GOALS AND OBJECTIVES: The fellowship in Trauma Anesthesiology is a 6 or 12-month period of specialized, in-depth training in the perioperative and anesthetic management of trauma patients.
The specific goals of the program are:
1) To stimulate reading and understanding of the pathophysiology of the trauma patient;
2) To develop technical and intuitive skills necessary in managing patients with both blunt and penetrating trauma;
3) To gain valuable experience in the placement and interpretation of invasive monitors, managing difficult airways, resuscitating all forms of shock, and managing the sequelae which occur as a result of the hypoperfused state (e.g., coagulopathies and multi-system organ failure);
4) To obtain certification in Advanced Trauma Life Support.
The fellow will be affiliated with the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, rotating exclusively at Parkland Health and Hospital System (Parkland). Parkland is a world-renowned Level One Trauma Center serving all of Dallas County as well as a major portion of the North Central Texas region. Parkland cares for over 70% of the trauma patients in Dallas County, which results in more than 5,000 trauma admissions per year.
SELECTION: This fellowship will accept up to three fellows per year, providing optimal exposure to challenging and complex cases. Any graduate in good standing of an accredited residency in Anesthesiology residency is eligible for this position.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: The fellow is expected to work five days per week with a significant portion during night-time shifts and two weekend call days each month. The fellow is expected to perform total perioperative management, including preoperative and postoperative patient visitation. The fellow will not be required to work more than a 24-hour shift and will have the day off after a 24-hour call.
SUPERVISION: In all cases, attending faculty will directly supervise the fellow.
FORMAL EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES: The fellow is expected to attend the Anesthesiology department's Wednesday morning conferences and the Surgery department's Thursday morning Trauma Conference.
RESEARCH REQUIREMENTS: The fellow is strongly encouraged to complete a research project in collaboration with interested faculty.
EVALUATIONS: The fellow will be evaluated monthly by the attending faculty and will also have the opportunity to evaluate the supervising faculty. Routine resident evaluation forms will be used and reviewed biannually by the Resident Clinical Competence Committee. The fellow will receive formal evaluations with their respective mentor biannually at six and twelve months.
Dr. Vance E. Shearer is Director of the Trauma Fellowship and oversees this training program.
