University of New Mexico School of Medicine Program

At the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, the Acute Care Surgery/Surgical Critical Care Fellowship program has established a robust framework offering two distinct fellowship tracks, designed to cultivate advanced competencies in the management of critically ill surgical patients. The program has progressed to maintain an ACGME accredited Surgical Critical Care Fellowship since 2017 and recently initiated an AAST-accredited Acute Care Surgery Fellowship in 2020. Both programs aim to prepare fellows in all aspects of acute care surgery and critical care medicine.

Training Environment

The fellowship program is primarily based at the University of New Mexico Hospital (UNMH), recognized as the state’s only ACS verified Level I Trauma Center and the only academic medical center in the region. UNMH comprises 629 beds and serves a substantial patient population with approximately 25,000 admissions and 19,000 surgeries annually, alongside managing 80,000 emergency room visits. Such a high volume of diverse patient demographics provides fellows with invaluable exposure to complex surgical cases across a broad spectrum.

Fellowship Tracks

Acute Care Surgery Fellowship

This is a two-year fellowship track with two available positions. The first year aligns with the traditional Surgical Critical Care fellowship, encompassing rotations on the Trauma Surgical Burn ICU, Cardiothoracic/Vascular/ECMO ICU, and Neuro ICU. The fellows take night call duties and manage critically ill surgical patients. The curriculum also allows for electives in Palliative Care, advanced ultrasound, Nephrology, and more. Notably, during the second year, fellows transition to an extensive role as attending staff, thereby assuming responsibility for overseeing patients on trauma and emergency general surgery services.

Surgical Critical Care Fellowship

This one-year fellowship is oriented towards applicants who have completed an ACGME-approved surgical residency. The curriculum focuses on managing perioperative surgical patients and detailed exposure to several critical care units, including Trauma Surgical ICU and Cardiothoracic/Vascular/ECMO ICU. The fellows will lead teams composed of residents and PAs while undergoing their rotations.

Facilities

Fellows benefit from learning in an expertly equipped environment at UNMH, with special units such as:

Trauma Surgical ICU (TSICU)

This 24-bed semi-open unit accommodates around 1,400 to 1,800 admissions annually, focusing primarily on trauma, surgical oncology, and emergency surgeries. Here, fellows lead multidisciplinary teams composed of surgical residents, emergency medicine residents, and PAs.

Cardiothoracic/Vascular ICU (CTVICU)

The CTVICU has six beds and treats over 350 patients yearly, including a dedicated space for vascular and critical cardiac surgery care. It is integrated within the TSICU, which allows for enhanced collaborative care.

Neuroscience ICU (NSICU)

This state-of-the-art 24-bed unit focuses on critically ill patients with neurological ailments and significant traumatic injuries, featuring advanced monitoring facilities and specialized care protocols.

Eligibility and Application Requirements

The program’s competitiveness requires fellows to have completed an ACGME-approved surgical residency. The Acute Care Surgery Fellowship accepts only two fellows annually, and it does not support graduates from international surgical residency programs or applicants requiring visa sponsorship. Applicants to the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship must be board-eligible or certified at the start of their fellowship training.

Specialties integrated within the fellowship include collaborative opportunities and advanced educational programs. The program also allows for pursuing advanced degrees such as a Master of Public Health (MPH) or a Master of Business Administration (MBA), enhancing fellows’ profiles for future career trajectories.

Visa Support

For the fellowship applications, it is crucial to note that the program does not offer visa sponsorship; hence, applicants requiring a visa for participation in the fellowship will not be eligible.

Unique Aspects

Participants in the fellowship will have access to diverse training opportunities, including an extensive curriculum focusing on ultrasound, opportunities to instruct Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS), and participation in annual Acute Care Surgery conferences. Fellows are also poised to develop a significant role in education, administration, and research as part of their comprehensive training experience.