Temple University Hospital Program

Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Program Overview

The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia, PA, is a one-year ACGME-approved fellowship program focused on patient care, education, and research. It is situated in a quaternary care urban level one trauma center and an ABA-verified burn center, featuring an active surgical critical care service. The fellowship aims to cultivate academic leaders in surgical critical care and trauma, providing extensive exposure to a broad spectrum of critically ill surgical patients entirely based at Temple University Hospital 1.

Clinical Training

Clinical training is primarily conducted at the Temple University Hospital, which boasts 560 beds, 99 ICU beds, and accommodates over 2500 trauma visits annually. The fellowship emphasizes significant clinical exposure in the Surgical Intensive Care Unit, a state-of-the-art 19-bed unit that sees more than 1500 admissions yearly. The unit manages critically ill patients from surgery, trauma, vascular, and transplant services, thereby allowing fellows to acquire diverse clinical experiences 1.

Fellows also rotate through specialized areas such as the Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit, which serves patients requiring advanced cardiac assist devices and ECMO. The trauma service provides exposure to penetrating injuries, further broadening the fellows' clinical expertise 1.

Scholarly Activity

The program actively encourages scholarly pursuits, with monthly section research meetings designed to foster new project initiatives. Fellows engage in research alongside faculty members, residents, medical students, and various specialists from Temple, thereby enhancing collaborative learning and research impact 1.

Faculty and Mentorship

The Temple Surgical Critical Care Fellowship is supported by a distinguished faculty who are both skilled clinicians and dedicated educators. Faculty members create an encouraging environment that promotes inquiry and scholarship among fellows. Their commitment to teamwork and collaboration fosters a collegial atmosphere conducive to both clinical competencies and academic development 1.

Application Process

One fellowship position is available each year, with prerequisites that include completion of an ACGME-accredited general surgery residency and being board eligible or certified by the American Board of Surgery. The program places importance on the candidate's ability to educate medical students and residents 1.

Applications are processed through the NRMP match, and interested candidates must submit their applications via the SAFAS website. Interviews take place between June and September, with all communications relating to interviews and confirmations sent through email 1.

Visa Support

The program provides visa sponsorship for international candidates, facilitating participation in the fellowship program. It typically supports J-1 and H-1B visas, catering to the needs of international medical graduates and providing the necessary assistance to navigate visa requirements 1.

Competitiveness and Applicant Profile

The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at Temple University is considered competitive, aiming to attract highly qualified applicants. The program maintains an open stance toward applicants from diverse backgrounds, including D.O. and international medical graduates, emphasizing a holistic review process for admissions 1.

Benefits and Compensation

Fellows receive a stipend and benefits that are aligned with the standards set by Temple's Graduate Medical Education policies. Detailed information regarding the stipend scale, benefits, and related policies can be accessed on the Graduate Medical Education website associated with Temple University 1.