma Center handling over 3,000 activations per year.
• Advanced techniques such as ECMO and ultrasonography.

Curriculum

The curriculum ensures broad exposure across multiple intensive care units (ICUs) and unique learning opportunities. The year typically breaks down as follows:

• 6 months in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU).
• 2 months in the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU).
• 1 month in the Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU) or Neurocritical Care Unit (NCCU).
• 1 month in interventional radiology or echocardiography.
• 2 months of elective rotations.

Fellows are also involved in resident education, including participation in quality improvement projects and leading clinical conferences. Given that the Department of Surgery ranks highly for National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding, fellows have the opportunity to engage in numerous clinical and basic science research projects.

Application Information

Prospective fellows must apply via the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP), specifically using code number 1566442F0 for the Surgical Critical Care fellowship. Candidates must have completed at least three years in an ACGME-accredited program in general surgery, neurosurgery, urology, or obstetrics and gynecology before applying.

Visa Support

The program supports visa applications for international medical graduates and typically sponsors J-1 and H-1B visas. This demonstrates the program's commitment to inclusivity and diversity within the medical community.

Competitiveness

The fellowship is considered highly competitive. The program welcomes applications from both U.S. and international medical graduates, providing a friendly environment for DO graduates and international medical graduates (IMGs).

Special Application Requirements

Candidates should note that any previous failed attempts on the USMLE STEP exams will be taken into consideration, which necessitates careful attention to academic performance prior to applying. Additionally, applicants must ensure that they meet all prerequisite requirements to enhance their competitiveness.