A Growth Mindset: Expanding the Critical Care Training Pipeline in Anesthesiology.

Abstract

Critical care demand in the United States continues to rise, driven by an aging population, increasing comorbidities, and longer hospitalizations. Despite ample capacity and need for anesthesiology critical care medicine (ACCM) training, anesthesiologists account for less than 10% of U.S. intensivists, and recent fellowship match data consistently show underfilled ACCM positions. Structural factors, including perceived compensation, workload, and competing clinical demands, contribute to lower resident interest in ACCM. However, these concerns may not reflect current market and practice patterns. Initiatives aimed at generating accurate data and educating potential candidates on the actual, rather than the perceived, ACCM lifestyle are key. Strengthening anesthesiologist representation requires early mentorship, structured scholarly experiences, and personalized training pathways. Combined and tailored ACCM tracks, modeled after successful approaches in other subspecialties, can align training with career interests while supporting physician retention. As intensive care unit demand grows, anesthesiologists are primed to expand their critical care leadership and meet national workforce needs.