Critical Care Medicine Anesthesiology Fellowship
The Critical Care Medicine Anesthesiology Fellowship at the University of Minnesota is a twelve-month ACGME-accredited fellowship program. Our fellows acquire expertise in managing complex critical care conditions and communication skills with diverse patients, families, and other specialty consultants, including end-of-life discussions.
The Critical Care Anesthesiology Fellowship program is joined by pioneering critical care programs in pulmonary, surgery, and neuro critical care at the University of Minnesota. This fellowship program allows us to train anesthesiologists in critical care medicine at our flagship medical center. Fellows with various backgrounds will rotate through different ICUs, gaining multidisciplinary experience and expertise in treating cardiovascular, surgical, complex medical, and neuro ICU patients. The fellowship will add more layers of trainees to the teams caring for critical care patients within our M Health Fairview system, offering collaborative training and multidisciplinary didactics to enhance the fellows' and patients' satisfaction.
Training takes place primarily at the M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center, mainly in the Cardiovascular ICU and mixed ICUs, including night float in the Medical and Surgical ICU and elective rotation in the Neurosurgical ICU. The M Health Fairview Southdale rotation will educate Tele-ICU fellows to manage community mixed ICU patients.
We are thrilled to announce the Critical Care Medicine Anesthesiology Fellowship at the University of Minnesota. Fellows in our program will acquire expertise in managing complex critical care conditions among a diverse patient population and communication skills with patients, families, and other consultants.
Our fellowship provides a wide breadth of experience, including rotations in our CVICU, caring for some of the highest acuity patients in the area with extensive exposure to patients requiring Ventricular Assist Devices and ECMO. Additionally, fellows will have experience caring for patients in a community ICU with exposure to tele-ICU management. After completing this program, they will be well-versed in working in any ICU.
This new fellowship program allows us to train in anesthesiology critical care medicine at the University of Minnesota. Fellows with various backgrounds will rotate through different ICUs, gaining multidisciplinary experience and expertise in treating cardiovascular, surgical, complex medical, and neuro-critical patients.
- Dr. Monica Lupei, Program Director
As per ACGME requirements, applicants for the fellowship must have successfully completed an ACGME accredited residency in anesthesiology or RCPSC/CFPC (Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada/College of Family Physicians of Canada) accredited training in Canada. In rare cases, an “exceptionally qualified applicant” who has not completed an accredited residency may be considered after assessment by the program director and fellowship selection committee of the applicant’s suitability to enter the program, based on the following:
- Prior training and review of the summative evaluations of training in the core specialty
- Review and approval of the applicant’s exceptional qualifications by the GMEC or a subcommittee of the GMEC
- Satisfactory completion of the United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE) Steps 1, 2, and, if the applicant is eligible, 3
- For an international graduate, verification of Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certification
The University of Minnesota Critical Care Medicine Anesthesiology Fellowship program participates in the centralized Anesthesiology Critical Care Fellowship Match, organized by SF Match Fellowship Matching Services. All applicants must apply through SF Match. You can visit sfmatch.org for more information and to register as an applicant.
The following documents need to be submitted to the SF Match Centralized Application Service:
- Centralized Application Service (CAS) Application for anesthesiology critical care fellowships provided on the SF Match website
- Three (3) letters of recommendation to SF Match
- Distribution list of programs
- Registration payment and fees
The fellowship selection committee will select from among eligible applicants based on their educational preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills and personal qualities such as motivation and integrity.
Program Curriculum
The Critical Care Medicine Anesthesiology Fellowship at the University of Minnesota is designed to provide fellows with a comprehensive, multidisciplinary education in critical care medicine. Fellows gain hands-on experience in a wide variety of ICU procedures, including line placements, intubations, chest tube insertions, bronchoscopy, and ECMO (VV and VA) management.
Didactic learning is integrated into clinical training through structured lectures led by ICU faculty, pharmacists, ECMO specialists, and consulting physicians. Fellows are also trained in palliative and end-of-life care, including ethical decision-making and family communication. Point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) training, case presentations, and opportunities to teach medical students and residents further enhance the educational experience.
Fellows gradually assume more independence over the course of the year while maintaining close supervision appropriate to their level of training. This balance ensures that fellows are well prepared for independent practice by the end of the program.
Training Sites
M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center (UMMC)
The University of Minnesota Medical Center offers exposure to several high-acuity ICU environments, including the Cardiovascular ICU, Surgical ICU, Neurosurgery ICU, and Medical ICU. Fellows work alongside specialists from cardiology, cardiovascular surgery, acute care surgery, nephrology, infectious disease, palliative care, radiology, and neurology.
They manage patients undergoing complex procedures, including lung, liver, and kidney transplants, and develop expertise in high-level ICU care for the most fragile and critically ill patients. Supervision is primarily provided by critical care anesthesiologists, but fellows also benefit from interacting with surgical intensivists, cardiologists, pulmonologists, and other subspecialists. Educational collaboration includes teaching residents and students, engaging with advanced practice providers, and participating in multidisciplinary rounds.
M Health Fairview Southdale Hospital
Southdale is a mixed medical-surgical ICU with approximately 22 beds and a unique blend of private practice and academic medicine. The patient population includes medical and surgical cases such as neurological disease, cardiac and respiratory illnesses, cancer, overdoses, and psychiatric conditions. It also serves a diverse population, including patients from rural Minnesota and local Hmong, Somali, and Native American communities.
Fellows have a high level of autonomy here, including supervising medical students, performing procedures, and working closely with private practice hospitalists and subspecialists. OR exposure with anesthesiologists helps strengthen airway management and sedation skills.
Southdale is also home to a Tele-ICU service that connects to rural hospitals within the M Health Fairview system. Fellows participate in triage and remote consultation, developing critical skills in systems-based practice, resource management, and communication.
Education & Clinical Development
The Critical Care Medicine Anesthesiology Fellowship at the University of Minnesota emphasizes a well-rounded educational experience that balances hands-on clinical training with a structured and protected didactic curriculum. Fellows are expected to actively engage in all academic activities throughout the year, with clinical responsibilities structured to ensure full participation in required educational sessions.
Fellows are required to attend all fellowship didactic activities unless on vacation or excused. These sessions include formal lectures, case-based discussions, and other instructional formats designed to support core learning in critical care medicine. In addition, fellows are expected to attend all departmental educational activities, including the weekly Tuesday morning Grand Rounds, which provide exposure to a wide range of topics and expert speakers.
Participation in and organization of Journal Clubs is also a key component of the fellowship, providing fellows with the opportunity to engage with current literature, sharpen critical appraisal skills, and facilitate scholarly discussion among peers and faculty. Fellows are also expected to attend interdisciplinary conferences as directed by program leaders, reinforcing the program’s emphasis on collaborative, team-based care.
Through this integrated approach to education and clinical development, fellows gain the knowledge, skills, and professional habits necessary for independent critical care practice and future leadership in anesthesiology.
Research & Quality Improvement
Each fellow must complete a collaborative, interdisciplinary QI project that demonstrates competence in quality improvement methodology and reflects a commitment to improving healthcare delivery in critical care anesthesiology. These projects are designed to build teamwork, promote a sense of inquiry, and cultivate personal responsibility for patient outcomes. Projects may be short-term or long-term and often involve collaboration with residents, faculty, or other healthcare professionals.
The fellow’s work will be presented at departmental Grand Rounds and may be considered for submission to peer-reviewed journals.
To guide their efforts, fellows follow a structured QI project template that includes:
- Background Knowledge: A brief overview of current knowledge related to the care problem and organizational context.
- Local Problem: A clear description of the specific issue or system dysfunction being addressed.
- Intended Improvement: Definition of the proposed intervention and its aim to improve care processes or patient outcomes, along with identification of key stakeholders and motivations for change.
- Study Question: A specific aim (AIM) statement and the primary and secondary questions the project seeks to answer.
The project should follow the Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycle:
- Plan: Identify an opportunity for improvement, assess the current process, collect baseline data, analyze contributing factors, and develop a theory for improvement with measurable goals and an interdisciplinary team, including a QI mentor.
- Do: Implement the plan and track progress, documenting any challenges or unexpected outcomes.
- Study: Evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention—whether objectives were met, the reasons for success or limitations, and potential improvements for future cycles.
- Act: Apply the lessons learned to refine the QI process and develop a strategy for ongoing monitoring and long-term sustainability.
Through this structured approach, fellows gain practical skills in quality improvement and develop a strong foundation for future leadership roles in critical care medicine.
Contact
Monica Lupei, MD
Fellowship Program Director
[email protected]
Anna Budde, MD
Associate Program Director
[email protected]
Tammy Carpentier
Fellowships Program Administrator
[email protected]
(612) 624-9061