Tower Health Program

The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at Tower Health prepares eligible learners to sit for and pass the Surgical Critical Care Certifying Examination administered by the American Board of Surgery. The program emphasizes managing critically ill patients in the surgical intensive care unit (ICU) and the trauma resuscitation area of the emergency department. The fellowship includes an intense bedside experience in a 21-bed ICU, directed by a faculty of nine full-time surgical intensivists, supported by twelve advanced practitioners and a complete complement of surgical residents 1.

Fellows in the program are expected to spend nine months in the ICU and at least two months on the trauma service, with one elective month available to explore other related specialties within acute care surgery. A substantial portion of the training—eight months—is concentrated at Reading Hospital in West Reading, Pennsylvania, with up to four months at affiliated sites in Philadelphia, including one month at The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and one at Penn Presbyterian Medical Center. Additionally, fellows may complete a month of Pediatric Surgical Critical Care at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in Philadelphia 1.

Curriculum

The fellowship curriculum includes dedicated didactic sessions at Reading Hospital, supplemented by educational tasks at affiliated sites. Important elements of the educational framework are weekly lectures based on the Decker Curriculum, a monthly Surgical Critical Care Journal Club, and the Department of Surgery morbidity and mortality (M&M) meetings occurring twice monthly. Fellows will engage in quality and performance improvement activities through peer review meetings focused on trauma and acute care surgery 2.

In terms of academic expectations, fellows must complete scholarly activities before graduation, which could involve research or quality improvement projects. They have access to all resources at Reading Hospital to facilitate these endeavors, including the opportunity to craft or update clinical management guidelines during their training. This process will involve literature review, guideline development, and the management of education and implementation efforts 1.

Faculty

The fellowship is overseen by a diverse group of faculty members, including the program director, Christopher A Butts, DO, who serves as the Medical Director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit. The faculty is composed of highly qualified individuals with various subspecialty interests within surgical critical care, trauma, and acute care surgery. The faculty's commitment to education is evident in the involvement of several members in medical student and resident training 3.

Fellowship Experience

Fellows at Tower Health gain comprehensive exposure to the full spectrum of surgical critical care. They benefit from mentorship in clinical settings and have opportunities to present at Critical Care Grand Rounds. This experience encompasses various aspects of critical care, including neurocritical care and medical critical care. Furthermore, fellows are expected to present their research and findings during Grand Rounds 1.

Application Process and Visa Support

For those interested in applying, Tower Health utilizes the standardized application form through the SAFAS platform, with participation in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). The program supports visa applications for J-1 and H-1B visa types, facilitating international candidates who wish to undertake this fellowship 5.

Competitiveness and Selection Criteria

The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship is noted for its competitiveness. Applicants are expected to demonstrate strong academic performance and clinical experience, and there may be specific criteria regarding the year of graduation and the maximum number of failed STEP examinations allowed. Candidates with diverse educational backgrounds, including those from Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) or International Medical Graduate (IMG) pathways, are welcome to apply, making the fellowship more accessible and inclusive 5.