Will I be eligible for board certification in critical care after completion of this fellowship?
Yes. You will be eligible for Anesthesiology Critical Care board certification through the American Board of Emergency Medicine on successful completion of this fellowship. This curriculum has been approved by the American Board of Anesthesiology and the program is a fully accredited fellowship.
Will I be working in both medical and surgical ICUs during this fellowship?
Yes. The primary focus of this fellowship is on producing excellent clinical intensivists. The curriculum was designed such that approximately 1/3 of your critical care months will be medical critical care, 1/3 will be surgical critical care, and 1/3 will be specialty critical care (neurosciences, cardiac, etc.). Because some of these patient populations co-exist in the same critical care units, your allocation between ICUs may seem asymmetric, but we strive to keep this balance in your unit assignments and didactics to optimize the breadth of your critical care experience.
I am very interested in research. Can I modify my second year to incorporate more research time?
We have opportunities for involvement in both clinical and basic science research during your fellowship. Because of the program requirements for ACCM programs, no more than 2 months of your fellowship can be devoted to research activities, but nonclinical time is available throughout your fellowship to pursue research activities. The University of Iowa is a “very high research activity” institution according to the Carnegie Foundation, and multiple research mentors are available for you to pursue your research interests.
Will I be working shifts in the emergency department as part of my fellowship?
You will not be working in the emergency department at the University of Iowa, but there are opportunities for moonlighting at other local hospitals. Our philosophy is that your first priority is to learn critical care medicine, so we require that moonlighting not interfere with your primary responsibilities as a fellow.
What other critical care fellowships are offered at the University of Iowa?
The University of Iowa has well respected ACGME accredited fellowships in: