APP Medical Critical Care Fellowship

Clinical Curriculum and Rotations

The Medical Critical Care Track is administered by the Division of Pulmonary Science and Critical Care Medicine within the Department of Medicine at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.  Throughout the 12-month fellowship, fellows train alongside experienced APPs, attending physicians, physician fellows, residents, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists and other members of the multidisciplinary critical care team.  

Clinical responsibilities progressively expand throughout the year and include comprehensive patient assessment, diagnostic reasoning, management of critically ill patients, bedside procedures, and effective communication with patients, families, and interdisciplinary teams.

Rotation-specific learning objectives, continuous feedback, and formal evaluations guide fellow development. Fellows are granted graduated autonomy as they demonstrate competency and are supported throughout the year by dedicated APP and physician faculty mentors.

Core ICU Rotations (4-6 weeks duration)

• Medical Intensive Care Unit (MICU)
• Cardiothoracic Intensive Care Unit (CTICU)
• Surgical Trauma

Elective ICU Rotations (2 weeks duration)

• Neurosurgical ICU
• Cardiac ICU, Heart Failure
• Burn ICU

Elective Rotations (2 weeks duration, based on fellow interest and availability)

• Hospital Medicine
• Infectious Disease
• Palliative Care
• Pulmonary consults
• Pulmonary Hypertension
• Medicine Procedures
• Neurology
• Cardiology
• Hepatology
• Interventional Radiology
• Emergency department
• Transplant surgery
• Bone Marrow Transplant
• Medicine Oncology
• Anesthesia

Fellows should expect a combination of day, night, weekend, and occasional holiday shifts throughout the training year.

The fellowship schedule includes intentional flexibility during the final months of training, allowing elective experiences to be tailored to each fellow's clinical interests and anticipated career goals.

The fellowship begins with a comprehensive three-week orientation designed to establish foundational knowledge and clinical skills.

A longitudinal curriculum complements clinical training through:

• Interactive Monthly Didactic Conferences covering core medical and surgical critical care topics, including shock, sepsis, ARDS, mechanical ventilation, vasopressor management, pain and sedation, acute kidney injury and renal replacement therapy, hemorrhagic shock, liver failure, acute pulmonary embolism, postoperative complications, common medical and surgical critical care scenarios, and multidisciplinary case reviews.
• Fellow Case Presentations where fellows present clinically relevant cases to APP fellows and faculty, strengthening clinical reasoning, presentation, and teaching skills.
• High-Fidelity Simulation focused on the management of critical care emergencies through three immersive simulation sessions annually.
• Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS) Training utilizing dedicated ultrasound education and hands-on simulation to develop procedural skills and enhance clinical decision-making in critically ill patients.
• Well-Being Curriculum focused on professional identity formation, resilience, leadership, communication, receiving and applying feedback, reflective practice, and strategies that promote career longevity and well-being. This unique longitudinal curriculum fosters personal and professional growth while developing the non-technical skills essential for a successful and sustainable career in critical care.
• Professional Development & Career Development providing individualized mentorship in career planning, identifying employment opportunities, developing a competitive curriculum vitae (CV), obtaining strong letters of recommendation, preparing for interviews, and successfully transitioning into independent critical care practice.

The University of Colorado APP Fellowship Program utilizes a common application for multiple postgraduate APP fellowship tracks, allowing applicants to apply to one or more specialty programs through a single application process. Please see application link for more information on various tracks.

Minimum Qualifications

Applicants must meet all minimum qualifications prior to the credentialing process.

• Graduate of an accredited Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (ACNP) or Physician Assistant (PA) program.
• ACNP applicants must be credentialed as an ACNP before the fellowship start date.
• ACNP and PA applicants must obtain national certification and provide official certification results at least 60 days prior to the fellowship start date.
• Current BLS and ACLS certification.

Preferred Qualifications

Although not required, competitive applicants often have:

• Clinical exposure to medically complex patient populations.
• Experience in acute care, critical care, emergency medicine, inpatient medicine, or other specialty clinical settings.
• Demonstrated commitment to critical care through clinical experiences, leadership, scholarship, or quality improvement initiatives.

Application Materials

For full consideration, applicants should submit:

1. Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV)
2. Personal Statement
   1. Tell us why you are interested in pursuing a fellowship in critical care.
3. Specialty Interest Statement
   1. Describe why you selected the fellowship track(s) included in your application.
4. Unofficial Graduate Transcript
5. Three Letters of Recommendation
   1. At least one letter should be from a clinical preceptor who directly supervised your patient care over a meaningful period and can evaluate your clinical performance, professional growth, and readiness for advanced practice training.
   2. Whenever possible, letters should reflect experiences relevant to your selected fellowship specialty.

Salary

• Annual fellowship salary: $77,174
• Comprehensive University of Colorado employee benefits, including:
  • Medical insurance
  • Dental insurance
  • Vision insurance

Paid Time Off

Fellows receive 21 days of vacation during the fellowship year. Vacation requests are submitted at the beginning of the fellowship and scheduled in collaboration with the Program Director and clinical services.

Holidays

Because fellows participate in clinical scheduling, holiday assignments are determined based on service needs and will be discussed individually before the start of the fellowship year.

Unplanned Absences

Unexpected absences should be kept to a minimum. Fellows are expected to notify both the Program Director and their clinical team as soon as possible if they are unable to report to work.

Continuing Medical Education

Fellows complete more than 50 hours of structured continuing medical education (CME) through the fellowship curriculum. Additional opportunities include attendance at institutional conferences, multidisciplinary educational activities, simulation training, journal clubs, and, when available, regional or national critical care conferences.

Certification Opportunities

The fellowship provides opportunities for fellows to complete Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) and Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS) certification courses during the training year. Course registration fees and associated expenses are covered by the program.