University of Minnesota Program

The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at the University of Minnesota is a one-year program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The fellowship is designed for physicians who have completed at least three years of clinical training in specialties such as anesthesiology, emergency medicine, neurological surgery, obstetrics and gynecology, orthopaedic surgery, otolaryngology, surgery, thoracic surgery, vascular surgery, or urology. The program aims to provide a comprehensive combination of clinical experiences and research opportunities in the field of critical care.

Each year, the fellowship accepts up to five fellows. Successful completion of this program qualifies fellows to meet the current criteria for admission to the Certificate of Added Competence examination administered by the American Board of Surgery. The fellowship offers invaluable opportunities including in-depth exposure to critical care principles in a demanding clinical and research atmosphere, functioning as a critical care surgeon at the staff level, and experience in administrative matters related to intensive care unit (ICU) management.

Fellows have the opportunity to engage in clinical and basic science research covering a wide range of critical conditions such as sepsis, infectious diseases, acute lung injury, and the cell and molecular biology of inflammation. Additionally, a structured lecture and reading program is provided, ensuring fellows attain comprehensive knowledge in the field.

Rotations

The fellowship offers clinical rotations at several key locations within the Twin Cities metropolitan area. These sites include the University of Minnesota Medical Center (UMMC)—a division of Fairview, North Memorial Medical Center (NMMC), Regions Hospital, and Fairview Southdale Hospital. At these facilities, fellows encounter a diverse range of surgical diseases and critical care problems.

At all participating sites, the Surgical Intensive Care Units (SICUs) are staffed by dedicated surgery residents who have no additional responsibilities, alongside full-time staff trained in critical care surgery who participate in patient and teaching rounds daily. Each SICU admits over 600 patients annually, ensuring ample exposure to critical care scenarios.

Training Experience

The University of Minnesota Medical Center is a major regional referral center handling over 20,000 surgical procedures and 500 solid organ transplants each year. The focus at UMMC is on complicated general surgery patients, transplant recipients, and critically ill individuals suffering from severe respiratory failure.

At North Memorial Medical Center, which is independently operated and a Level I trauma center, fellows have a broad exposure to both blunt and penetrating trauma cases. At Regions Hospital, celebrated for its emergency department and sizable burn unit, fellows focus on multiply-injured trauma patients and critically ill individuals from various surgical specialties.

Application Requirements

Application to the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship utilizes the Standardized Application for Fellowship (SAFAS) service and requires registration for the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) SCC Match. All applicants must possess certain qualifications which are outlined in the program’s eligibility requirements.

Visa Support

The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship program sponsors only the J-1 alien physician visa, which is the preferred status for foreign trainees in all University of Minnesota graduate medical education programs. The program does not support H-1B visas.

Competitiveness and Additional Requirements

The fellowship is regarded as highly competitive and seeks applicants demonstrating strong clinical performance and a commitment to critical care. Specific application requirements may include a maximum time since graduation from medical school and a limit on the number of failed STEP exams. Applicants should be prepared to submit all necessary documentation, including letters of recommendation and transcripts, as part of the application process.