Program Structure

The Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine at the University of Colorado includes the following training sites for our fellows:

University of Colorado Hospital (UCH)

Denver Health Medical Center (DH)

Denver Veterans Administration Medical Center (VAMC)

National Jewish Health (NJH)

St. Joseph Hospital (SJH)

St. Anthony's Central Hospital (SAC)

Established Clinical Research Centers

Acute Lung Injury

Adult Cystic Fibrosis

Asthma

Emphysema

Genomics

Interstitial Lung Disease

Lung Cancer

Lung Transplantation

Lung Volume Reduction Surgery

Occupational Lung Disease

Pulmonary Hypertension

Sarcoidosis

Training Year One

The first year of training consists of seven two-month rotations on the clinical services at UCH, SAC, SJH, NJH, VAMC and DH. This year is designed to teach the fellow basic aspects of pulmonary and critical care medicine and offers broad experiences in the techniques necessary for practicing these specialties and for conducting clinical research. Each fellow is assigned a faculty advisor who provides guidance during the first year and assists with further career planning, particularly the subsequent years of research training.

Training Years Two and Three

The second and third years are designed to foster the development of the trainee's own creative interests. Each 2nd and 3rd year trainee is assigned a research committee which is comprised of two faculty members of their choice, the research mentor and one of the division heads. The trainee meets with the assigned committee to present their current research projects and discuss further directions. This period is primarily devoted to research experience under the guidance of a divisional mentor. This can be basic research at any one of our institutions with staff immunologists, cell biologists, biochemists, and geneticists. There are also similar opportunities for outstanding clinical and physiologic research at all six hospitals. The second year includes two one-month rotations at UCH and a one-month rotation in critical care at the Anschutz Inpatient Pavilion. During the third year, trainees complete two one-month rotations in critical care at DH and a one month pulmonary elective. In addition, trainees complete a 6 month, half day per week outpatient pulmonary subspecialty clinic during either second or third year.

Individuals with an interest in clinical sciences or occupational and environmental lung disease may elect to complete training which includes a Master of Science in Public Health in the School of Preventive Medicine through the Occupational Medicine Residency program.

Additional Years of Training

An optional fourth year of continued training (the majority of trainees opt for this) is available for those who desire it. A fourth year is necessary for those in one of the PhD programs. The purpose of this optional year is to ensure an additional year of protected time for research activities particularly for those trainees who plan academic careers.

Divisional Conferences

Although our program includes multiple sites, 168 faculty and the potential for 24 trainees, we maintain close communication with each other through our monthly Education Day, semi annual reviews, and weekly conferences.

• Pulmonary Grand Rounds
• Research in Progress Conference
• Journal Club/M&M
• Chest X-Ray Conference
• Additional weekly conferences at the component hospitals and resarch laboratories
• Monthly Education Day
  • Focusing on core curriculum lectures (1st, 2nd, and 3rd years)
• Monthly Critical Care Conference (Denver Health)

Divisional Meetings & Social Activities

• Annual Fellow Review
• Fellow's Welcome Picnic
• Annual Faculty vs. Fellow Kickball
• Division Hike
• Holiday Reception
• Fellows Ski Day