UMass Chan - Baystate Program

UMass Chan Medical School - Baystate offers a comprehensive two-year Surgical Critical Care Fellowship program that includes a 1-year ACGME-accredited fellowship followed by an optional 1-year AAST-accredited Acute Care Surgery fellowship. This dual pathway equips fellows with the skills essential for a successful career in surgical critical care.

Integrated Educational Experience

The clinical and educational experiences are centered around the busy 14-bed Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), 16-bed Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU), 16-bed Cardiovascular Care Unit (CVCU), and 10-bed Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU). For hands-on education, fellows engage in multidisciplinary daily rounds that involve critical care attending staff, surgical house staff, nurses, nutritionists, respiratory therapists, medical students, pharmacists, and infection control personnel 1.

Didactic education is enriched with weekly lectures and a dedicated leadership curriculum. Participation in weekly trauma and emergency general surgery morbidity and mortality conferences is mandatory. Fellows are also expected to carry out clinical research, culminating in at least one project suitable for presentation at a national or regional meeting or publication in a peer-reviewed journal 1.

Acute Care Surgery Training

The Acute Care Surgery component offers rotations in a sizable 716-bed hospital and a 34-bed operating room. The training spans across various disciplines, enhancing clinical decision-making and operative skills necessary for a career as an Acute Care Surgeon. The same high-caliber education is maintained with bedside clinical education and regular didactic sessions. Research participation is highly encouraged, focusing on quality improvement projects or grant-funded initiatives 1.

Patient Care Responsibilities

Fellows are involved in direct patient care under faculty supervision, playing key roles in interacting with other services and making clinical management decisions. Responsibilities include leading daily rounds and supervising junior residents and medical students 1.

Training Facilities

Baystate Medical Center is recognized as the only Level-I Adult and Level-II Pediatric Trauma Center in the region, admitting approximately 2,000 patients annually. The center features an award-winning Intensive Care Unit, recognized by the Beacon Award for Excellence in Critical Care, affirming the high standard of care provided 1.

Application Process

Potential candidates for the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship must fulfill certain requirements. Applicants should expect to graduate from a general surgery residency by the academic year's end and must be board-eligible in their specialty at the start of the Surgical Critical Care year. The application is accepted only via the Match and should be submitted through the Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery Fellowship Application Service (SAFAS) website. Included in the application are a personal statement, a current CV, three letters of recommendation (including one from the Surgery Residency Program Director), as well as USMLE or COMLEX scores and ABSITE scores 2.

For the Acute Care Surgery Fellowship, candidates must have completed an ACGME-approved general surgery residency program and be eligible for unrestricted licensure in Massachusetts 2.

Unique Aspects of the Program

Fellows engage in simulation training weekly at the Baystate Simulation Center, which is an American College of Surgeons-accredited comprehensive education institute. The curriculum emphasizes both cognitive and technical skills essential for surgical care. Additionally, the program enjoys a robust structure of mentor support, ensuring that fellows develop both professionally and personally 3.

Visa Support

The program supports various visa types for international medical graduates, likely including J-1 and H-1B visa sponsorships for qualified applicants. This ensures that talented individuals from around the world can seek training at UMass Chan - Baystate 1.

Competitiveness

The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship is known to be highly competitive, attracting candidates from diverse backgrounds, including those from DO and international medical schools. However, the program values a comprehensive and holistic approach to candidate evaluation, considering academic standing and personal attributes 2.

Fellow Benefits

Fellows benefit from competitive salaries, four weeks of vacation per year, meal subsidies, free parking, and a range of health, malpractice, and life insurance options. The lower cost of living in Springfield compared to major urban centers adds to the appeal of the fellowship 1.