Education

Applications for next program due May 1st 2024
Details will be available in 2024

The Scandinavian Society of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine (SSAI) arranges an advanced educational program in Intensive Care Medicine open to dedicated physicians with adequate training in anaesthesiology (see terms and curriculum).The main purpose of the program is to prepare future senior intensive care specialists and ICU directors for their ever more complicated tasks. Working in groups and building networks with Nordic colleagues is an essential part of the program.

  • The training period is 2 years, starting with the first course in January 2025.
  • The number of delegates in the program is normally limited to 30.
  • EDIC I (and II) give priority if the number of applications exceeds 30.
  • If less than 15 applicants qualify, the program may be postponed for one year.
  • Accepted delegates will be encouraged to sit for the EDIC 1 during the two-year program.
  • An academic approach, based on Nordic intensive care medicine, will be applied to all topics.
  • Problem-oriented presentations, case discussions, hot topics, pro – con debates will be in focus.
  • Selected ICU projects must be presented in a future SSAI congress.

Clinical training

During the two-year period the trainee will be appointed a host clinic. The host clinic will employ the trainee in an appropriate position (i.e. in an intensive care unit) during the training program. A minimum of one year of clinical training should be done at a/another university intensive care unit.

Courses

The program includes five compulsory four-day courses. These courses will be arranged on sites in Denmark, Iceland, Norway, Sweden, Finland and the common language is English. To achieve the goal of creating a close networking atmosphere the participants are expected to participate in the scheduled sessions and social functions at the course sites. Dates appear in the appendix of the Terms and curriculum.

International exchange program

The program includes a mandatory period of auscultation in an ICU in another country.

Scientific training

The candidates will also have to complete an “ICU project” during their two-year training. This project could be a research project, quality assurance or development project or a literature review of agreed subject. The topic must be related to intensive care medicine. If the trainee has already an ongoing project it may be included, for example as part of an ongoing or recently passed PhD research program During the two-year training period, the trainee must expect to spend 4-8 weeks full-time on the project. The director of the SSAI-IC training program or the national representatives in the SSAI-IC Steering Committee below are available for advice about the requirements of a project.

EDIC

The European Diploma in Intensive Care Medicine part one (EDIC I) is not a formal entry requirement but EDIC holders will be given priority if that is necessary due to a high number of applications. Accepted trainees without EDIC will be strongly encouraged and supported to sit the examination as soon as possible during the program. The rationale for this is to strengthen the base for problem-oriented presentations, case discussions, hot topics, pro – con debates etc.

SSAI Diploma in Intensive Care Medicine

Trainees having completed the two-year training program, including all the 5 courses, the ICU project, the international exchange and passing the EDIC I and II exams can apply for the Scandinavian Diploma in Intensive Care Medicine, SDIC.

Expenses

All compulsory expenses for this program (including course fees, travelling, accommodation and salary during the ICU project) must be covered by the host clinic. The course fee for each of the 5 four-day courses is 900 Euro VAT excluded. The course fee does not include travel cost and accommodation. Accomodation may be arranged differently on different course sites. Travel must always be booked by the trainee/host clinic.

Who can apply to the program?

Specialists in anaesthesia & intensive care in the Nordic Countries, who have finished their specialty training within the last 5 years are the prime target applicants. Specialists from other countries and disciplines are invited to apply to the program. Non-anaesthesiologists must complete a minimum of 12 consecutive months of anaesthesia training to be eligible. They should apply within 5 years of finishing their training in the primary specialty and within 3 years of completing their anaesthesia training. 

Membership of SSAI

Membership of SSAI is mandatory via a membership in a national body of which proof has to be included in the application. If this is not done before deadline of application the application will be disregarded.

Selection of applicants

Applicants are selected at the discretion of the steering committee according to quality of the application, the ranked quality of their affiliation, clinical skills, academic merits, proposed ICU rotation, proposed ICU project, proposed training abroad and personal motivation. The ranking principles accord with applicable SSAI Educational Committee guidelines.

Applications should include the following:

  1. The application form complete and signed by the applicant and the head of department.
  2. Curriculum vitae.
  3. Personal letter informing about the applicant’s motivation and expectations from the program.
  4. Letter of recommendation from a superior documenting the applicant’s interest in and commitment to intensive care medicine.
  5. Suggested clinical rotation in different ICUs during the two-years training period.
  6. ICU project proposal including an academic tutor. Define topic/title and design the project (background info, aim, hypothesis, methods and timetable; 250-500 words plus references).
  7. Proof of membership of SSAI, usually through one of its national bodies.
  8. Proof of EDIC results or the EDIC diploma when applicable.
  9. A picture. A recent electronic picture of the applicant.

All material submitted as a part of an application must be in electronic format.

Applications with attachments should be sent by e-mail to the program secretary at katja.andersson@surgsci.uu.se before May 1st, 2024.

Further information

For further information see www.SSAI.info or contact the chairman or any of the national representatives in the SSAI-IC Steering Committee.

SSAI-IC Steering Committee

Chair

Finland

Iceland

Sweden

Denmark

Norway