Introduction
The PCCM Fellowship Program was established in 1957 and has recently expanded significantly. There has been substantial growth in the research arm of the program which reflects the sustained growth of both clinical and basic research at OHSU over the past decade.
This expansion is aimed at addressing the shortfall of physician-scientists in PCCM at a time of unprecedented growth in scientific knowledge, and the application of that knowledge to the care of the sickest patients. The key role of the sub-specialty in providing hospital-based care is now underlined by the recognition of the national shortage of qualified intensive care physicians. Our appreciation of the importance of this shortage has lead to the addition of a purely Critical Care Medicine track to the fellowship program at OHSU.
Fellowship Structure
The first year is made up of twelve one month rotations on the clinical services of UH, PVAMC, and KPH and varies for each Fellow depending on their experience and interests. The goal of this year is to teach the trainee the basic aspects of pulmonary and/or critical care medicine and thus the rotations may include time on the medical, cardiac, neurosurgical, trauma and general ICU services along with pulmonary consults service. Training in bronchoscopy and outpatient pulmonary medicine is also available for PCCM and CCM fellows. Each fellow is assigned a faculty mentor who provides guidance during the Fellowship and with career planning. This includes advice concerning the selection of rotations, discussion of the selection of research projects and mentors, and feedback during the course of the Fellowship.
The second and third years of the program are arranged to support the development of the Fellows research and clinical interests. Each of these years will provide 9 months protected time for research, with 3 months of clinical rotations. The major focus at this point in the program is to engage in research under the guidance of a research mentor. As described below, this can involve research projects ranging from investigations of the mechanisms of disease to the collection of outcomes data, and spans all aspects of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. The Human Investigations Program at OHSU may be undertaken during this period and provides a basic scientific foundation for those Fellows without postgraduate science training. The fourth year has become increasingly common for those Fellows planning to continue as clinician-investigators. It ensures an additional year of protected time to further develop a strong foundation for a career in academic medicine. The Sleep Medicine Fellowship training program is a thoroughly multidisciplinary program involving faculty from neurology, otorhinolaryngology, child and adult psychiatry, child and adult pulmonary medicine, and dental sleep medicine. While the fellowship is administered through the OHSU Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care medicine, fellow applicants come to us from a variety of disciplines. Fellows participate in the very active clinical programs and sleep laboratories of both the Oregon Health & Science University and the Portland Veterans Administration Medical Center. Participation in research is expected.
Fellowships for both Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine (3-4 years) and Critical Care Medicine (2-4 years) are available. We also have a one year sleep fellowship. The Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine of the Oregon Health & Science University includes the following training sites:
Year 1
Years 2 and 3
Year 4Sleep Fellowship
