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For any additional questions, please contact our program administrator.
Welcome from our program director
We are very excited to announce the addition of The University of Central Florida-HCA Healthcare Surgical Critical Care Fellowship to the HCA Florida Fort-Walton Destin Hospital. The program's mission is to train the next generation of surgical intensivists to become clinically excellent, ethically grounded, and committed to lifelong learning. Through a structured and robust training environment, the fellow will gain knowledge, technical proficiency, and critical thinking skills necessary to manage complex surgical patients in high-acuty settings. This mission aligns with the core HCA Healthcare mission: "Above all else, we are committed to the care and improvement of human life."
The University of Central Florida/HCA Healthcare (Fort Walton-Destin) Surgical Critical Care Fellowship curriculum will provide trainees with:
- Hands-on learning experience that builds the clinical skillset and confidence needed to managed critically ill surgical patients across a wide range of complex, high-acuity scenarios.
- Opportunities to engage in clinical research and participate in quality improvement, scholarly activity, and simulation-based training.
- High operative volume critical care fellowship. Combines 2 year model into 1 year.
- No competition with residents for operative cases.
- Three Davinci Robot platforms – practice at your desired level with support from institution and vendor.
- Clinical based research support available and encouraged.
- Job placement support.
We will be accepting applications via SCC and ACS Fellowship Application Service (SAFAS) and participating in the NRMP match. Thank you for your interest in our program!
Program overview
We are a newly ACGME-accredited Surgical Critical Care Fellowship that received accreditation in April 2026. The inaugural class is anticipated to start in August 2026.
This program is the first fellowship to join the HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital, alongside the Internal Medicine and Transitional Year residency programs that started in July 2024 and July 2026 respectively. The clinical rotations will primarly occur at the HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital.HCA Florida Fort Walton-Destin Hospital is an acute care hospital with 331 beds, with over 300 physicians on staff. The hospital is the only comprehensive full-service hospital in the area and is recognized as an accredited Advanced Primary Stroke Center, accredited Chest Pain Center, and a certified Cancer Center.The hospital provides a multitude of services including general internal medicine and its subspecialties, critical care, cardiothoracic surgery, neurologic surgery, urology, otorhinolaryngology, and psychiatry.Our program is dedicated to training and preparing fellows to enter the job market fully prepared to care for patients.
Salary & benefits
Salary AY 26-27
- PGY6 $78,201
- PGY7 $82,070
Benefits
Vacation leave
Fellows: 20 working days of vacation leave per academic year
Sick leave
Physician learners will be provided 10 days of paid sick leave each academic year.
Insurance
- Low-cost medical and dental insurance for both the physician learner and their family.
- A disability policy will be provided along with the option to purchase additional coverage.
- All physician learners are automatically enrolled in a life insurance policy that offers a basic life benefit of $25,000.
- Professional liability insurance is provided.
- For additional details about our physician learner benefits, please see our Benefits policy here: UCF/HCA Florida Healthcare GME Physician Learners Benefits Policy
Retirement benefits
Physician learners are automatically enrolled in a FICA alternative plan.
Technology/devices
Residents are issued an iPhone and laptop for use during the academic year.
Licensing
The cost of training licenses in Florida will be covered by the program.
BLS, ACLS, and ATLS training
Certification is no charge to resident.
Meals/snacks
Meals are provided free of charge at the Fort Walton Beach-Destin hospital cafeteria and GME lounge/suite snacks available at all times.
Uniform
The program will provide residents with two lab coats, one jacket, and two sets of scrubs at the start of the academic year.
Resident call rooms
Dedicated sleep rooms are available for residents use in addition to a GME lounge space.
Curriculum highlights & rotation schedule
The Surgical Critical Care Fellowship is one-year program. A sample curriculum for the year is provided below:
- 10 months in the Surgical ICU
- 2 months of electives
- 5 x 12 hour shifts weekly
- Flexible scheduling
Frequently asked questions
- Surgical Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery Fellowship Application Service (SAFAS)
- Website: safas.smapply.io
- Applications open: March annually
- Applications deadline: July annually
- Application for Graduate Medical Education from SAFAS
- Documentation of completion of accredited medical or osteopathic school in the U.S
- Successful completion (or anticipated completion) of an ACGME accredited General Surgery residency prior to fellowship start date
- Board eligible or board certified
- Eligibility for a Florida physician training license
- Current visa status for all non U.S citizens or permanent physician learners
- An ECFMG certificate must be provided by international medical graduates before the start of the residency program.
- J-1 applicants will be considered.
- Completed SAFAS application
- Current curriculum vitae
- Personal statement
- 3 Letters of recommendation (including one from the General Surgery Program Director)
- Medical transcript
- Applicants must have passed USMLE Steps and COMLEX Levels 1 – 3 on the first attempt to be considered.
- ABSITE scores
- Copy of medical license (if applicable)
- An ECFMG certificate must be provided by international medical graduates before the start of the residency program.