Overview

VCU Trauma Center

The Virginia Commonwealth University Surgical Critical Care Fellowship is a one-year ACGME-accredited program at Central Virginia’s only Level I Trauma Center for adult and pediatric patients with about 4,500 trauma activations per year. 

Our fellows will master the care of critically ill trauma-, burn-, and surgery patients of all specialties and participate in the operative management of complex trauma patients during supervised trauma call with graduated autonomy.

 

From the Program Director

VCUSOM director's message

From the Program Director

"We train future leaders in trauma, critical care, and emergency surgery. Our fellowship at VCU offers the whole range of acute care surgery in a personalized and supportive training environment."

Joshua Judge, MD
Program Director

Division of Acute Care Surgical Services

Clinical experience

Working at VCU Health

In the Surgery and Trauma ICU, our fellows will master the care of critically ill trauma-, burn-, and surgery patients of all specialties. They participate in, and eventually lead daily rounds and perform bedside procedures such as tracheostomies, PEGs, and chest tubes. Fellows will learn the use of limited echocardiography and point of care ultrasound.

In our weekly “Trauma Teaching Rounds”, we discuss the operative management of complex trauma patients and prepare the fellows for trauma call, which they take on weekends during the second half of the fellowship year. Trauma call is with an attending Acute Care Surgeon and allows for graduated autonomy while support and oversight are always assured.

Additional educational opportunities include:

  • Trauma conference and M&M
  • International Trauma Tele-Grand Rounds with the Panamerican Trauma Society
  • Elective burn surgery, anesthesia, cardiac ICU, medical ICU, or global surgery rotations
  • Education of pre-hospital personnel and students through the VCU Center for Trauma and Critical Care Education (CTCCE)
  • Certification as instructors (or Course Director Candidates) for Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) and Advanced Surgical Skills for Exposure in Trauma (ASSET)

The fellowship program also provides opportunities for international collaboration with other trauma-related professionals through its active partnership with the Panamerican Trauma Society.

VCU Trauma Center

VCU Health System has 1,125 beds and is Central Virginia’s only Level I trauma center for adult and pediatric patients.

The Surgical Trauma ICU (STICU) service cares for an average of 50 patients and includes neuro-, transplant-, and burn critical care. Our annual trauma admissions average 4,500 and the ED has more than 100,000 visits per year.

VCU Trauma Center

Research

While the focus of the fellowship is clinical, fellows will complete at least one research or quality improvement project.

Conferences

  • Weekly trauma conference and M&M: Peer-review of morbidities, mortalities and interesting cases on the trauma and emergency general surgery services
  • Weekly international trauma grand rounds with the Panamerican Trauma Society: Interesting and challenging case discussions presented by the international members of the Panamerican Trauma Society
  • Eastern Association for the Surgery of Trauma’s annual conference: All fellows attend the annual meeting of EAST
  • VCU Health Rao Ivatury Trauma Symposium: Annual regional trauma conference hosted by VCU Health with focus on multidisciplinary trauma management in pre-hospital, ED and ICU settings

Program Alumni

How to apply

SAFAS Application

Our fellowship uses the National Resident Matching Program to fill available slots. The application process is open February to August of each year.

To apply, complete the SAFAS online application.

Required documents include:

  • Photo
  • Three original letters of recommendation (one must be dated within the past year; if currently in a program, must have one from current program director)
  • Medical school diploma (certified copy)
  • Medical school transcript (certified copy)
  • Current CV
  • Personal statement

Applications will be reviewed when complete. Our interview sessions are primarily scheduled in May, June, and July.

For more information, contact Seth Seaborne, Fellowship Coordinator at seth.seaborne@vcuhealth.org 

Teaching Faculty

Acute Care Surgical Services

Michel Aboutanos, MD, MPH, FACS

Michel Aboutanos, MD, MPH, FACS

Professor of Surgery

Michel Aboutanos, MD, MPH, FACS

Michel Aboutanos, MD, MPH, FACS

Professor of Surgery

Division of Acute Care Surgical Services

Professor
The Fletcher Emory Ammons Distinguished Professor in Surgery
Professor & Chair, Division of Acute Care Surgical Services
Medical Director , VCU Level 1 Trauma Center
Medical Director, VCU Trauma Network
Medical Director, VCU Injury & Violence Prevention Program

Phone: (804) 827-1207

Fax: (804) 827-0285

Email: michel.aboutanos@vcuhealth.org

Address/Location:
Box 980454
Richmond, VA 23298-0454

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Rahul J. Anand, MD, FACS

Rahul J. Anand, MD, FACS

Professor of Surgery

Rahul J. Anand, MD, FACS

Rahul J. Anand, MD, FACS

Professor of Surgery

Division of Acute Care Surgical Services

Program Director, VCU General Surgery Residency

Phone: (804) 827-1207

Email: Rahul.Anand@vcuhealth.org

Address/Location:
Box 980454
Richmond, VA 23298-0454

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Jonathan D. Bennett, MD

Jonathan D. Bennett, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Jonathan D. Bennett, MD

Jonathan D. Bennett, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Division of Acute Care Surgical Services

Phone: (804) 827-1207

Email: Jonathan.Bennett@vcuhealth.org

Address/Location:
Box 980454
Richmond, VA 23298-0454

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Jennifer Catlin, MD

Jennifer Catlin, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Jennifer Catlin, MD

Jennifer Catlin, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Surgery

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Joshua Cole, MD

Joshua Cole, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Joshua Cole, MD

Joshua Cole, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Surgery

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Christopher Hogan, MD, FACEP

Christopher Hogan, MD, FACEP

Associate Professor

Christopher Hogan, MD, FACEP

Christopher Hogan, MD, FACEP

Associate Professor

Department of Emergency Medicine

Phone: (804) 828-5250

Email: Christopher.Hogan@vcuhealth.org

Address/Location:
Box 980401
Richmond, VA 23298-0401

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VCUHealth Profile

Sayuri Jinadasa, MD

Sayuri Jinadasa, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Sayuri Jinadasa, MD

Sayuri Jinadasa, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Surgery

Joshua Judge, MD

Joshua Judge, MD

Associate Professor of Surgery

Joshua Judge, MD

Joshua Judge, MD

Associate Professor of Surgery

Division of Acute Care Surgical Services

Tyler Koestner, MD

Tyler Koestner, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Tyler Koestner, MD

Tyler Koestner, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Surgery

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Patrick Melmer, MD

Patrick Melmer, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Patrick Melmer, MD

Patrick Melmer, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Surgery

Levi Procter, MD

Levi Procter, MD

Associate Professor of Surgery

Levi Procter, MD

Levi Procter, MD

Associate Professor of Surgery

Division of Acute Care Surgical Services

Phone: (804) 827-1207

Email: Levi.Procter@vcuhealth.org

Address/Location:
Box 980454
Richmond, VA 23298-0454

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Edgar B. Rodas, MD, FACS

Edgar B. Rodas, MD, FACS

Associate Professor of Surgery

Edgar B. Rodas, MD, FACS

Edgar B. Rodas, MD, FACS

Associate Professor of Surgery

Division of Acute Care Surgical Services

Director, VCU Program for Global Surgery

Phone: (804) 827-1207

Email: Edgar.Rodas@vcuhealth.org

Address/Location:
Box 980454
Richmond, VA 23298-0454

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Omar Rokayak, DO, FACS

Omar Rokayak, DO, FACS

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Omar Rokayak, DO, FACS

Omar Rokayak, DO, FACS

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Surgery

Alan P. Rossi, MD

Alan P. Rossi, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Alan P. Rossi, MD

Alan P. Rossi, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Division of Acute Care Surgical Services

Phone: (804) 827-1207

Email: Alan.Rossi@vcuhealth.org

Address/Location:
Box 980645
Richmond, VA 23298-0645

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Craig Sadler, MD

Craig Sadler, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Craig Sadler, MD

Craig Sadler, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Surgery

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Ashley Slaughter, MD

Ashley Slaughter, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Ashley Slaughter, MD

Ashley Slaughter, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Division of Acute Care Surgical Services

Phone: (804) 628-3215

Email: Ashley.Slaughter@vcuhealth.org

Address/Location:
Box 980454
Richmond, VA 23298-0454

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Stacy L. Street, MD

Stacy L. Street, MD

Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery

Stacy L. Street, MD

Stacy L. Street, MD

Assistant Clinical Professor of Surgery

Division of Acute Care Surgical Services

Phone: (804) 628-3019

Email: Stacy.Street@vcuhealth.org

Address/Location:
Box 980454
Richmond, VA 23298-0454

James L. Whelan, Jr, MD

James L. Whelan, Jr, MD

Professor of Surgery

James L. Whelan, Jr, MD

James L. Whelan, Jr, MD

Professor of Surgery

Division of Acute Care Surgical Services

Phone: (804) 827-1207

Email: James.Whelan@vcuhealth.org

Address/Location:
Box 980454
Richmond, VA 23298-0454

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Contact Us

Joshua Judge, MD
Program Director
joshua.judge@vcuhealth.org

Seth Seaborne
Fellowship Coordinator
seth.seaborne@vcuhealth.org
804-827-0043


Office location:
West Hospital
15th Floor, East Wing

Mailing address:
Box 980454
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0454

Phone: 804-828-7748
Fax: 804-827-0285

Current Fellows:

Karalyn Hillebrecht, MD

Emilie Barnes, MD