University of Colorado School of Medicine/Children's Hospital of Colorado Program

The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship program at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children's Hospital Colorado offers a comprehensive two-year curriculum designed for those wishing to enhance their skills in managing critically ill surgical patients. The fellowship is particularly aimed at preparing graduates for academic and community roles in surgical critical care.

Curriculum Overview

The program is structured to provide robust clinical training, didactic learning, and opportunities for research and scholarship. The curriculum includes rotations in various surgical critical care areas, ensuring fellows gain diverse exposure to different clinical scenarios.

Fellows will participate in rotations that cover critical care units as well as engage in clinical electives that allow focus in sub-specialties of interest within surgical critical care, including trauma care, surgical oncology, and pediatric critical care. This diversity of training emphasizes hands-on experience in patient management.

Clinical Rotations

The fellowship program emphasizes extensive clinical experience. Rotations are provided in various specialized settings, enhancing fellows’ learning and clinical skills development. These include:

• Adult and Pediatric Surgical Intensive Care Units
• Emergency Departments
• Trauma Surgery
• Transplant Surgery
• Cardiothoracic Surgery critical care

Fellows also have the option to rotate in select community hospitals, providing them with a well-rounded training experience.

Research Opportunities

A significant focus of the fellowship is on research and scholarship. Fellows are encouraged to engage in research projects, which can span a variety of topics relevant to surgical critical care. Ongoing mentorship will be provided by experienced faculty members in research design, statistical analysis, and manuscript preparation. Graduates will have opportunities to present their findings at local and national conferences, and may be published in peer-reviewed journals, thereby enhancing their academic profile.

Leadership and Education

The program includes a strong educational component designed to contribute to fellows becoming leaders in surgical critical care. Fellows will engage in educational activities, including:

• Teaching opportunities for medical students and residents
• Participating in quality improvement initiatives
• Leading process improvement teams

This exposure helps fellows develop not only clinical acumen but also administrative and leadership skills necessary for future roles in academic and community settings.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

The program is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment. Special initiatives are in place to attract and support fellows from various backgrounds. The commitment to diversity ensures a wide range of perspectives and experiences enrich the training environment.

Visa Support

The fellowship program offers visa sponsorship for international medical graduates and supports various visa types, including J-1 and H-1B visas. This allows for a broader range of applicants to apply and thrive in the fellowship.

Competitiveness and Applicant Requirements

The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship is competitive and encourages applications from a diverse applicant pool, including graduates from both U.S. and international medical schools. Applicants are typically expected to have completed a General Surgery residency. Additionally, specific qualifications such as passing relevant licensing examinations (USMLE/COMLEX) are required prior to application. The program may have specific criteria around recent graduation years or maximum failed attempts for licensing exams.

Overall, the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children's Hospital Colorado's program in Surgical Critical Care aims to train highly competent fellows who will be well-equipped to handle the demands of surgical critical care and contribute to advancements in the field.