University of California (San Francisco) Program

Program Overview

The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) is a two-year specialized program aimed at training the next generation of leaders and educators in the field of Surgical Critical Care (SCC) and Trauma and Emergency Surgery (ACS). The fellowship is organized to provide comprehensive education and hands-on experience, enabling fellows to deliver outstanding patient care to critically ill and injured patients.

Founded in November 1999, the fellowship has successfully trained a diverse group of professionals including surgeons, anesthesiologists, and internists, expanding in 2001 to include a second fellowship year focusing on Acute Care Surgery.

Curriculum and Rotations

The two-year program consists of a 12-month ACGME accredited fellowship year, where fellows primarily rotate at ZSFG—a fully integrated teaching hospital affiliated with UCSF School of Medicine and the only Level 1 Trauma Center serving San Francisco and Northern San Mateo Counties. The fellows also rotate through UCSF Health Parnassus and California Pacific Medical Center, Sutter Health (CPMC). The essential components of the fellowship rotations are outlined as follows:

• ZSFG Surgical Intensive Care Unit: 6 months
• UCSF Parnassus Moffit-Long Surgical Intensive Care Unit: 2 months
• UCSF Parnassus Moffit-Long Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit: 1 month
• UCSF Parnassus Moffit-Long Cardiothoracic Surgery: 1 month
• ZSFG Trauma: 1 month
• CPMC Hepatobiliary: 1 month

These rotations provide extensive exposure to critical care procedures, management of complex surgical patients, and a multidisciplinary approach to critical care, involving faculty from surgery, anesthesia, medicine, and neurology.

Training Environment and Experience

Fellows are tasked with managing blunt and penetrating trauma cases, caring for patients with inhalation injuries, burn injuries, and complex postoperative care. They gain significant experience in the management of critically ill patients and are engaged in complex decision-making as part of a collaborative team.

Call Duty and Work-Life Balance

The fellows typically take call one to two times per week, working alongside anesthesia residents, general surgical residents, and critical care residents. This structure allows for adequate supervision and mentorship for medical students who are on call with the residents. Each fellow is entitled to one day off from ICU responsibilities weekly, ensuring a balance between work commitments and personal time.

Goals and Learning Outcomes

The educational philosophy is founded on a multidisciplinary collaboration, emphasizing didactic lectures and bedside teaching. The fellow's educational journey is designed to equip them with both cognitive knowledge and essential manual skills to address various critical surgical illnesses.

Prerequisite Training and Selection Criteria

To apply for the fellowship, candidates must have completed an ACGME accredited general surgery residency program and possess board eligibility or certification in surgery. The selection process includes the submission of an application accompanied by three letters of recommendation, followed by a comprehensive interview process. Notably, no foreign degrees are accepted for this program.

Applicants must also adhere to specific qualification metrics such as graduation timelines and examination attempts, ensuring high standards among the cohort.

Community and Research Initiatives

The fellowship is linked to various community outreach programs and research initiatives, including the San Francisco Wraparound Project, which provides mentorship and resources aimed at preventing injury recidivism.

Visa Support and Competitiveness

The program offers visa sponsorship options, specifically for J-1 visas, catering to international medical graduates interested in applying to the fellowship. The program is known for being competitive yet approachable, welcoming both DO and IMG candidates.

Application Process

Applications are processed through the Surgical Critical Care Program Directors Society Application Service. The match process typically opens from February to July, with interviews set from June to August, ensuring ample time for prospective fellows to demonstrate their qualifications and fit for the program.