Vanderbilt Anesthesiololgy

Selection:

Selection of fellows is in accordance with the guidelines established by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

The Department of Anesthesiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center selection process for fellowship is formalized as such: All fellow applicants are asked to submit a written application and at least three letters of recommendation. These include a letter from the department chairperson, a mentor, and an intensivist. The suitability of the applicant is then reviewed by the program director. If in the opinion of the director, the applicant qualification and recommendations are suitable for further consideration, the applicant is invited to interview. Interviews are arranged with the program director, critical care faculty, and chairperson of the department. A fellowship is offered based on the aggregate opinion of the interviewers.

Typically, a prerequisite for fellowship is completion of an ACGME-approved residency in anesthesiology. This qualifies the candidate for training which will meet requirements of the American Board of Anesthesiology for Critical Care Medicine. If a candidate enters the fellowship without prior completion of an ACGME approved anesthesiology residency, the fellowship training, while funded by the department, may not meet ACGME requirements for training in Critical Care. The selection, evaluation, and dismissal policies for these trainees are unchanged by this status.

In compliance with federal law, including the provisions of title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Sections 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the American Disability Act of 1990, Vanderbilt University does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, religion, color, national or ethnic origin, age, disability or military service in its administration of educational policies, program or activities: its admission policies: scholarship and loan programs: athletic or other University-administered programs: or employment.

Evaluation:

A fellow undertaking training for the special certification in Critical Care is formally evaluated monthly by mentors supervising the trainee during the rotation. However, and perhaps more importantly, at the beginning of the fellowship, the program director and the trainee devise a program of education that will both meet the trainee’s future goals and the requirement for certification by the American Board of Anesthesiology. The trainee is then followed closely throughout training and mentored to promote development as an excellent intensivist. This involves frequent discussions relating to performance that help “steer” the trainee during this educational program.

Serious academic concerns are documented in writing in a policy consistent with the evaluation of other residents in Anesthesiology. If further academic problems are encountered, the trainee’s evaluations are presented to the Clinical Competency Committee for recommendations of remediation, suspension, or dismissal. The policies of the Clinical Competency Committee for these recommendations are formalized and briefly described below.

The Clinical Competence Committee monitors the academic progress of residents at a monthly meeting. Marginal or failing evaluations are discussed with the resident and a letter is sent to him/her concerning the committee’s concerns. If a fellow has demonstrated deficiencies, which are of sufficient concern, it is at the discretion of the program director to request a recommendation from this committee. A copy of these recommendations is then sent to the program director. The program director is then responsible in developing a program of remediation and ongoing review. After remediation, a report of the fellow’s progress is made to the clinical competency and further recommendations may be solicited at that time. http://www.mc.vanderbilt.edu/gme/manual/eval.html

Dismissal:

Fellows who are placed on probation and fail to improve to an acceptable level are dismissed according to the guidelines in the Vanderbilt GME Evaluation and Disciplinary Guidelines as outlined in the Housestaff Manual. Fellows who are on probation are aware of the possibilities of dismissal.