Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship

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Our fellowship is aimed at developing cardiologists for clinical practice. During the three years, the fellows rotate through the various areas of cardiology, with the amount of time spent in each area governed by guidelines set forth in COCATS-4 recommendations from the American College of Cardiology, as well as the interest of each fellow.

The rotations during the fellowship are composed of the following:

• Invasive cardiology (cath lab)*: eight months
• Non-invasive section*: up to eight months
• Clinical (includes CCU)*: eight months
• Electrophysiology: two months
• Nuclear: six months
• Elective time: three months (individual tracks for EP, invasive or non-invasive cardiology may be tailored to the trainee's career goals)

*Rotation duration is subject to change based on COCATS requirements for various levels of training.

Conferences

Active participation in the preparation of lectures, seminars and conferences is expected of each fellow.

Regularly scheduled cardiology teaching and conference activities include:

• Textbook review
• Surgical morbidity and mortality conference
• EKG review
• Journal club
• Invasive cardiology lecture series
• Cath conference
• Cardiology morbidity and mortality conference
• Echo conference
• Nuclear-Cath Correlation

There is also a monthly meeting for research-related topics.

Curriculum

Invasive cardiology (cath lab)

The cath lab performs more than 1000 catheterizations per year and approximately 400 coronary angioplasties each year. In addition, fellows will get adequate exposure to vascular medicine, peripheral vascular diagnostic studies and angioplasties. The structural heart program offers procedures such as TAVR, ASD/PFO closure and associated echocardiographic imaging.

Non-invasive section

This rotation includes color Doppler echocardiography, exercise stress echocardiography, and transesophageal echo. A large volume of EKGs and Holter monitors are read with staff supervision.

Echocardiography training provides the basic knowledge and experience necessary to be fully capable of performing and interpreting examination in a clinical setting.

Clinical cardiology and intensive Care (ICU)

The ICU includes a coronary care unit complete with hemodynamic monitoring and capability for insertion of intra-aortic balloon pumps, Swan-Ganz catheters, temporary pacemakers, etc. Intensive Care Cardiology is an excellent opportunity to gain primary service experience in the care of acute myocardial infarctions, unstable angina, cardiogenic shock and post-operative open heart patients.

During this experience, fellows progress to direct the care of ICU patients and are expected to function as junior staff overseeing the medical residents and students. They are responsible for procedures necessary on ICU patients.

Electrofisiología

This rotation includes exposure to diagnostic and therapeutic EP studies, ICD implants and permanent pacemaker implants.

Fellows spend a minimum of two months attending the pacemaker follow-up clinic or equivalent for a concentrated exposure to interpretation of pacing electrocardiograms and the various problems pertinent to pacemaker patients.

Fellows are responsible for consults to the EP service and will assist on electrophysiology studies, pacer and ICD implants.

Nuclear

Two months general training for all fellows is designated to make fellows conversant in the field of nuclear cardiology, with the primary responsibility being Technetium-99 isotope based stress test monitoring, review and interpretation of results.

Fellows have the opportunity to spend six months in training, if desired, in order to meet requirements for credentialing to interpret nuclear cardiology studies.