Surgical Critical Care, Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Fellowship

The Division of Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, Burns, and Acute Care Surgery within the University of Arizona Department Surgery offers a fellowship in Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery.

Mission

We strive to develop in our trainees the skills for outstanding clinical competence in acute care surgery, leadership in their area or practice setting of choice, and for cultivation of happiness in life and career.

If you are searching for a busy, broad training experience covering all aspects of surgical critical care, trauma and emergency general surgery, with dedicated faculty in a vibrant city, look no further than the University of Arizona.

Site

The Surgical Critical Care, Trauma and Acute Care Surgery Fellowship is a two-year fellowship located in Tucson, Arizona. The primary practice setting is Banner — University Medical Center Tucson (BUMCT). BUMCT is a 600+ bed facility and the only ACS-verified Level I Trauma Center in Southern Arizona. We are also the only pediatric trauma center in Southern Arizona. There is a rapidly growing burn volume, with Burn Center verification in process.

Fellowship Format

This is a two-year fellowship program:

Year 1: Surgical Critical Care, ACGME accredited.
- 9 months of ICU experience (6 months of SICU, 1 month each of MICU, Cardiovascular ICU, Pediatric ICU)
- 1 month of dedicated bedside ultrasound and echocardiography training
- 1 month of Acute Care Surgery
- 1 month for research/academic pursuits
- Trainees are eligible for the Surgical Critical Care board exam after completion of the SCC year
Year 2: Acute Care Surgery, AAST accredited
- 6 months Acute Care Surgery (combined trauma and emergency general surgery)
- 1 month each of Vascular, Cardiothoracic, Hepatobiliary, and Burn Surgery.
- Two-week electives in Orthopedics and Trauma Systems Development
- 1 month for research/academic pursuits

We do not routinely accept applicants for a single year, but if you have a unique interest in a single year of training (either surgical critical care or acute care surgery) please contact the program directly.

Fellowship highlights:

Volume:
- BUMCT sees approximately 6,000 trauma activations per year
- >600 penetrating trauma activations annually
- >2,000 Emergency General Surgery cases per year
- 24 Bed SICU including patients from Trauma, Emergency General Surgery, Surgical Oncology, Urology, ENT, Neurosurgery, and Gynecology
Dedicated faculty and staff: Meet our team
Broad didactic program
- Monthly Critical Care Journal Club and Landmark Articles Series
- Dedicated weekly fellow didactics, following the AAST Education Modules
- ASSET course and ATLS instructor course (if not previously completed by incoming fellows) as well as ATLS teaching opportunities
- Dedicated month of ultrasound training
Dedicated time for research or other academic pursuits in both years
- Active clinical trials on-site
- Departmental support including for database research and quality improvement initiatives
Graduated transition to independent call during the ACS year:
- ACS-year fellows are credentialed as junior attendings (Clinical Instructors)
- Fellows will take mentored night calls throughout the year, where they will function as the in-house attending. Transition to independence is based on a tiered system, with decreasing levels of support from faculty as fellows progress through their milestones.

Program Leadership

Patricia Barcelo-Sanders
Program Coordinator, Sr.
Phone: (520) 626-6302
Email: barcelo03@arizona.edu

Pre-requisites

Applications open in early Spring, for positions starting in Fall of the subsequent year.
Please see precise dates and submit your application via SAFAS. You must also register for the Surgical Critical Care Match via NRMP. Applications must include:

Current CV
Personal statement
Three letters of recommendation
ABSITE and USMLE scores (or equivalent)