Didactics and Training

These series cover the pulmonary and critical care curricula. The pulmonary curriculum is intended for PCCM fellows, but CCM fellows are welcome. The programs share the CCM curriculum. These curricula are carefully curated 2 and 3-year rotating series, covering all core topics recommended by ABIM while ensuring that all fellows experience each topic at least once during their fellowship. These conferences take place at noon. All conference time is considered protected time for fellows.

PCCM fellows also participate in monthly ILD multi-disciplinary conferences where they present complex ILD cases to a panel of pulmonologists, rheumatologists, thoracic radiologists, and pathologists. They also enjoy combined pulmonary–rheumatology conferences, grand rounds presentations, and Chief’s Conferences, all of which are fellow-led. All fellows in the programs can participate in Journal Club, M&M, and research conferences.

Our University Hospital boasts a state-of-the-art Simulation lab which, along with the Division’s own Dedicated Simulation Lab allows fellows to be trained in a variety of clinical scenarios and procedures. Fellows practice standard procedures like Direct and Video Laryngoscopic intubation, central line placements, and basic bronchoscopy to more complicated or rare procedures such as Minnesota/Blakemore tube placement, emergency cricothyrotomy, and Double Lumen Endotracheal Intubation. A High-Acuity Low Occurrence (HALO) Simulation program runs longitudinally through the entirety of the training programs and provides hands-on high-fidelity simulations for PCCM and CCM fellows.

The Fellowships share has a robust Critical Care Ultrasound and Echocardiography Curriculum which begins at orientation with new fellows attending a 3 day multi-institution workshop in Iowa. Thereafter is dedicated curriculum which covers all aspects of POCUS focusing on hands-on sessions. Throughout their training, and fellows build a their own portfolio of acquired images on which they receive feedback from Critical Care Echocardiography Board Certified faculty. Those with interest in certification by the National Board of Echocardiography are encouraged to take part in the CCEeXAM. There’s also a dedicated POCUS track, which accepts two fellows each year and provides a roadmap to board certification at the end of fellowship.

This is the age-old ritual of the pulmonary fellowship is a foundational part of PCCM training where fellows interpret thoracic radiology (from CXRs to CT scans) in a case-based series supported by pulmonary and radiology faculty. Real life images are presented by senior fellows as first year fellows walk through steps of radiographic identification.