Didactic Conferences

Didactic conferences are held daily.

Pulmonary Didactic Lectures

July through September is an introductory lecture series followed by a theme-based lecture series that covers topics pertaining to clinical practice and pulmonary board exam on a recurring 18-month schedule that takes place October through June occurs every Wednesday by faculty or regional, national and internationally-renown guest speakers.

Critical Care Didactic Lectures

These lectures are held bi-weekly. State-of-the-art lectures are presented not only by the critical care faculty, but in keeping with the multidisciplinary nature of the training program, didactic lectures may also be given by faculty and visiting professors specializing in trauma, infectious disease, cardiovascular, or emergency medicine. We invite regional, national and internationally-renown faculty to discuss the most important topics in critical care.

Morbidity and Mortality

All deaths in the medical/surgical intensive care unit and any morbidity is reviewed. Fellows are assigned to present a case synopsis for the deaths and morbidities once a month.

Ultrasound Curriculum

Critical Care Faculty present at this lecture on Fridays in preparation for Critical Care Echo Boards. Image review is an integral part of this conference.

Mechanical Ventilation Curriculum

These monthly lectures are held by Dr. Bartock and Dr. Damuth to make our fellows experts in mechanical ventilation.

Teaching Rounds

Conducted daily on pulmonary consultation service and in the medical/surgical ICU. Rounds are conducted by faculty with active participation by fellows. In the critical care service rounds include the multidisciplinary patient care team members.

Board Review

Monthly theme-based review of board style questions on pulmonary topics every last Wednesday of the month. Critical care board review takes place weekly on Mondays.

Simulation Lab

Simulation Lab is held once a month. Sample topics are:

  • Difficult Airway
  • Bleeding cardiac surgery patient
  • Mechanical circulatory support
  • Cricothyrotomy
  • Management of elevated intracranial pressures

The SimLab is a state-of-the-art-simulation facility where fellows develop and enhance their procedural skills, difficult airway management, bronchoscopy and crisis team response. In addition, the SimLab provides the opportunity for fellows to teach junior residents and medical students basic procedures and management of medical emergencies.

Fundamental Critical Care Support (FCCS)

Developed by the Society of Critical Care Medicine, FCCS is a standardized course on the basic principles of critical care that is administered in August to all new critical care fellows and residents.

Multi-disciplinary Conference

Rheumatology-Pulmonary, ED-CCM: Engaging interdepartmental collaborations around stimulating topics.

Educational Presentations

Fellows and faculty give educational lectures to residents and medical students on critical care service to educate the house staff and refine their presentation skills.

Opportunity to Function as a Junior Attending

Fellows will have the opportunity to function as an attending and lead the team in making patient-care rounds during the training program.

Pulmonary In-service Examination

The APCCMPD Pulmonary and Critical Care In-service Exam and APCCMPD Critical Care In-service Exam are the only nationally standardized, psychometrically-validated tests that evaluate a clinicians' knowledge of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.

Each exam is a 150-question, computer-based exam. Content is based on the respective ABIM Pulmonary and Critical Care Board Exam Blue Print and ABIM Critical Care Board Exam Blue Print

The testing allows the trainee:

  • Identify areas of deficiency that require further learning
  • Compare performance to peers nationally
  • May help make career choices

Critical Care In-Service Examination

The Multidisciplinary Critical Care Knowledge Assessment Program (MCCKAP) administered through the Society of Critical Care Medicine is a four-hour standardized critical care in-service examination given annually to all critical care fellows. MCCKAP allows critical care fellows to compare their knowledge base with other critical care fellows nationwide, and the fellows in the two-year program are able to evaluate their progress between the first and second year of the program. Only the respective fellow and the program director will know actual examination results.