University of South Florida Morsani Program

Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Overview

The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine is a one-year ACGME accredited program, with an optional second year focusing on trauma and trauma research. The fellowship is primarily conducted at Tampa General Hospital, which is recognized as a Level I Trauma Center, handling approximately 2,700 trauma patients each year. The program emphasizes a variety of critical care training aspects including neurosurgical, burn, transplant, general surgical, pediatric, and cardiovascular critical care 1.

Clinical Responsibilities

Fellows are provided comprehensive training in the management of critically ill patients, with an enhanced focus on research, teaching, administration, and the legal and ethical dimensions of critical care. The structured curriculum includes a significant duration of 8 to 9 months spent on the surgical critical care service, which primarily manages trauma patients and acute general surgery emergencies. Fellows also have the opportunity to participate in elective rotations in various areas, such as medical, anesthesia, pediatric critical care, cardiology, nephrology, and research 1.

Training Sites

Education primarily occurs at Tampa General Hospital’s Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit (STICU) and the Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) at James A. Haley Veterans’ Administration Hospital. The STICU consists of 18 beds and assesses patients across a spectrum of surgical disciplines requiring critical postoperative care. This experience ensures that fellows gain exposure to diverse surgical critical cases and a multidisciplinary approach to trauma and acute care surgery 2.

Research and Education

Fellows are expected to engage in clinical research projects. It is anticipated that by the end of the program, fellows will have completed at least one research project and submitted both an abstract to a national meeting and a manuscript for publication. A dedicated curriculum tailored to the specific research needs of surgical critical care fellows is established, including participation in multidisciplinary conferences, journal clubs, and mock oral boards designed to enhance their academic experience 1.

Applicant Requirements

The fellowship welcomes applicants who have completed a surgical residency. It also considers current surgical residents who have advanced to at least their third year in a general surgery residency. A strong academic background is necessary, along with good academic standing within the surgical residency program. Competitiveness for the fellowship is high, and the application process is conducted via the SCC and ACS Fellowship Application Service (SAFAS) 1 .

Visa Sponsorship

The program offers visa support; it can sponsor J-1 visas for qualified international medical graduates who seek to undertake fellowship training in surgical critical care. Availability of ECFMG certification is also a requirement for international medical graduates when applying for the fellowship 1.

Additional Program Features

The fellowship program stands out due to the extensive clinical exposure provided in a high-volume trauma center, allowing fellows to develop a robust skill set applicable to the management of the critically ill patient. The strong emphasis on research, alongside the opportunity for interdisciplinary education and networking, further enhances the quality of training. Graduates of this fellowship program are well-prepared to sit for the examination by the American Board of Surgery to earn added qualifications in surgical critical care 2.