Didactics and Academic Expectations

Didactics

Fellows participate in a structured, multidisciplinary educational program designed to strengthen core knowledge and advanced clinical reasoning in critical care medicine.

Key Educational Components:

  • ACCM Faculty Lecture Series: Weekly fellow-focused lectures covering critical care physiology, pathophysiology, and evidence-based management. Sessions are held in person at Hartford Hospital and streamed virtually to all affiliated sites.
  • DeckerMed Online Curriculum: Weekly question-based and reading modules from Critical Care of the Surgical Patient (DeckerMed). Fellows receive institutional access and are expected to complete assigned content.
  • Morbidity & Mortality (M&M) Conferences: Fellows attend and participate in unit-based and departmental M&M discussions, leading at least one Critical Care Case Discussion during the fellowship year.
  • Unit-Based Teaching and Simulation: Fellows participate in daily teaching rounds, simulation-based sessions, and Civetta Rounds that integrate real cases with literature review and multidisciplinary discussion.
  • Grand Rounds: Fellows attend Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, Trauma, and multidisciplinary Grand Rounds and are expected to present at least once per year.

Educational Resources:

Fellows receive foundational reference texts such as Textbook of Critical Care (Vincent et al.) and The Ventilator Book (Owens), along with access to question banks and board review tools including CHEST SEEK, SCCM Review Courses, and DeckerMed modules.

Academic Expectations

Fellows are integral to the academic mission of the program and are expected to:

  • Attend all scheduled didactic and educational activities unless excused by the Program Director.
  • Lead at least two Critical Care Case Discussion and two Fellow Lecture Series topic.
  • Present two Journal Club articles annually.
  • Participate in one Pro/Con Debate or panel discussion with a co-fellow.
  • Deliver two mini-lectures (15 minutes each) to residents or medical students during ICU rotations.
  • Complete at least one Quality Improvement or Research Project during fellowship.

Professional Engagement:

  • Maintain current Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) certification throughout training.
  • Hold active membership in the Society of Critical Care Medicine (SCCM) and the Society of Critical Care Anesthesiologists (SOCCA).
  • Attend at least one national meeting annually—such as the SCCM Critical Care Congress or SOCCA Annual Meeting—to present research or engage in professional development.
  • Participate in in-training examinations, including the ABA ITE–Critical Care and SCCM MCCKAP, as part of board preparation and self-assessment.