Texas Tech University HSC El Paso Program

The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso is designed to train surgical intensivists to provide high-quality and timely surgical critical care. The program emphasizes trauma care and encompasses responsibilities such as resuscitation, critical analysis of data, dissemination of research findings, and education of residents and students.

During the one-year fellowship, participants will acquire a solid foundation in surgical critical care which will enable them to successfully pass the surgical critical care certifying exam. The curriculum includes extensive training in surgical intensive care units as well as specialized care for trauma patients.

Curriculum and Rotations

The educational experience includes a comprehensive approach to surgical critical care. The primary training is structured around at least eight months of surgical critical care rotations, compliant with ACGME requirements, complemented by four months of elective rotations. Elective options include Cardiac ICU, Neuro ICU, Trauma, or Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

Research Skills Development

A significant aspect of the fellowship includes developing research skills. Fellows will learn to formulate relevant research questions, collect and analyze data, and write and submit scientific abstracts to meetings. Additionally, they will prepare and deliver a one-hour continuing medical education presentation and be expected to publish a scientific manuscript in an accredited medical or surgical journal post-fellowship.

Unique Training Features

The fellowship incorporates specialized training exercises, such as simulation activities focused on end-of-life care for patients who are unconscious and on mechanical ventilation. These are integral to developing thorough preparedness for real-world clinical situations.

Morbidity and Mortality Conferences

Fellows participate in monthly trauma morbidity and mortality conferences, where each case is analyzed for root causes and classified using the Clavien-Dindo classification system of adverse events. This experience is essential for learning from clinical practice and understanding complications that arise within surgical critical care.

Employment Readiness

Upon completing the fellowship, graduates will be equipped with the expertise necessary for employment as attending surgical critical care physicians. The combination of clinical training and research experience aims to produce skilled professionals ready to make substantial contributions to the field of surgical critical care.

Visa Support and Competitiveness

The program offers visa sponsorships that include J-1 and H-1B visa types for international medical graduates. The fellowship is competitive and actively encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds, including DO and IMG candidates.

Application Requirements

Applicants to the program should note that there may be specific application requirements such as the year of graduation from medical school and limitations on failed Step exams. It is essential to review these prerequisites and ensure eligibility when applying, as this could impact the competitiveness of the application.