From the Fellowship Director
Welcome to the University of Iowa's Anesthesia Critical Care Medicine Fellowship and thank you for your interest.
Our fellowship is a one-year, ACGME-accredited program that is based in the Surgical and Neurosciences Intensive Care Unit (SNICU) and the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU) at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics. Our units boast state-of-the-art technology and support services, with a special emphasis on diagnostic and procedural ultrasound. Four ACCM fellows are accepted each year from ACGME-accredited programs in Anesthesia, Surgery, multiple surgical sub-specialties, and Emergency Medicine*. Training at the only tertiary-care academic institution in Iowa, fellows in our program receive broad and comprehensive exposure to all aspects of both surgical and medical critical care medicine. These experiences prepare our fellows to enter the practice of critical care medicine and succeed in any career path they may choose.
Fellows spend nine months in core SNICU/CVICU rotations. These rotations emphasize an evidence-based, multidisciplinary, team-based approach to critically ill patients. The critical care team is intimately involved with the care of all patients in the ICU and high-level support is provided by a team of nutritionists, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, physical therapists and an excellent nursing staff. As they progress in knowledge and skills, fellows are encouraged to take leadership roles in the Unit including leading rounds and making patient-care decisions, educating residents and medical students, becoming involved in ICU management, and championing quality improvement initiatives.
In addition to the nine core ICU months, fellows are allowed three months of elective time and are free to choose among a diverse collection of rotations including echocardiography and bronchoscopy, infectious disease, nephrology, neurology, and research.
The units have their own dedicated echocardiography/ultrasound equipment and fellows are encouraged to learn the use of ultrasound for hemodynamic evaluation and bedside procedures such as thoracentesis and invasive monitor placement. Additionally, the units have dedicated bronchoscopy equipment for the performance of diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopies.
In addition to the rich clinical experience, our program maintains a strong didactic program with lecture topics guided by ACGME requirements and fellow interest as well as monthly journal clubs, morbidity and mortality conferences, and guideline reviews.
Fellows are required to complete an academic project during their fellowship. Project examples include, but are not limited to, novel research projects or case reports, involvement in ongoing faculty research projects, quality improvement initiatives, or development of educational modules.
Please take this opportunity to explore the possibilities you will find at the University of Iowa by visiting our departmental website as well as this website for specific curriculum and information about our critical care fellowship program.
Archit Sharma, MBBS, MBA
Program Director, Anesthesia Critical Care Medicine Fellowship
*Per ABA and ABEM policy, Emergency Medicine fellows are required to complete a two-year fellowship, which is offered through our program.
University of Iowa Graduate Medical Education (GME) policies are located here.