Fellowship
Advanced Practice Provider Critical Care
The Advanced Practice Provider Critical Care Fellowship at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center is a one-year, non-ACGME-accredited program that admits two fellows per year.
Penn State Health’s Advanced Practice Provider Critical Care Fellowship is a post–graduate, transition-to-practice training program for physician assistants and acute care nurse practitioners who have a sincere interest in a career as a critical care APP.
The 12-month program includes clinical rotations through Penn State Health’s adult critical-care units. In addition, trainees will have clinical experiences with services that are integral in supporting critical care including nephrology, palliative care and infectious disease. Trainees are expected to work a minimum of 36 hours per week clinically.
Program Overview
In addition to the variety of clinical experiences, there are didactic sessions as well as hands-on in the high-fidelity Clinical Simulation Center. Learning will also be enhanced using online learning modules, case conferences, evidenced-based readings and journal clubs. The trainee can expect to dedicate approximately 10 to 12 hours a week completing these learning activities.
Learn More about the Fellowship
General Applicant Information The program is affiliated with Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, and fellows are hired as full-time employees with benefits, which includes a Continuing Medical Education allowance. Applicants must be graduates of an accredited nurse practitioner or physician assistant program, and board-certified through one of the major accrediting bodies specific to their discipline. To apply for the APP Critical Care Fellowship, applicants must provide the following items:
A personal statement, to include the applicant’s purpose in fellowship study and future professional goals as they relate to Critical Care.
An updated curriculum vitae, to include a detailed description of prior critical care experience, if applicable.
Minimum of three letters of recommendation, at least one from current or recent supervising physician or advanced practice clinician (nurse practitioner or physician assistant).
Supporting Your Training
Curriculum Details
The fellowship's mission is to provide a structured, comprehensive, transition-to-practice program to enhance the knowledge and skills of APPs who will serve the health needs of critically ill adults.
Expand the knowledge and skills of novice APPs in order to provide safe, high-quality, cost-effective and evidence-based care to critically ill adults.
Cultivate the APP leaders of the future, who will inspire innovation and share knowledge that will benefit all.
Increase the confidence of APP trainees in performing procedures and therapeutic interventions.
Katherine Pavlos, PA-C, and Ed Stene, AGACNP-BC, both APP Critical Care fellows, review a CT scan of the chest.
Community intensive care
Neuroscience intensive care
Heart and vascular intensive care
Medical intensive care
Nephrology
Infectious disease
Palliative care
Elective (six weeks)
Trauma services
Note: These clinical rotations are subject to change.
Advanced Trauma Life Support
Emergency Neurological Life Support
Fundamentals of Critical Care Support
Point-of-Care Ultrasound (POCUS)
Clinical simulation (skills lab and OSCEs)
Professional development and mentoring
Suture Lab
Advanced Airway Lab
Central Line Insertion Course
APP Boot Camp
Ed Stene, AGACNP, and Katherine Pavlos, PA-C, APP Critical Care fellows, practice airway skills in the simulation center under the direction of Jennifer King Wilson, AGACNP, CRNA. Procedures to be performed include, but are not limited to:
Central line insertion
Arterial line insertion
Pulmonary artery catheter insertion
Endotracheal intubation
Bedside ultrasound for hemodynamic assessment
Chest tube insertion
Thoracentesis