The surgical landscape is evolving, increasingly leaning upon expert evaluation and optimization for patients at high risk for poor outcomes. These patients account for more than 30% of ICU admissions, 70% of post-operative deaths, and 90% of the care provided during hospitalization. The UPMC Perioperative Medicine Fellowship is a 12-month, multidisciplinary, team-based training program focusing on both outpatient and inpatient perioperative management of these high-risk patients and their families. UPMC’s world-class surgical staff relies on our Center for Perioperative Care (CPC) team of anesthesiologists to help reduce hospital length of stay, hospital-acquired conditions, and readmission rates, translating into better quality care, higher patient satisfaction, and cost savings. With a robust inpatient, outpatient, and multi-site training experience, the Perioperative Medicine Fellowship prepares anesthesiologists with the tools and experience for a dynamic and value-based healthcare system.
Our Perioperative Medicine Fellowship is also uniquely designed to allow additional training in medical innovation as a part of the UPMC Anesthesiology Innovation Pathway.
Clinical Experience
The one-year fellowship includes three months in our busy outpatient CPC clinic at UPMC Presbyterian, prehabilitating high-risk patients for non-emergency surgery while developing the foundational knowledge/experience in perioperative echo and medical management. The fellowship continues with seven months of inpatient experience as the perioperative expert consultant to UPMC’s top-ranked inpatient medical specialties, including cardiology, pulmonology, hematology, endocrinology, nutrition, cardiopulmonary therapy, social work, addiction medicine, palliative care, psychiatry/dual diagnosis, physical medicine & rehab, and inpatient complex care services. Experiences will be specific to the perioperative care of these patients pre- and post-surgery. Perioperative medicine fellows will work directly with departmental chiefs and fellowship directors to focus and tailor the consultant role.
Educational Program
The education portion will be conducted by rotation directors, utilizing current literature - for example, treatment of perioperative anemia and the reasons for it will be addressed not only in the CPC, but also on the hematology rotation. The fellow will be expected to present once on each rotation, attend the Grand Round lectures of the divisions/departments while on that rotation, and participate in Anesthesiology CPC conferences as well as Grand Rounds.
Research Opportunities
Our research program encourages perioperative medicine fellows to participate in ongoing or newly-developed investigative projects. Substantial departmental financial and intellectual support is available for clinical or basic science projects, and fellows are expected to be able to present research abstracts at national or international meetings.
Qualifications
The qualifications for the Perioperative Medicine Fellowship Program are that the applicant will have completed an AGCME-accredited anesthesiology residency program by the start of the fellowship. No previously attending physician experience required.
Perioperative Medicine + Innovation
Our Perioperative Medicine Fellowship is uniquely designed to combine with the UPMC PITTrack for interested anesthesiologist innovators. Interested applicants may complete the Certificate in Medical Product Innovation (C-MPI) through the Center for Medical Innovation at the University of Pittsburgh. The C-MPI is a multidisciplinary, team-based, executive graduate-level program designed to equip our physicians with the knowledge, time, resources, and funding to change healthcare. Interested applicants should include the intention to participate in the dual-track in their fellowship application, which will then be reviewed by the Director of Innovation Education.
Interested applicants can find additional information on the following web pages:
Application Process
To apply, please e-mail the following application materials to espersa@upmc.edu:
- Three letters of reference
- Applicant’s CV
- Applicant’s transcript with residency evaluations
- A brief essay stating why perioperative medicine is the applicant’s desired specialty
- Intent to participate in the dual Perioperative Medicine/Innovation Track, if applicable
Upon receipt of the fellowship materials, fellows will be selected by a review committee based on their reference letters, applicant essay, and an interview. Applicants will be notified at least four months prior to the start of the fellowship.
For further information, please contact:
Stephen A. Esper, MD, MBA
Medical Director, UPMC Centers for Perioperative Care
Director, UPMC Perioperative Medicine Fellowship
espersa@upmc.edu