Duke offers a one-year fellowship in Surgical Critical Care, with one position available per year. This ACGME-accredited fellowship is devoted to broad-based intensive clinical training primarily based in the Duke University Medical Center Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU).

 

The clinical training model used at Duke is primarily based in the Duke SICU. Duke University is a tertiary care referral center for the Southeastern United States. The population cared for in the sixteen bed SICU includes patients on the Trauma, Gastrointestinal, Oncology, Vascular, Plastic, Orthopaedic, Transplant, Urology and OB/GYN Services. A rotating team of Critical Care physicians from the Departments of Surgery, Anesthesiology and Medicine care for the patients. In addition to core rotations in the SICU, elective opportunities abound. Fellows have pursued elective interest in Transesophageal echo, Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy, Medical Intensive Care Unit, and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.

 

The Surgical Critical Care Fellow is a key component of the multidisciplinary team consisting of Attending Staff, Anesthesiology Critical Care Fellows, Junior Surgical and Anesthesiology housestaff, Pharmacy, Discharge Planning, Respiratory Therapy, and senior medical students. Education remains a high priority for all members of the service at all times. The Fellow is primarily responsible for preparing a bi-monthly presentation at the SICU Case Conference. Additionally the Fellow is a primary source of education for the junior housestaff and the medical students. In addition to the large number of "routine" trauma and postoperative cases, there is a unique opportunity to participate in a number of unusual and complex cases, given Duke's international renowned and large referral base. Opportunities for participation in clinical research activities and publications will be available throughout the year depending on the Fellow's interests. The Department of Surgery at Duke remains the highest recipient of NIH funding of all departments of surgery in the nation, providing the Fellow with an opportunity for scientific inquiry at the highest level.

 

By the completion of the Duke Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Program, the Fellow will be fully qualified to obtain Board Certification and to enter either private or academic practice in Surgical Critical Care.

 

Steven N. Vaslef, MD, PhD
Associate Professor
DUMC 32601
Durham, NC 27710
919-684-3636