A robust, structured didactic curriculum is offered to create a rich educational environment, including lectures, selected readings, hands-on courses, journal club and M&M conference. Fellows are required to attend a didactic series of lectures given by SNICU staff as well as local and national experts in critical care. Fellows lead SNICU/CVICU M&M and SNICU/CVICU Journal Club monthly, and are expected to attend Department of Surgery M&M as well as Acute Care Surgery Journal Club and Acute Care Surgery Research meetings. Fellows will also participate in providing a Grand Rounds presentation for the Department of Surgery. Fellows are part of the SNICU management meeting along with all staffs involved in ICU patient care to discuss the operational business of the ICU and the issues related to patient care.

There is a wide variety of texts provided to the Surgical Critical Care fellow including the Department of Anesthesia Library and the University of Iowa Hardin Medical Library. In addition, there is a well-developed internet library of electronic textbooks and journals available at every computer within the SNICU. Also in the SNICU, there are a total of 127 titles as well as 13 journal subscriptions.

Ultrasound Course: The fellows will participate in a 2-day ultrasound course hosted by the University of Iowa. 

Regional/National Conferences: The fellowship program sponsors attendance at one critical-care related meetings which could include EAST, Mattox TCCACS and Society of Critical Care Medicine annual meeting. In addition to attending a meeting, the program will provide a critical care textbook such as Surgical Critical Care and Emergency General Surgery. 

Inservice Exam: Fellows take the SCCM MCCKAP exam annually. 

Ecmo Elective Rotation: For fellows with an interest in ECMO, we have developed an experience that continues throughout their year of training.  Early in the fellowship year, there is a formal didactic program that will introduce them to the physiology and management of ECMO patients.  Throughout the year, they may participate in ECMO call, evaluating and managing patients requiring veno-venous (V-V) and veno-arterial (V-A) ECMO support.  Participating fellows will also participate in the quality improvement process, helping review indications and complications at our regularly scheduled ECMO Conference.   

Additional Training offered at the University of Iowa:
Fundamentals of Critical Care Support (FCCS) Course

Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) Course

Advanced Trauma Operative Management (ATOM) Course

Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma (ASSET) Course