University of Cincinnati Medical Center/College of Medicine Program

The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship offered by the University of Cincinnati Medical Center provides a comprehensive one-year training program accredited by the ACGME. This fellowship focuses on all facets of care for critically ill surgical patients, emphasizing cardiopulmonary mechanics, principles of resuscitation, and mechanical ventilation. The University of Cincinnati Medical Center serves as the primary teaching facility and acts as a tertiary referral hospital for a large geographic area, catering to more than 2 million individuals and handling over 90,000 emergency department visits each year.

As the only verified adult Level 1 trauma center and adult burn center in Southwest Ohio, Eastern Indiana, and Northern Kentucky, the hospital maintains around 100 adult critical care beds across various intensive care units. The Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) is equipped with 34 beds, admitting 150-170 patients monthly from a range of surgical specialties, including trauma, general surgery, transplantation, surgical oncology, and others. Multidisciplinary rounds are integral to the patient care model, involving respiratory therapists, pharmacists, nurses, and subspecialty services as necessary, such as nephrology and infectious disease, among others 1.

The fellowship encompasses several mandatory critical care rotations, including the Neurocritical Care Unit, Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit located at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center. The Neurocritical Care Unit has 20 beds dedicated to neurosurgical patients, with experiences covering strokes and acute neurological interventions. The Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit handles post-operative patients and those with acute coronary illnesses, providing advanced support such as ECMO and LVAD 1.

Curriculum

In alignment with ACGME guidelines, fellows are trained in six core competencies: Patient Care, Medical Knowledge, Practice-Based Learning and Improvement, Interpersonal and Communication Skills, Professionalism, and Systems-Based Practice. The fellowship equips fellows with advanced knowledge for managing patients with hemodynamic instability and complex medical problems, covering critical topics such as resuscitation, metabolic impacts, monitoring, and pharmacokinetics related to critical illnesses 4.

Fellow Roles and Responsibilities

Fellows engage in numerous training activities, including attending morning rounds, assisting in resident education, participating in faculty conferences, and taking part in multidisciplinary lecture series. Opportunities for research are encouraged, and participation in at least one research project is expected. Other responsibilities include attending trauma division meetings and financial documentation discussions to become familiar with regulatory practices 5.

Application Process

To be eligible for the Surgical Critical Care fellowship, applicants must have completed an accredited residency in general surgery. The typical application includes completion of an online form, submission of at least three letters of recommendation—one from the Program Director—and a personal interview, which commences in April prior to the fellowship year. Notably, applications will not be accepted after April 30 7.

Special Considerations

The program supports various visa types for international medical graduates, ensuring adequate visa assistance for successful candidates. The fellowship is known to be competitive, and it actively encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds, including those from DO and IMG pathways, enhancing the learning environment through a range of perspectives 1.