Surgical Critical Care Fellowship
The SSM Health/Saint Louis University School of Medicine Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Program offers training for the comprehensive management of critically ill surgical patients, prioritizing care through integrated, multidisciplinary teamwork.
A Message From the Program Director
Welcome to the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Program.
Our surgical critical care service cares for ICU patients from all surgical subspecialities. As a fellow, you’ll be responsible for the daily operation of the service and play an important role in the surgical education of the team via participation in lectures, conferences and rounds.
Additionally, you’ll be expected to participate in the administrative and research aspects of surgical critical care. This includes joining committees and attending at least one outside conference or symposium on critical care.
Upon completing this program, you’ll be eligible to take the ABS surgical critical care certifying examination, and you’ll be capable of assuming an active leadership role as a medical director of an intensive care unit.
Thank you for your interest. Please reach out with any questions.
Christopher Behr, M.D.
Program director
Program Overview
The one-year, ACGME-accredited surgical critical care fellowship provides comprehensive training to manage critically ill surgical patients and ICU operations. Fellows oversee all aspects of critical care management, cardiovascular, respiratory, neurological and nutritional needs as well as infection control. They also gain hands-on experience managing daily ICU operations, including staffing, patient transfers and resource allocation.
Fellows train at the following sites:
- SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital (primary)
- SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital (elective)
- Clinical Leadership: direct the Surgical Critical Care Service and provide coverage for ICU patients:
- Trauma/general surgery ICU (all)
- Cardiothoracic surgery/ECMO (select)
- Transplant/neurosurgery ICUs (select)
- Elective Rotations:
- Medical ICU
- Acute care surgery service
- Cardiology/echo service
- Nephrology
- Pediatric ICU (SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital)
- Clinical research activities
- Custom arrangements available
- Work-Life Balance: average 72 hours per week with one day off each weekend; includes one 24-hour call covering trauma surgery service and ICU
- Trauma Multidisciplinary Conference: Daily
- Trauma ICU and Trauma M&M: Mondays
- Surgical Critical Care: Tuesdays; fellows select topics and speakers
- Surgical Grand Rounds: Wednesdays; minimum of one fellow presentation required
- General Surgical M&M: Wednesday; attend and discuss
- Trauma Operations Committee: second Monday; attend and discuss
- Trauma Infection Control: (fourth Monday)
- Clinical Research Project: develop and complete at least one clinical research/PI project.
- ICU Administrative Committee: required membership on administrative committee of the trauma/general surgery ICU
- Special Care Committee: attend monthly meeting with medical staff
- Funded Training: attend at least one outside conference or symposium on critical care or ICU administration, especially those held in conjunction with the Society of Critical Care Medicine annual meeting
Program Highlights
- Six months in the trauma ICU at SSM Health Saint Louis University Hospital
- ACS-verified Level I Trauma Center
- Tertiary care referral center
- Regional center for skull base surgery
- Active solid organ transplantation program
- ICU operations management
- Three months in the general surgery ICU
- Two months in cardiothoracic ICU/ECMO services
- One elective month
- Additive pay for every other overnight trauma/acute surgery shifts
Current Fellows
Sara Larson, M.D.
Residency: General surgery, Baylor College of Medicine
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
Eugene Roe, D.O.
Residency: General surgery, Geisinger Northease
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine
Apply
The fellowship program has two available positions per year.
Applicants need at least three clinical years in a surgical training program. Preference is given to individuals who have completed or are completing their surgical residency training.
The program participates in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP).
Review the Application Process
About the SSM Health/Saint Louis University School of Medicine Graduate Medical Education Program
SSM Health proudly sponsors the Graduate Medical Education Program at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. This university-based training program offers a world-class academic environment that fosters clinical excellence, research innovation and compassionate care. All program participants are employed by SSM Health, ensuring a cohesive and supportive experience within a nationally recognized health system.