Acute Care Surgery Fellowship

ACUTE CARE SURGERY FELLOWSHIP

Overview

The University of Utah Acute Care Surgery (ACS) Fellowship program was established at the University of Utah in 2020 and has been continuously accredited by the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) since then.

The program focuses on training surgeons to handle urgent and emergent surgical cases, primarily in the field of trauma and emergency surgery. Fellows gain experience in managing a broad spectrum of acute surgical conditions, including trauma, emergency general surgery, and surgical emergencies. They acquire skills in rapid assessment, resuscitation, and decision-making in critical situations. The fellowship also emphasizes the management of complex abdominal emergencies, such as acute appendicitis, bowel obstruction, and perforated viscera. Fellows become adept at performing a range of procedures, from damage control surgery to advanced laparoscopic techniques. The program prepares surgeons to provide immediate, life-saving interventions and expert acute surgical care.

Furthermore, fellows have the opportunity to not only acquire an in-depth knowledge of advanced skills in acute care surgery, but also to develop both academically and professionally. The program is committed to delivering excellent clinical exposure, as well as directed, expert instruction, promoting autonomous education, and fostering the refinement of fellows' scientific and academic pursuits. The fellowship consists of a combination of mentorship with a gradual increase in clinical, administrative, and educational responsibilities; didactic instruction; hands-on experience; and self-directed learning.

Clinical rotations take place at University of Utah Health, Huntsman Cancer Institute, and Intermountain Medical Center. During clinical rotations fellows evaluate new patients and manage patients under treatment, including the simulation and treatment planning, acting as junior attendings. Fellow progress is evaluated on an individual basis following the completion of each clinical rotation and by the Program Director on a quarterly basis.

The year-long ACS fellowship can only be completed as part of a 2-year track in which the first year is focused on SCC and the second on ACS. One (1) 2-year position is available every academic year.

Program Aims

The University of Utah Acute Care Surgery Fellowship Program Team aims to:

Develop Expert Acute Care Surgeons - Train highly skilled and versatile surgeons capable of providing comprehensive and specialized care to critically ill and injured patients requiring emergency surgical interventions.
Enhance Surgical Expertise - Build upon general surgery residency knowledge and skills to develop specialized expertise in managing a wide spectrum of acute surgical conditions, trauma, and surgical emergencies.
Advance Patient Outcomes - Focus on refining fellows' abilities to provide timely and effective acute care interventions that lead to improved patient outcomes, reduced complications, and enhanced quality of life.
Promote Multidisciplinary Collaboration - Foster collaboration with various medical specialists, including intensivists, anesthesiologists, radiologists, and allied healthcare professionals, to ensure comprehensive patient care.
Encourage Research and Evidence-Based Methods - Engage fellows in acute care surgery research and evidence-based methods, contributing to the evolution of protocols, treatment strategies, and innovations in acute care surgery.
Cultivate Leadership Skills - Develop leadership skills that enable fellows to lead critical care teams, coordinate patient care, and manage complex clinical scenarios.
Foster Professional Growth - Provide a supportive environment for fellows' professional growth, encouraging their pursuit of academic roles, teaching opportunities, and contributions to the field of acute care surgery.
Empower Compassionate Care - Instill a patient-focused approach, emphasizing effective communication, empathy, and compassionate care to patients and their families during critical moments.
Champion Ethical Practice - Engender ethical values and principles, ensuring fellows prioritize patient well-being, respect patient autonomy, and maintain the highest standards of integrity in their practice.

Program Team

Alexander Colonna, MD, MSCI, FACS

Program Director

Joanna Grudziak, MD, MPH

Associate Program Director

Anna Darelli-Anderson, MEd, BA, C-TAGME

Program Manager

Morgan Creamer, BS

Program Coordinator

Teaching Faculty

Alexander Colonna, MD, MSCI, FACS

Associate Professor, Surgery

Joanna Grudziak, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor, Surgery

Raminder Nirula, MD, MPH

Professor, Surgery

Toby Enniss, MD, MBA FACS

Associate Professor, Surgery

Jade Nunez, MD, FACS

Associate Professor, Surgery

Sudha Jayaraman, MD, MSc, FACS

Professor, Surgery

Jason Young, MD, PharmD, FACS

Associate Professor, Surgery

Marta McCrum, MD, MPH

Associate Professor, Surgery

Sarah Lombardo, MD, MSC

Assistant Professor, Surgery

Case Volumes

Procedure	2020	2021
Head and Neck	18	19
Thoracic	143	90
Abdominal	422	256
Vascular	48	36
Ultrasound	290	50
Management of Complex Trauma	107	53
Complex EGS	63	36
Non-index/Other	2	100
Total	1093	640

Application Information

Eligibility

To be eligible for the two-year SCC/ACS Fellowship, an applicant must have completed an ACGME-accredited general surgery residency program in the United States or Canada.

Additionally, the fellow must meet all the requirements contained in the “Eligibility and Credentialing of Housestaff” Policy of the University of Utah Office of Graduate Medical Education (GME), including:

Being eligible for and obtaining a license to practice medicine in the state of Utah.
Completion of all United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) examinations.
Graduation from a U.S. or Canadian medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME).

Graduation from a college of osteopathic medicine in the United States accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) OR
Graduation from a medical school outside of the United States and meets one or more of the following qualifications:
1. Has a currently valid Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate OR
2. Has a full and unrestricted license to practice medicine in U.S. licensing jurisdictions OR
3. Is a graduate of a medical school outside of the United States and has completed a Fifth Pathway program provided by an LCME-accredited medical school
Passing a criminal background check
Compliance with the Health Sciences Center Drug Testing

You can obtain more information regarding the GME policies and benefits, along with general information, at the GME website.

Application Process

Eligible applicants apply through the Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery Fellowship Application Service (SAFAS). Applications are screened and then reviewed by the Program Director and a diverse group of at least four faculty members and selected applicants are invited to interview. Candidates will then be evaluated on their standing within their residency program, educational qualifications, academic productivity (grants, publications, degrees, and experience), interviews, and letters of recommendation. Finally, selected fellows are matched via the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and are sent an offer letter.

REQUIRED INFORMATION

In addition to the standard SAFAS application, the following are required: