Virginia Commonwealth University Health System Program

The Anesthesiology Critical Care Fellowship program at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System offers comprehensive, multidisciplinary training in critical care medicine for up to two fellows per year. This one-year fellowship emphasizes a robust clinical experience, exposing fellows to a diverse population of critically ill patients and providing the opportunity to work alongside a highly qualified faculty at a leading academic medical center. The training facility includes a Level 1 trauma center, an accredited burn center, a solid organ transplantation service, and a comprehensive stroke center, making it a premier location for critical care training.

Richmond, Virginia, situated on the James River, provides an appealing environment with its manageable size, green spaces, and rich history. The city boasts affordable living conditions with convenient access to Washington, D.C., Virginia Beach, the Outer Banks, and numerous hiking opportunities in the nearby mountains.

Program Overview

The program aims to cultivate physician leaders who exemplify professionalism, clinical excellence, and a commitment to patient safety. The fellowship is designed to provide fellows with the necessary skills to embark on academic careers across various multidisciplinary settings. Additionally, the program enhances lifelong learning practices, equipping fellows with the tools to critically review scholarly articles and apply evidence-based medicine in their daily practices.

Curriculum and Training Experience

The core clinical faculty comprises fellowship-trained anesthesiologists with significant experience in both anesthesia and critical care environments. Fellows will predominantly rotate through various specialized ICUs, including the Cardiac Surgery ICU, Surgical ICU, Trauma Burn ICU, Transplant ICU, Neurosciences ICU, and Medical Respiratory ICU.

The rigorous curriculum includes rotations where fellows gain hands-on experience leading multidisciplinary teams. Fellows are also encouraged to select electives tailored to their career interests, which include palliative care, transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), infectious diseases, nephrology, and more, enhancing the fellowship's breadth.

Clinical Experience

Each ICU is dedicated to a unique patient population. For instance, the Cardiac Surgery ICU hosts all postoperative cardiac surgery patients and handles complex cases in thoracic and vascular surgeries. The VCU Health System performs over 1,500 cardiac and thoracic surgery cases annually, as well as roughly 800 vascular procedures, with a notable focus on extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) procedures.

The program emphasizes exposure to one of the nation's busiest liver transplant centers, where fellows are involved in the comprehensive care of patients through their perioperative periods. The Trauma Burn ICU is an established center treating adult, pediatric, and burn trauma patients, admitting over 3,000 patients and conducting upwards of 2,000 acute surgeries each year.

With an extensive stroke center recognized for its quality measures, the Neurosciences ICU sees more than 2,500 admissions annually and collaborates closely with neurocritical care and surgical teams for optimal patient management.

Research Opportunities

Research is an integral component of the fellowship, with opportunities for fellows to engage in scholarly projects focused on patient safety and quality improvement initiatives. Weekly journal clubs provide a platform for critical discussions and further exploration of evidence-based practices.

Application Requirements

The fellowship follows the San Francisco Match program and requires candidates to be board-eligible or board-certified anesthesiologists or emergency medicine physicians. The application process includes submitting a personal statement, three letters of reference (including one from a training program director or chair), and various academic credentials.

For international applicants, specific institutional requirements must be met, including the completion of an ACGME or ACGME-I certified residency in Anesthesiology, passing performance on USMLE Steps 1, 2, and 3, and eligibility for a J-1 visa, which is strongly encouraged.

Program Competitiveness and Support

This fellowship is considered competitive, and the program encourages candidates from diverse backgrounds, including international medical graduates (IMGs) and DO graduates. The program's comprehensive training and competencies are designed to prepare fellows for impactful careers in critical care medicine.

Overall, the Anesthesiology Critical Care Fellowship program at Virginia Commonwealth University Health System is equipped to prepare its fellows with the knowledge, skills, and leadership competencies necessary to excel in the ever-evolving field of critical care medicine.