Surgical Critical Care Fellowship

The University of South Alabama Surgical Critical Care Fellowship is structured with the Surgical Trauma Intensive Care Unit (STICU) as the primary clinical focus. The STICU is a closed ICU, with the surgical critical care team directing all aspects of patient care. The standard rotation schedule includes ten months of core critical care training across the STICU, Burn ICU, Cardiovascular ICU, Neuro ICU, and Medical ICU, with an additional two months of elective rotations. The specific distribution of rotations may be individualized to meet the educational goals and career interests of the fellow, in accordance with ACGME requirements.

While on the STICU service, the fellow has primary consulting and management responsibility for all surgical patients admitted to the unit. The STICU service is also responsible for all daytime trauma activations and ongoing management of surgical trauma patients, providing a seamless continuum from initial resuscitation through critical care management. Fellows perform a wide range of bedside procedures and make frequent use of point-of-care ultrasound for diagnostic evaluation, resuscitation, and procedural guidance.

Fellows participate in daily multidisciplinary rounds alongside residents, advanced practice providers, pharmacists, clinical dietitians, social workers, and students. Rounds are conducted by faculty intensivists and include both team-based discussion and one-on-one mentorship. Fellows are expected to maintain detailed knowledge of every patient on the STICU service and to independently formulate, communicate, and execute diagnostic and therapeutic plans.

Although surgical critical care is traditionally considered a non-operative fellowship, fellows at USA Health benefit from a high operative volume, including exposure to advanced laparoscopic and robotic procedures, advanced thoracic trauma operations (surgical rib fixation, VATS, complex chest wall management), and coverage of emergency general surgery cases overnight when on call. The call schedule is flexible and coordinated between fellows, allowing balanced clinical experience while supporting continuity of patient care. This combination provides meaningful operative exposure and reinforces the integration of operative and critical care principles.

The fellowship includes a minimum one-month rotation in the Medical ICU (MICU), a multidisciplinary unit caring for critically ill medical patients. Fellows work under direct supervision of pulmonary critical care attending faculty and participate fully in patient management, gaining exposure to complex medical critical care.

The fellowship also includes a minimum one-month rotation in the 7-bed Burn ICU, working closely with our four burn surgeons. Fellows are involved in all aspects of burn critical care, including initial resuscitation, ongoing ICU management, and operative treatment. As part of the burn team, fellows participate in daily rounds and operating room activities and are expected to maintain comprehensive knowledge of all patients on the service.

Support for academic and professional development is a core part of the fellowship. Fellows are provided protected time and funding to attend national and regional academic conferences, with opportunities to present scholarly work. All fellows maintain ATLS certification, with the option for ATLS instructor training, and receive ABLS certification. Fellows may also attend ASSET courses through the program.

Fellows are encouraged to participate in a variety of community outreach and injury prevention initiatives, including Matter of Balance, Stop the Bleed, HALO (Healing and Life Opportunities) Hospital Violence Intervention Program (HVIP), and Rural Trauma Team Development Course (RTTDC). In addition, fellows have the opportunity to participate in an annual international mission trip to Rwanda, providing meaningful exposure to global surgery and critical care delivery in resource-limited settings. These experiences reinforce the fellowship’s commitment to trauma systems development, prevention, advocacy, and community engagement at both local and international levels.

Vision

To create a culture of well-rounded Surgical Critical Care Physicians, who strive to excel in our field for the betterment of the patients we serve.

Mission

In accordance with our sponsoring institution's mission to "help people lead longer, better lives," the principle goal of the University of South Alabama Surgical Critical Care Fellowship is to create a family of faculty with the fellow. We work together to provide the best care to critical patients in a healthy and educational working environment that fosters a diverse group of intelligent physicians, excellent critical care surgeons, and tremendous humanitarians capable of becoming surgical critical care leaders in this region and beyond. 

Program Aims

• Tailor fellowship training to prepare fellows for providing outstanding critical care to patients in a variety of clinical settings from major trauma centers to community hospitals.
• Train the future leaders in surgical critical care that will advance the science of medicine and promote evidence-based medicine in the region and community in which they serve.
• Provide a healthy work environment.

Jongin Julia Baek, M.D.

Hometown: Ventura, California 

College: University of California, Berkely

Medical School: University South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine, Tampa, FL

Email: jjbaek@health.southalabama.edu 

Bio: Dr. Julia Baek earned dual Bachelor of Arts degrees with High Distinction in Molecular/Cellular Biology and Psychology from the University of California, Berkeley. She subsequently earned her Doctor of Medicine from the University of South Florida Health Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa, FL.

Dr. Baek completed her general surgery residency at Florida State University in Tallahassee, FL, where she cultivated a strong interest in emergency general surgery, trauma care, and the optimization of outcomes for patients requiring urgent surgical intervention. Outside of the hospital, she finds balance through painting and gardening – creative endeavors that provide her with a sense of grounding and personal fulfillment.

Dr. Baek is excited to join the Surgical Critical Care Fellowship at USA Health. She is sincerely grateful for the warm welcome extended by the USA faculty and staff. She looks forward to becoming a part of the South Alabama community and continue advancing her training alongside a dedicated team of surgeons and mentors. 

 

 

The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship Program participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). All applicants are considered and appointments are made subject to the rules and regulations of the NRMP.

Interested applicants may apply through the SCC and ACS Fellowship Application Service of the Surgical Critical Care Program Directors Society (SAFAS).     

Applicant qualifications include:

1. Completion of approved general surgery residency
2. Alabama license (or eligibility) and Board eligible or certified by the American Board of Surgery

For further information about the fellowship or application process, please contact Ms. Cynthia Dennis at (251) 445-8230 or via email at cdennis@health.southalabama.edu.

According to the Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama, the following fee structure applies to requests for postgraduate training verification:

• $75.00 - Verification of training dates and/or program completion, program specifics rotations on training including procedures (if available) to be used for credentialing purposes, narratives on resident performance on institution or agency's form with a valid authorization for release information. 

Payments can be made online using a credit card.

Payment by check is to be made Payable To:

South Alabama Medical Science Foundation (SAMSF)

Mail to:

University of South Alabama Department of Surgery
ATTN: Tyronda Rogers
2451 University Hospital Drive, Mastin 711
Mobile, AL 36617

Requests submitted without payment will not be processed. Requests are to be specific and must be accompanied by an authorization for release form. If you have questions you may contact the Surgical Education office at (251) 471-7992 or email Cynthia Dennis at cdennis@health.southalabama.edu.

Mailing Address:
USA Health University Hospital
Surgical Critical Care Fellowship
2451 University Hospital Dr., Mastin 709
Mobile, AL 36617