I’m beginning my last week on the cardiac transplant and VAD ICU rotation – one week from finishing all of my required ICU rotations as a resident! It’s shaping up to be my most draining week too with two calls plus weekend coverage and a census riddled with ECMO, Impellas, and LVADs. 😐
From what I’ve seen on my ICU rotations as a medical student and resident, intensivists (physicians who work in the ICU) really are the crème de la crème when it comes to understanding global physiology, having the skills to perform procedures, and being able to “save lives.” I was always thinking about pursuing at least a critical care fellowship after residency, and front-loading my CA-2 year with two ICU rotations only sealed the deal. Combine this with a cardiothoracic anesthesia fellowship, and I feel like I’d be suited to handle any situation. More on that later. 😉
Here’s hoping I find the light at the end of the tunnel this week!
Are the intensivists at MD Anderson or THI anesthesia trained or other?
Both hospitals have intensivists who are anesthesia trained and pulmonary-critical care (medicine) trained.