The UACOM Critical Care Anesthesiology fellowship is an ACGME-accredited one-year program to train BC/BE anesthesiologists to qualify for Special Certification in Critical Care Medicine offered by the American Board of Anesthesiology. Our goal is to provide advanced clinical training in critical care medicine as well as research and educational experiences to develop leading academic Critical Care Anesthesiologists for the future. At the conclusion of this program, the graduating fellows will become skilled in the diagnosis, assessment, and management of complex medical and surgical problems in critically ill patients. Fellows will function as part of a multi-disciplinary critical care team to oversee the timely delivery of care to the patients and communicate the treatment plan to the patients and their families.
Fellows will become experts in advanced airway management, different mechanical ventilatory modes and their applications, and the use of hemodynamic agents and mechanical circulatory support for optimization of perfusion. The fellows will gain the cognitive and psychomotor skills required for rational selection and skillful performance of common ICU procedures. The fellow will also acquire proficiency in the interpretation of advanced imaging studies including computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, digital subtraction angiography, nuclear medicine study, as well as advanced monitoring modalities, such as pulmonary artery catheter, point-of-care ultrasonography, non-invasive cardiac output monitors, electroencephalography, intracranial pressure monitoring, jugular venous saturation, regional cerebral oximetry, and transcranial doppler ultrasonography.
In addition to excellent clinical training, the fellows will acquire necessary skills to be able to independently plan and conduct clinical and basic science research in an ethical and systematic manner and to write a manuscript suitable for publication in a reputed scientific journal. They will develop analytical skills to review and critique published scientific literature and practice evidence-based medicine and to participate in quality improvement / assurance initiatives and development of clinical guidelines and protocols. The fellows will also enhance their teaching skills by being actively involved in medical student and resident education in the critical care setting and serve as an inspiring role model for the junior trainees and students. In addition to clinical and teaching responsibilities, the fellows also learn the logistics of unit management and efficient use of financial and staff resources.
The fellowship emphasizes graduated responsibilities as the fellows become more experienced, with the ultimate goal that they will be qualified to function independently as a consultant in a critical care unit.
Curriculum:
The fellow will spend 9 months in the critical care units. The remaining 3 months will be spent in elective clinical activities, research, or scholarly activity relevant to critical care. Here is the breakdown of the clinical ICU rotations.
Electives:
Fellows can have up to 3 months of elective rotations. Fellows are encouraged to pick electives that will help shape their future career or enhance their knowledge. The following list are suggested elective rotations:
Clinical Training Site:
Banner University Medical Center - Tucson (BUMC-T) is the main affiliated training site for the University of Arizona College of Medicine. It is one of a handful academic medical centers in the state that has Critical Care Anesthesiologists presence in the majority of their intensive care units. All of the ICUs foster a multi-disciplinary approach to patient care, and the patients tend to have high acuity. BUMC-T is a designated extracorporeal life support center for both venoarterial and venovenous configurations. It is also the only Level I Trauma Center providing the highest level of trauma critical care in southern Arizona, and the US-Mexico border. In addition, it is undergoing Comprehensive Stroke Center certification in order to provide higher level of neurological care to patients who are suffering from ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. The medical center has diverse and progressive surgical and medical subspecialties, and is regional transplant center (including heart and lung) in southern AZ. These unique experience and training opportunities are invaluable to a critical care trainee.
2025 Academic Year:
The Critical Care Anesthesiology fellowship program at the University of Arizona participates in the San Francisco Match. Applicants must apply through the SFMatch system. We will plan to conduct fellowship interviews from February 2024 to March 2024.
When applying to our fellowship, please provide:
- A complete curriculum vitae
- Official Transcript from medical school
- Official Transcripts of USMLE/NBME scores
- Personal Statement
- 3 letters of recommendation
- 1 should be from the Critical Care Medicine Division Chief / Fellowship Director or the Residency Program Director
- Official licensure verification from currently licensed state
- Written explanation of any gaps in training, greater than one month, since graduation from medical school
Note: Prior to matriculation, all fellows will be required to provide a certificate of completion from an ACGME-accredited residency.
For more information, please contact:
Paulina Pastrana, Program Coordinator, Sr
pespriu@anesth.arizona.edu
(520) 626-9700
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: How many positions is the program approved for per academic year?
A: The program is ACGME approved for 1 fellowship position per academic year.
Q: Does the program accept applicants from Emergency Medicine?
A: Yes, the program does accept applicants from Emergency Medicine
Q: Does the program require that applicants have completed an ACGME accredited residency program?
A: Applicants must have successfully completed an ACGME accredited anesthesiology residency or be in training in an ACGME-accredited anesthesiology residency with a targeted completion date before the commencement of the fellowship.
Q: Does the program sponsor H1B visa?
A: Unfortunately, we no longer sponsor H1B visa, but ECFMG-sponsored J1 holders are welcomed to apply.