The surgical intensive care unit of The Mount Sinai Hospital: a brief history focusing on contributions to academic critical care medicine and excellence in patient care.

The Mount Sinai Hospital Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) was founded in 1969. Drs. William Shoemaker and Christopher Bryan-Brown were the first directors. Since it was founded, the SICU has been an integral part of the Mount Sinai Medical Center, providing a wide variety of clinical services including critical care, central line placement, and nutritional consultation. As one of the largest training programs in the United States and a frequent contributor to the medical literature, the SICU has also played a vital role in academic critical care medicine.