How to Choose a Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship

Select a fellowship with a low fellow-to-faculty ratio. Although being accepted to smaller programs is often difficult and competitive, enrolling in a program that has fewer fellows can mean you’ll receive more personal attention from attending physicians. Structured, individualized mentorship is a key element of a valuable fellowship. Moreover, your mentors should be nationally renowned and engaged in patient care, scholarly activity and teaching. Confirm that faculty research is supported by extramural funding.

Research experience is one component of a strong fellowship program. Choose a program that allows you to pursue independent research interests and get involved in designing and performing studies. Your fellowship should teach you about the publication process and encourage you to present your research at national meetings. You’ll benefit from a larger selection of research opportunities if your program’s teaching faculty is comprised of physicians with various areas of expertise.

Respectable fellowships give you plenty of clinical exposure during rotations. Your program should prepare you for practice by providing diverse experiences in various clinical settings. It should also offer a variety of electives that cover areas such as sleep medicine and allergy. 

You can identify a high quality fellowship by investigating the standing of its:

• Alumni: Your program's graduates should be enjoying successful academic and clinical careers
• Potential peers: Current fellows should actively publish and present their work.
• School of medicine: Ensure the medical school in which the program is situated observes the highest standards of ethics, integrity and professionalism. The school should have excellent education options, cultivate diversity, participate in community outreach and commit itself to advances in education, science and medicine.

Your fellowship should provide you with a diverse assortment of lectures and conferences that supplement your hands-on training. These meetings and lectures should generate discussion and keep you informed about current pulmonary and critical care research.

It’s important you feel at home both in and outside of your training program. Avoid applying for fellowships in cities that fail to meet your living needs. Our fellowship is located in a locale that boasts:

• Affordability
• Four-season charm
• Culture, entertainment, recreation and diversified cuisine
• Family-friendly living
• Easy commuting