Surgical Critical Care Fellowship

2019 graduate Ashley Chopko, MD, leading a surgical skills session for surgery residents.

2019 graduate Ashley Chopko, MD, leading a surgical skills session for surgery residents.

Our fellowship is a one year clinical program with nine months of critical care and three months of operative experience. Our program meets the requirements administered by the American Board of Surgery for Certificate of Added Qualifications in Surgical Critical Care and has earned accreditation with commendation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Program Goals

Clairice Cooper and William Flynn.

Clairice Cooper, MD, receives certificate of fellowship (2018).

Our program provides the scholarship, experience and mentorship to prepare graduates to care for critically ill patients.

To achieve the main goal, the training program has four secondary goals which emphasize the core competencies identified by the ACGME and uses guidelines or directions found in the ACGME Surgical Critical Care program requirements.

These secondary goals are:

  • Develop the skills and competencies of a practicing surgical critical care physician and in educational environment that emphasizes patient and trainee safety
  • Enhance and develop methods of skill and effort that will allow the trainee to maintain a current and high level of scholarship
  • Prepare the fellow for quality critical care
  • Assist trainee in selecting and achieving career interests

In addition to our program goals, the Fellowship is required to meet the milestones identified by the ACGME.

Eden Nohra, MD, 2023 graduate, with program director William Flynn, MD.

Eden Nohra, MD, 2023 graduate, with program director William Flynn, MD.

Eden Nohra, MD, 2023 graduate, with program director William Flynn, MD, associate program director, Michael Chopko, MD, and program administrator, Katie Petrell.

Eden Nohra, MD, 2023 graduate, with program director William Flynn, MD, associate program director, Michael Chopko, MD, and program administrator, Katie Petrell. 

Eligibility Requirements

Prospective fellows are required to have completed an ACGME accredited residency program in General Surgery. In addition, applicants must be certified or eligible for certification by the American Board of Surgery.

Please note that we sponsor J-1 visas only.

Application Process

Applications are only accepted via the Surgical critical care and Acute care surgery Fellowship Application Services (SAFAS).

The following items are required for your application submission:

  • Curriculum vitae
  • Three letters of recommendation
  • USMLE Scores
  • American Board of Surgery In-training exam scores
  • Completed Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Application
  • ECFMG Certificate (for foreign medical graduates)
Accreditation with commendation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.

Administration

  • Program Director

    Flynn, Jr., William

    William Flynn, Jr., MD

    Chief, Division of Critical Care, Associate Professor, Program Director: Critical Care Fellowship

    Erie County Medical Center DK Miller Building, Third Floor 462 Grider Street Buffalo, NY 14215

    Phone: (716) 898-5283; Fax: (716) 898-3194

    Email: wflynn@buffalo.edu

  • Associate Program Director

    Chopko, Michael

    Michael Chopko, MD

    Clinical Assistant Professor, Associate Program Director, Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Program

    Erie County Medical Center DK Miller Building, Third Floor 462 Grider Street Buffalo, NY 14215

    Phone: (716) 898-5283; Fax: (716) 898-5029

    Email: mschopko@buffalo.edu

  • Training Program Administrator

    Katie Petrell.

    Katie Petrell

    Training Program Administrator

    Department of Surgery

    Erie County Medical Center, DK Miller Building, 3rd Floor, 462 Grider Street, Buffalo, NY 14215

    Phone: (716) 898-5654

    Email: katiepet@buffalo.edu

Contact