Bridgeport Hospital PA Trauma, Surgical Critical Care, and Burn Fellowship

The Hospital of Central CT, PA Residency in General Surgery

Norwalk/Yale PA Surgical Residency Program

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY:

The Physician Associate Trauma, Surgical Critical Care and Burn Fellowship began in 2002. Although not officially accredited, it has been following the APPAP accreditation guidelines and two PA's have completed the fellowship. It is run by the Department of Surgery at Bridgeport Hospital. The fellowship is an intensive twelve month postgraduate training program which provides both didactic and clinical curriculum in the surgical management of trauma, critical care, and burn patients.

CURRICULUM:

The twelve month fellowship consists of ongoing instruction in both didactic and clinical rotations. There are many educational opportunities provided to the fellow. The PA fellow participates in weekly formal teaching rounds, journal clubs, student conferences, and morbidity and mortality conference with the attending physicians, PA's and surgical residents. In addition, the fellows attending weekly Surgical Grand Rounds from both Bridgeport Hospital and Yale New Haven Hospital. Participation occurs in a number of courses including: Fundamentals of Critical Care Support taught by the Society of Critical Care Medicine, ATLS and ABLS.

The clinical instruction consists of month-long rotations on different services including: trauma, general surgery, burn and wound care, anesthesia, cardio-thoracic surgery and medical intensive care. Three months are spent working in the surgical intensive care unit. Clinical learning is enhanced by the active role that the fellow takes in the daily assessment, management, and care of patients. Clinical judgment and patient management is fostered by taking weekly call with the senior PA. Practical instruction is also provided. The use of an animal lab allows the opportunity to master invasive procedures. Laboratory instruction is available at the U.S. Surgical Animal Laboratory.

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT:

A number of opportunities are available to develop leadership skills. Daily opportunities to instruct surgical interns on critical care patient management and procedures occur. There are also many chances to teach and mold physician associate students who are rotating on the surgical service. The fellow will also be able to participate in clinical research studies, development of policies and procedures, and foster the advancement of the physician assistant profession through interactions with attending surgeons, consulting physicians, nurses, ancillary members of the medical team, patients and patient family members.

UNIVERSITY AND INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

Bridgeport Hospital
Yale New Haven Hospital and the Yale University School of Medicine

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

Applicants who meet the following admission requirements will be evaluated and chosen on a competitive basis:

• Graduate of an ARC-PA accredited PA program
• Have passed, or be eligible to take, the Physician Assistant National Certification Examination (PANCE)
• Licensed to practice as a PA in Connecticut
• Completion of all application requirements including:
• Application
• Resume/CV
• Transcripts
• Three letters of references, to include a letter from:
• PA program faculty member
• Physician or PA who supervised the applicant on clinical rotation
• Personal reference
• Personal interview

The deadline for application materials is July 3. Interviews begin on July 17, and notification of admission will be by July 31 The fellowship will begin October 2.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:

• Interest in surgery and critical care
• Excellent interpersonal skills as shown from references and personal interview
• Enthusiasm for working with and instruction of surgical residents and PA students
• Sound academic ability as shown by PA school records
• Strong work ethic and understanding of the rigors of post-graduate education
• Desire to advance the PA profession through leadership and positive interactions with medical team members and patients

CREDENTIAL AWARDED:

Upon completion of the fellowship, the PA fellow will receive a certificate of completion.

BENEFITS:

• Stipend: $45,760
• Subsidized housing
• Full benefits for PA and family including medical, dental, vision, life, disability and malpractice insurance
• Four weeks of paid vacation and six paid holidays
• One week paid CME time
• $1,000 CME budget
• Deferment of student loans
• Salary and benefit's are budgeted into the general surgery budget

INFORMATION

For additional information, contact:

Paul Possenti, PA-C,
Fellowship Director
Bridgeport Hospital
267 Grant Street
Bridgeport, CT 06610

Phone: 203-384-4598
Email: ppposs@bpthospital.org

The Hospital of Central CT, PA Residency in General Surgery
The Hospital of Central Connecticut
New Britain, CT 06050
Phone: 860-224-5513
Fax: 860-224-3712
Richard L. Commaille, PA-C, Program Director
rconte@nbgh.org
Web site: http://www.thocc.org/physicians/pasurgicalresidency.aspx

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY:

The New Britain General Hospital's Post Graduate PA Residency Training Program in General Surgery is an intense twelve month program administered by the Department of Surgery. PA residents are incorporated as participants on the PA surgical team and are involved in the pre-operative, intra-operative and post-operative care of the surgical patient. The Residency is designed to provide both advanced didactic education and a focused clinical surgical experience so the graduates will develop skills to provide high quality peri-operative patient care. The Residency is attractive to both new PA program graduates who are planning a surgical career and for practicing Physician Assistants who wish to redirect their careers towards one of the surgical specialties.

CURRICULUM:

Lectures, programs and labs have been designed to provide PA Residents with a comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiology of surgical diseases. Instruction covers General Surgery and selects sub-specialty topics. Emphasis is placed on the peri-operative management of surgical patients, intra-operative assisting, and the post-operative complications and emergencies. Instruction includes the development of technical skills and bedside invasive procedures. In addition to classroom and laboratory instruction, PA Residents will be involved in M&M Conferences, Grand Rounds and formal presentations to surgical attendings.

The initial didactic curriculum is divided into two phases. Phase I prepares the Resident to function as a Surgical House Officer. Time is designated for integration into the surgical team, prior to the resident's actual assignment to supervised after-hour call.

Phase II addresses certain specific diseases, (i.e.: pancreatitis, thyroid disease, etc.) and continues throughout the remainder of the Residency.

Clinical

PA Residents begin participation on the Surgical Team immediately upon entry to develop a sense of responsibility. Initially, they are an observer, and then are progressively given additional responsibility, culminating in their being the supervised first responder to surgical issues. Duties include comprehensive H&Ps, writing patient orders and notes, responding to and evaluating patient problems, making rounds, ordering diagnostic studies, assisting in the Operating Room, performing consults and invasive procedures with the appropriate supervision by attending surgeons or Senior Physician Assistants. After hour calls are assigned on a rotating basis and integrated into the existing staff PA schedule.

During their time of rotation on surgical sub-specialties, they maintain an affiliation with the General Surgery Team. Clinical rotations will concentrate on General Surgery with other rotations in Intensive Care, Orthopedics, Urology, Colorectal, Vascular, and Neurosurgery.

UNIVERSITY AND INSTITUTIONAL AFFILIATIONS:

New Britain General Hospital, located in Central Connecticut, is a private, not-for-profit hospital and is affiliated with the University of Connecticut Medical School. The hospital currently has 330 beds. The hospital's mission is to provide technologically advanced patient care, professional education and service to the community.

More than 14,000 patients are admitted annually. Surgical facilities include 12 operating rooms in which more than 6,000 operative procedures are performed each year. Ambulatory services, including outpatient clinics and the Emergency Department, register more than 56,000 patient visits each year.

NBGH is fully approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education for Internship and Residency Training and by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

• Graduation from a PA Program approved by the Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA).
• A Baccalaureate degree or higher
• National Certification by the NCCPA. New graduates may receive acceptance into the program, pending successful completion of PANC Exam.
• Official transcripts from Colleges/Universities and PA Program
• Copies of BLS and ALS Certifications
• Current Curriculum Vitae
• Connecticut State PA Licensure and Controlled Substance registration. Failure to obtain either of these licenses voids the offer of residency training.
• Three letters of recommendation. If a new graduate, one of these letters must be from their Program Director.
• Personal interview
• Personal essays (2). First, what the applicant expects to gain from the residency and, second, explaining their personal strengths and weaknesses.
• We are an Equal Opportunity Employer

APPLICATION DEADLINE:

APPLICATION AVAILABLE ONLINE:

CREDENTIAL AWARDED:

A Certificate of Completion will be awarded from New Britain General Hospital and the Department of Surgery.

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:

• Strong interest in General Surgery
• Excellent interpersonal skills, as noted by essays and personal interview
• Excellent letters of reference
• Strong academic ability
• Exceptional ability to function within the team model

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

• Stipend ­ Commensurate with other post graduate training programs
• Medical and Dental insurance
• Professional Liability insurance
• Life insurance
• Participation in Hospital Pension Program
• Disability insurance
• One week paid vacation
• CME ­ 3 days paid CME time, registration, room and board at the discretion of the Program Director
• Personal Days ­ Surgical PA Residents will receive 2 personal days which may be taken during the academic year. Missed work must be made up.
• Sick time ­ as per hospital policy
• Hospital holidays or compensation for holidays worked
• Participation in hospital 403B plan
• Uniforms and text books
• Free parking
• Limited housing available

INFORMATION

For further information, contact Richard L. Commaille, PA-C, Program Director, 860-224-5513, Fax: 860-224-5713, E-mail: rconte@nbgh.org

ADDENDUM

All information provided in this listing is effective as of May 1, 2006. Please contact the NBGH Residency directly for more information.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION AND HISTORY:

The Norwalk/Yale PA Surgical Residency is an intensive 12 month program designed exclusively for graduate Physician Assistants. It was developed jointly by the Departments of Surgery at Norwalk Hospital and the Yale University School of Medicine in 1975. The program combines the strengths of both institutions to provide a diverse didactic and clinical curriculum that prepares the graduate PA to competently and confidently pursue a career as a surgical physician assistant. Its enduring focus remains in-depth education reinforced by hands-on experience. The clinical aspect is enhanced by the fact that PAs constitute the entire surgical house staff at Norwalk Hospital. Emphasis is placed on the total care of the surgical patient.

CURRICULUM:

The twelve-month residency combines an ongoing didactic curriculum with clinical rotations. While at Norwalk Hospital, the comprehensive morning lecture series is reinforced by the practical realities of daily clinical responsibilities and challenges. Residents also participate in a medical writing course; medical ethics forums; teaching rounds; Surgical Grand Rounds, M&M Conferences, and Trauma Rounds; and informal journal clubs. Eight months are spent on clinical services in General Surgery, Orthopedics, GU Surgery, Neurosurgery, Plastic Surgery, ENT, Thoracic and Vascular, and Surgical Intensive Care.

During the three months at Yale University School of Medicine, the PA residents complete clinical rotations in Anesthesiology and two elective choices. The didactic component consists of a clinically oriented anatomy course with cadaver dissection, animal surgery lab, physiology, pharmacology, and an EKG course.

In addition, the residents complete a one month rotation in Trauma/Critical Care at a major trauma center.

UNIVERSITY/INSTITUTION AFFILIATIONS:

Norwalk Hospital is a non-profit community teaching hospital and acute care facility serving a diverse population of nearly 250,000 residents in thirteen communities. It is located in Fairfield County Connecticut, overlooking the waters of Long Island Sound. Yale University School of Medicine is a major university medical center in New Haven, CT. The facilities at the School of Medicine are available to our residents throughout the year. The program combines the academic and clinical strengths of both institutions.

The Norwalk/Yale Residency has a long-standing reputation of quality and excellence in its teaching program. The residency is approved for CME credit by the NCCPA. We are a founding member of the national Association of Postgraduate Physician Assistant Programs.

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS:

PA's meeting the following requirements are selected on a competitive basis:

• Graduate of a ARC-PA accredited PA Program
• NCCPA certified or eligible
• Bachelors degree minimum
• Completion of written application:
  • Application form
  • Transcripts (PA school and all college credits)
  • Three current, professional letters of recommendation, including one from PA program director or clinical coordinator
  • Resume
  • NCCPA scores (if applicable)
  • Brief, type-written narrative
  • Application processing fee
• Personal interview

APPLICATION DEADLINE: March 15

APPLICATION AVAILABLE ON-LINE: www.norwalkhosp.org

CRITERIA FOR SELECTION:

• Strong interest in surgery
• Excellent interpersonal skills as noted in letters and personal interview
• Strong academic ability assessed from PA school and college records
• Motivation, enthusiasm, and leadership abilities
• Ability to integrate didactic knowledge with clinical application
• Strong desire to continue education

CREDENTIAL AWARDED:

Upon successful completion of the residency, the PA Surgical Resident receives a joint Norwalk Hospital/Yale University School of Medicine certificate signed by the medical program director, department chairmen, hospital president and the dean of Yale University School of Medicine.

Due to the nature and structure of education in the Norwalk/Yale Residency, the program is unable to grant advance standing for prior surgical experience or training. Each PA Surgical Resident must complete the full twelve-month program, passing all clinical and didactic requirements to graduate.

FINANCES:

It is the intent of the Norwalk/Yale administration to provide a stipend and benefits to the PA Surgical Residents during their residency year that will enable them to enter the residency without significant worries of expenses. The current stipend and benefits are:

• Stipend: $40,000.00 per year
• Subsidized housing in hospital owned property adjacent to the hospital
• Full hospital-paid benefit plan for PA and family, including medical, dental, life, disability and malpractice insurance
• Three weeks paid vacation (15 days); six paid holidays
• Participation in hospital credit union
• Deferment of student loans
• Lab coats and some textbooks

INFORMATION:

For further information, contact:
Ginny Hilton, PA-C, Director, (203) 852-2188; Fax (203) 852-2384;
E-mail: surpares@norwalkhealth.org
Web site: www.norwalkhosp.org

NOTE

All information provided in this listing is effective November 1, 2004. Please contact the Norwalk/Yale PA Residency directly for the most current information.