What are surgical critical care fellows doing after graduation? A report from the Surgical Critical Care Program Director Society Outcomes Task Force.

BACKGROUND: Surgical Critical Care (SCC) training includes 1-year or 2-year fellowships. The second year is program dependent. No studies have evaluated SCC Fellowship outcomes from the graduate's perspective. The Surgical Critical Care Program Director Society (SCCPDS) conducted a survey for graduating SCC Fellows evaluating fellowship choice, ability to obtain a job, and overall satisfaction. METHODS: Graduating SCC Fellows completed a survey regarding fellowship and hospital data, job data, and fellowship satisfaction. RESULTS: There were 84 (83.2%) responses for fellowship and hospital data. Sixty-six (78.6%) completed 1-year fellowship, and 18 (21.4%) completed 2-year fellowship. Fifty-six (66.7%) desired a 1-year program, 17 (20.2%) desired a 2-year program, and 11 (13.1%) had no preference. All (100%) were satisfied with the length of their training.Fifty-seven (56.4%) responded regarding future jobs. Future areas of practice will include trauma (53, 93.0%), emergency general surgery (52, 91.2%), and surgical critical care (57, 100.0%). Additional areas include medical critical care (4, 7.0%), neurocritical care (6, 10.5%), cardiothoracic critical care (4, 7.0%), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (4, 7.0%), burns (9, 15.8%), and elective general surgery (30, 52.6%).Seventy-four (73.3%) discussed fellowship satisfaction. Most believed that fellowship prepared them well for future careers, with 58 (78.4%) strongly agreeing and 10 (13.5%) agreeing. Nearly 80% of fellows agreed or strongly agreed (40, 54.1% and 19, 25.7%) that they were able to obtain the job of their choice.There was no statistically significant association of a second year of training and obtaining the job of their choosing. Fellows were able to get their job of choice regardless of fellowship satisfaction and the 2-year fellowship requirement for some places of employment. There was no association between fellowship or job locations. CONCLUSION: Most fellows were satisfied with fellowship length and content choices. Fellows overall obtained their job of choice. Our study confirms that continued diversity of SCC Fellowship types is important.Level of evidenceLevel of evidence is Level III.