Detroit Medical Center/Wayne State University Program

The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at Wayne State University is a comprehensive training program designed to equip fellows with advanced skills in managing critically ill surgical patients. The program focuses on both adult and pediatric tracks, enhancing the ability of fellows to supervise surgical critical care units and engage in scholarly activities.

Fellowship Structure

The fellowship is divided into three primary tracks: Adult Track, Pediatric Track, and Burn-SCC Track. Each track provides a unique clinical training experience tailored to the specific needs of the fellows.

Adult Track

The Adult Track offers an extensive clinical education in the management of critically ill adult surgical patients. Training takes place primarily at Harper University Hospital’s Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU), where fellows participate in a collaborative healthcare environment consisting of attending intensivists, general surgery, and anesthesia residents.1 This track provides about five to six months of training at Harper, focusing on diverse surgical populations including cardiothoracic cases (with ECMO), general surgery, vascular surgery, and surgical oncology.1

Additional clinical experiences occur at Detroit Receiving Hospital and Sinai Grace Hospital, where trauma and acute care surgical patients are predominantly managed. A rich didactic curriculum accompanies the clinical training, featuring weekly lectures, a journal club, and a Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) conference.1

Pediatric Track

The Pediatric Track, primarily based at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan, emphasizes the management of critically ill surgical children.1 It involves hands-on care in Neonatal and Pediatric ICU settings under the guidance of faculty experienced in both pediatric surgery and critical care.1 The diseases encountered in this track include complex congenital conditions and those requiring ECMO support. There is also a focus on trauma and burn patients, providing comprehensive exposure to pediatric surgical critical care.

Burn-SCC Track

Introduced recently, the Burn-SCC Track integrates burn ICU training and surgical critical care, offering a combined experience that meets both the American Burn Association and American Board of Surgery certification requirements for burn surgery and surgical critical care.1 The training program comprises five months in the burn service followed by four months on the SICU team, with opportunities to explore echocardiography and other elective specialties.

Curriculum and Research Opportunities

The fellowship curriculum adheres to ACGME standards, ensuring comprehensive education in surgical critical care.1 A well-structured didactic program complements the clinical experience, where fellows are expected to engage in independent study using recommended texts like Decker’s Critical Care of the Surgical Patient.1

Research and scholarly activities are highly encouraged across all tracks, enabling fellows to contribute to advancements in surgical critical care through multidisciplinary approaches.1

Application Requirements

To apply for the program, candidates must have completed a general surgery residency and should be board-certified or board-eligible in general surgery.1 The application process requires a personal statement, curriculum vitae, USMLE scores, ABSITE scores, references, and three letters of recommendation, preferably including one from the current or most recent program director.

Visa Support and Competitiveness

The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at Wayne State University is designed to be competitive and welcoming to diverse applicants, including those from international medical backgrounds. The program offers visa support for J-1 visas, making it an option for a range of applicants wishing to train in surgical critical care in the United States.1

Overall, the program emphasizes a rigorous educational experience, hands-on training, and an environment conducive to professional growth and academic achievement in the field of surgical critical care.