What should we make of candidates for surgical critical care and acute care surgery fellowships recounting so many penetrating trauma cases in their personal statements?

Abstract

A large proportion of surgical residents that are applying to surgical critical care(SCC) and acute care surgery(ACS) fellowships are describing cases where they cared for patients with injuries from penetrating trauma in their personal statements. These cases appear to have served as an inspiration for their fellowship and career decision. However a substantial percentage of training in these fellowships occurs in the ICU and there also have been steadily decreasing rates of operative penetrating trauma throughout the United States over the last several decades. This incongruity is explored and suggestions are made for formal mentorship to occur between surgical residents interested in further training in SCC and ACS and attendings practicing within these fields.

Keywords

• Acute care surgery
• Trauma
• Surgical critical care
• Fellowship