Critical Care Medicine

Critical Care Medicine (CCM) is a subspecialty dedicated to the care of the sickest patients, particularly those requiring artificial support for organ function. The field has a rich history often intersecting with that of emergency medicine, which has directly led to the current pathways for training. Interest in CCM among EM graduates has steadily risen for many reasons including the ability to treat a sicker patient population, improving clinical skills, expanding scope of practice, and multiple practice options including bringing aspects of intensive care into the emergency department (the ED-ICU concept). There are four pathways for adult CCM practice after emergency medicine residency, all requiring completion of a 2-year fellowship. It is critical when applying for CCM fellowship to establish relationships and document interest in and knowledge of the subspecialty, which may be accomplished through each of the traditional pillars of clinical practice, research, education, and service. Early mentorship can be very helpful in guiding the CCM applicant to building a successful application.