Choosing the right pulmonary critical care fellowship program is a pivotal step for physicians aiming to specialize in this demanding and rewarding field. The University of Colorado’s Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (PCCM) Fellowship Training Program stands out as a premier destination for those seeking to become leaders in pulmonary and critical care medicine. Our mission is to cultivate future leaders across the spectrum of science, education, and healthcare administration, equipping them with the expertise and experience necessary to excel.
What truly distinguishes our program from other top-tier programs nationwide are two fundamental elements: personalized career development and comprehensive clinical training.
Individualized Career Planning: Tailoring Your Path to Success
Recognizing that each fellow has unique aspirations, our program prioritizes individualized career planning. As the largest PCCM division in the country, we possess unparalleled resources to meticulously craft a career trajectory that aligns perfectly with each trainee’s specific goals. Whether you envision a career focused on cutting-edge research, impactful medical education, or effective healthcare administration, our program provides the infrastructure and mentorship to help you realize your ambitions.
To ensure comprehensive guidance, we strongly advocate for paired mentoring teams for every fellow. This approach provides multifaceted support and perspectives, drawing upon the diverse expertise within our faculty to guide fellows in making informed decisions about their career paths. This personalized mentorship is a cornerstone of our commitment to nurturing the next generation of PCCM leaders.
Rigorous Clinical Training: Mastering the Full Spectrum of PCCM
Our fellowship program is fundamentally hands-on, providing rigorous clinical training across the complete spectrum of pulmonary and critical care medicine. From foundational airway management techniques to advanced bronchoscopy and complex pleural procedures, fellows gain practical expertise in a high-volume, diverse clinical environment.
Training occurs across four prominent sites within the Denver metropolitan area, each offering unique patient populations and clinical experiences. This multi-site approach ensures exposure to a broad range of cases and healthcare settings, enriching the learning experience. Furthermore, our faculty includes internationally-recognized experts in every subspecialty within pulmonary and critical care medicine. Fellows benefit directly from this wealth of expertise, learning from and working alongside leaders in their respective fields. This immersive clinical training ensures graduates are exceptionally well-prepared for any clinical challenge they may encounter.
Research-Intensive Fellowship: Fostering Innovation and Discovery
The University of Colorado PCCM Fellowship Program is fundamentally research-intensive, providing fellows with exceptional mentoring resources and a robust infrastructure to facilitate their research goals. We are committed to fostering a spirit of inquiry and innovation, encouraging fellows to engage in meaningful research that advances the field.
Typically, fellows will pursue a dedicated research-focused fourth year prior to securing a faculty appointment. This protected research time is invaluable for developing independent research skills, conducting in-depth studies, and building a strong foundation for an academic career. Importantly, we understand that effective career mentoring and support must extend beyond the fellowship years. We are committed to providing ongoing mentorship into the junior faculty years, ensuring sustained success for our graduates.
Medical Education Track: Developing Leaders in Medical Education
For fellows with a passion for education, we offer a specialized medical education track designed to cultivate expertise in medical education scholarship. This unique track provides protected time comparable to our research-focused pathways, allowing fellows to dedicate themselves to developing their skills as educators and scholars.
The medical education track includes comprehensive training in med ed scholarship, focusing on curriculum development, educational research methodologies, and effective teaching techniques. Fellows also gain sub-subspecialty expertise within PCCM, ensuring a strong clinical foundation to complement their educational focus. Since 2020, we have offered a separate ERAS match number specifically for this track, highlighting our commitment to and investment in training future leaders in medical education within pulmonary and critical care medicine.
Commitment to Diversity: Building a Stronger Future
We firmly believe that fostering diversity within our fellowship program and the division as a whole is essential to our mission. A diverse learning environment enriches the educational experience for all fellows and strengthens our ability to serve a diverse patient population.
To actively promote diversity, we have implemented several key steps, including holistic review of applications. This comprehensive approach considers the entirety of an applicant’s experiences and attributes, going beyond traditional metrics to identify individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives who will contribute to our community. We strongly encourage candidates from underrepresented backgrounds to apply, as we are committed to creating an inclusive and equitable learning environment.
A Collaborative Community of Learners
Beyond the structured curriculum and resources, the heart of our program lies in our vibrant community of learners. Fellows, faculty, and staff are united by a shared mission and a deep commitment to supporting one another. This collaborative and supportive environment fosters intellectual curiosity, personal growth, and a strong sense of camaraderie. Joining our program means becoming part of a community dedicated to excellence in pulmonary and critical care medicine, where you will be challenged, supported, and empowered to achieve your fullest potential.
