Clinical Sites

The Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School (RWJMS) Pulmonary and Critical Care Fellowship is an ACGME accredited program where fellows are exposed to a large diversity of cases through our clinical sites.

1. Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital (RWJUH) – Located in New Brunswick, RWJUH is the principal affiliate and clinical site. This is a large 600-bed tertiary level university hospital, and is recognized as one of New Jersey’s premier academic medical centers. Rotations include in-patient pulmonary consult service , interventional pulmonary service (for outpatient and in-patient procedures / consultations), Medical intensive care unit , Cardiothoracic intensive care unit , Neuro critical care unit and other elective/selective rotations such as : airway rotation (with anesthesia), advanced heart failure and pulmonary HTN (with the advanced heart failure team).

2. Deborah Heart and Lung Center: Located in south jersey, fellows rotate in the surgical intensive care unit and work under supervision from anesthesia critical care physicians. Fellows will manage post-op cardiac surgery patients (CABG, valve replacement, LVAD , impella and ECMO) and thoracic surgery patients.

Calendar of Rotations

Fellowship training encompasses the following rotations:

1. Pulmonary Consult Service

Fellows provide in-patient pulmonary consultations and manage a variety of diseases such as :

Asthma / COPD exacerbations , pneumonia and its complications (e.g. empyema , chest tube placement and management) , pulmonary embolism , ILD , Bone marrow transplant and solid organ transplant patients.

2. Interventional Pulmonary Service

Fellows perform a vast array of advanced bronchoscopy procedures for in-patient and outpatient services such as : EBUS , cryobiopsy , stent placement , APC , medical pleuroscopy with pleural biopsy/pleurodesis , bedside percutaneous tracheostomies.

3. Intensive Care Unit Rotation

Fellows rotate in the Medical Intensive Care unit, Neuro critical care unit and cardiothoracic ICU.

Fellows round in the ICU and develop care plans for their critically ill patients. Fellows are also responsible for performing chest tubes , intubations , A-lung catheter insertion/management (ECCOR), bedside percutaneous tracheostomy, CVC,Swan catheters among others. Fellows also rotate with the neuro critical care team, where they manage patients with strokes, seizures, ICH, post neurosurgery care.

Rotation in the CVICU is also available, where fellows round with CT surgery team and help manage ECMO patients, impella and other post-op cardiothoracic surgery patients.

4. Airway Rotation

Fellows rotate with anesthesia attendings and are provided with the opportunity to learn airway management / intubations and advanced airway

5. Research Rotation

A mentor is decided during the 1st year of fellowship and a study idea and IRB finalized at the end of first year. Five months of protected time is given in the 2nd year for research. Both clinical and bench research is available with the ability to work towards a K award.

6. Deborah Heart and Lung Center

Cardiothoracic ICU experience occurs at Deborah. Devices such as LVADs, ECMO, Impella and Swans are managed. Percutaneous tracheostomies, intubations and chest tube insertions are mastered.

7. Outpatient Rotation

Fellows rotate in the asthma clinic, cystic fibrosis clinic, sleep clinic, non-CF bronchiectasis clinic and general pulmonary clinic.

8. Night Float

Fellows provides in-house coverage of the intensive care unit and pulmonary consult service. Fellow operates as a team leader, and works with senior residents and advanced practice providers (APP, PA).

9. Elective Rotations: such as advanced heart failure / pulmonary HTN , outpatient clinic rotation, lung transplant (away rotation) .

The following table summarizes the rotations according to level of training: