University of Arizona College of Medicine-Tucson Program

The Critical Care Medicine fellowship at the University of Arizona's College of Medicine-Tucson is a two-year program designed to provide extensive training in critical care medicine. This fellowship is a track within the Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship program, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) and offered through the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine. The program's primary aim is to develop a comprehensive set of skills required for managing critically ill patients in various intensive care settings, including medical, trauma, surgical, and cardiovascular ICUs.

The fellowship is structured to include diverse learning opportunities. Fellows will gain competency in advanced airway management, critical care ultrasound, bronchoscopy, alternative gas exchange methods such as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), and ventilator management. Moreover, fellows will have the flexibility to pursue individualized interests within critical care and engage in research initiatives. The fellowship emphasizes hands-on experience through simulation training as well as didactic education, which includes weekly case presentations, a journal club, and monthly morbidity and mortality conferences.

Clinical Training Sites

The main training sites for the fellowship include Banner – University Medical Center Tucson and Banner – University Medical Center South. The Tucson campus has approximately 60 adult critical care beds while the South campus accommodates around 13 beds. Additionally, fellows will have exposure to a variety of patient demographics and conditions through rotations that allow them to manage both common and complex critical care cases.

Application Process

To apply for the Critical Care Medicine fellowship, candidates must apply through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). The program emphasizes a competitive selection process, and candidates must be graduates of an ACGME-accredited residency program. Applicants are required to submit their curriculum vitae, a letter of interest, USMLE or COMLEX scores, a copy of their medical school transcript, three letters of recommendation, and any applicable ECFMG certificates for international medical graduates.

International medical graduates may apply; however, the program requires fellows to hold either U.S. citizenship, permanent residency, or a valid J-1 visa status. The program does not accept candidates with H1B visas. The fellowship is competitive, welcoming applications from physicians across specialties such as emergency medicine, contingent upon meeting specific prerequisites.

Research Opportunities

Fellows are expected to engage in quality improvement activities and conduct research relevant to critical care. Each fellow is required to develop and complete a hypothesis-driven research project under the guidance of faculty mentors. This includes submitting at least one manuscript for peer-reviewed publication and presenting scholarly work at national conferences. The areas of research often include ICU delirium, sepsis management, and advancements in airway management.

Salary and Benefits

Fellows in the Critical Care Medicine program will receive a PGY-4 salary, and benefits details can be acquired from the Office of Graduate Medical Education. Given an update on July 1, 2016, fellows work under the auspices of Banner – University Medicine, taking advantage of collaborative resources across both entities for medical education and patient care.

Professional Development

As part of their training, fellows are encouraged to develop their teaching skills through active involvement in educating medical students and residents in critical care. Furthermore, the program aims to foster leadership capabilities by providing opportunities for fellows to manage critical care units and effectively use healthcare resources.