Clinical and educational experience

Learn more about the program’s clinical didactic expectations.

Clinical Experience

Fellows rotate through a variety of specialty intensive care units at both sites. First-year fellows spend much of their clinical time in intensive care unit rotations including the medical intensive care unit (MICU), cardiovascular intensive care unit (CICU), neurocritical care unit (NCCU), and surgical trauma intensive care unit (STIC). In the second year, fellows have the freedom to craft a rotation schedule largely specific to their professional goals.

Rotations during the first year generally include the ALGH MICU/CICU (5 blocks) and neurocritical care unit (NCCU; 1 block); the ACMC MICU (1 block), NCCU (1 block), and surgical trauma ICU (1 block); and elective time (3 blocks). First-year fellows also participate in an orientation block at the onset of training.

Second-year fellows have a variety of additional experiences available, including rotations in specialty ICUs at both sites such as the adult surgical heart unit, cardiovascular thoracic unit, and critical care consultation service, among others.

Educational Experience

Fellows participate in several longitudinal didactic series including a core lecture series, a journal club series, and morbidity and mortality conference series. The program relies on simulation experiences to provide training in procedures such as central venous catheter insertion, endotracheal intubation, fiberoptic bronchoscopy, and chest tube insertion, as well as training in crisis team leadership and patient and family communication.

Fellows are also expected to participate in at least one scholarly activity during their two years with our program, supported heavily by the program’s research director.