Surgical Critical Care Fellowship
Train in a Level 1 Portland trauma center
Our one-year program is at the only university-based quaternary medical center in Oregon and at one of two Level 1 trauma centers in Portland. Our fellowship rotations provide exposure to a range of critically injured and critically ill patients.
Curriculum
You will spend six months rotating on the Trauma Surgical Intensive Care Unit (ICU), working primarily with residents in the departments of Surgery and Emergency Medicine. You will be lead continuity of care and management of critically ill patients, including:
- Trauma patients
- Surgical services patients, including emergency general surgery, oncology and hepatobiliary patients
You will also complete:
- 12 four-week blocks. These include in-house call responsibilities for trauma and emergency general surgery about one night per week.
- A rotation at the Portland VA Medical Center Surgical ICU managing critically ill cardiothoracic and surgical patients.
In your remaining time, you can select from these critical care/acute care surgery electives:
- Cardiovascular surgical ICU
- Echocardiography
- Neurosurgical ICU
- Anesthesiology/Airway
- Medical ICU
- Critical Care Nephrology
- Interventional Radiology
Fellows are part of the surgical team and interact with general surgery residents and medical students. They are expected to participate in teaching opportunities during the daily care of surgical patients.
Training and leadership experience
Administrative responsibilities:
- Help develop ICU policies and guidelines with a required capstone project
- Select articles for biweekly trauma journal club
- Review charts for the morbidity and mortality conference
- Lead weekly ICU rounds
- Teach ICU topics to residents
- Track patients, procedures, work hours and time off
- Complete monthly evaluations of faculty and residents
Meetings and interviews:
- Monthly trauma faculty meetings
- Trauma committee meetings
- Peer review meetings
- Fellowship interviews
How to apply
Apply through the Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery Fellowship Application Service (SAFAS).
We participate in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). Interviews for qualified applicants take place from April through September in Portland, Oregon.
Learn more about how to apply to OHSU residencies and fellowships.
Fellowship leaders
Dr. Laszlo Kiraly, M.D., FACS, is the program director. Dr. Kiraly studies the management and outcomes of trauma patients and holds leadership roles with the American Society for Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, the Oregon Chapter of the American College of Surgeons and the Portland Surgical Society.
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Appointments and titles
- Professor of Surgery, Division of Trauma, Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery, School of Medicine
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Meet our fellows
Yalda Barlas, M.D., is a New Mexico native and spent most of her life there. Dr. Barlas obtained her undergraduate degree in biology and chemistry at the University of New Mexico, continued her education at UNM School of Medicine and completed residency at UNM Hospital.
She chose OHSU because she wanted to train to care for complex, critically ill surgical patients as a part of a team. She also wanted to continue teaching medical students and residents. Coming from the high desert, she enjoys the waterfalls, rivers, lakes and green in Oregon and spends as much time outdoors as possible.
Sydney Cooper, M.D., is from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Dr. Cooper attended Baylor University as an undergraduate and University of New Mexico for medical school. She completed residency at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple, Texas. She enjoys running and hiking, watching college football, traveling, and trying out breweries, coffee shops, and new restaurants. Dr. Cooper’s academic interests include medical education and trauma systems.
Judah Slavkovsky, M.D., is committed to advancing essential surgical care in regions of high need. Dr. Slavkovsky completed his studies at Harvard Medical School and the Swedish Medical Center General Surgery Residency Program. He has worked as a humanitarian surgeon, delivering care to patients hurt by human conflict and poverty. Dr. Slavkovsky is thrilled to be training at OHSU. In his free time, he likes to sail and hike.
Josh Smith, M.D., was born and raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Dr. Smith completed undergraduate studies with a BSc Biochemistry at University College London; medical school at University of Colorado in Denver; and general surgery residency at Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple, Texas. Dr. Smith’s prior research includes geriatric trauma and snakebite injuries. His interests outside medicine include all things outdoors, especially golf, skiing, snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking and spending time with family.
Recent fellowship alumni
2024-2025
Leah Aakjar, M.D., is an acute care surgeon at Hartford HealthCare Medical Group in Connecticut.
Sam Guyer, M.D., is an acute care surgeon at Providence in Everett, Washington.
Sarah Schoenhals, M.D., is an acute care surgeon at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, Oregon.
Wei Quan, M.D., is an acute care surgeon at Renown Regional Medical Center in Reno, Nevada.
2023-2024
AJ Hayes, M.D., is an acute care surgeon/Assistant Professor at OHSU in Portland, Oregon.
Charles Lawrence, M.D., is an acute care surgeon at Peace Health in Bellingham, Washington.
Ferris Serio, D.O., is an acute care surgeon at St. Charles Medical Center in Bend, Oregon.
Luke Willand, M.D., is an acute care surgeon at St. Joseph Medical Center in Tacoma, Washington.
2022-2023
Nick Bedrin, M.D., is an acute surgeon/Assistant Professor at the University of Rochester Medical Center in Rochester, New York.
Peter Cmorej, M.D., is an acute and general surgeon at Baptist Health in Fort Smith, Arkansas.
Kalli Devecki, M.D., is an acute care surgeon/Assistant Professor at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee.
Hannah Hayes, M.D., is an acute care surgeon at Salem Hospital in Salem, OR.
Apply now
Apply through SAFAS.
Questions?
Email us at surgdept@ohsu.edu.
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