artery disease diagnosis and intervention), clinical cardiac electrophysiology and advanced cardiac imaging (including echocardiography, coronary computed tomographic angiography and cardiac magnetic resonance imaging). During the first two years, fellows gain familiarity with all of the major areas of clinical activity and acquire special training in noninvasive and invasive laboratory skills. In addition, first-year trainees are assisted in starting a mentored hypothesis-driven research project. At the conclusion of the second year, most fellows will select an area of interest within cardiology (interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, noninvasive imaging, general and preventive cardiology, congestive heart failure) for special focus during the third year. Research is a mandatory part of cardiology fellowship training at GMC and each fellow is provided with at least 6 months of protected time to complete one or more research projects. Additional research training is provided to fellows seeking a career in clinical investigation. Fellowship Structure Goals - To provide all cardiology fellows with clinical and laboratory training to a Level I competence in all disciplines during a three-year period.
- To promote the credentialing of all fellows interested in a broad-based clinical practice in the following laboratory skills:
- Independent diagnostic cardiac catheterization (Level II)
- Nuclear cardiology training sufficient for NRC licensure (Level II)
- Echocardiographic techniques, including special studies (Level II)
- Academic and research experience commensurate with a career commitment to teaching and clinical investigation (Level II)
- Advanced (Level III) training in Invasive and Interventional Cardiology, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
- Advanced Cardiac Imaging during an additional 12 month period of training (4th year)
Rotation Structure First year (12 Core monthly rotations)
Laboratory-based - Cardiac catheterization (2 months)
- Echocardiography (3 months)
- Imaging rotation (including nuclear, computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging) [1 month]
- Electrophysiology (1 month)
- Clinical inpatient cardiology (including coronary care unit, step-down telemetry unit and general cardiology ward) [3 months]
- Cardiovascular consultation [1 month]
- Research (1 month) – During this month the fellow identifies an area of interest, is assigned to a research mentor, prepares a protocol for a hypothesis-driven small-scale research project, prepares an IRB application and present his/her research objective, background, methodology and expected results at a research seminar. Fellows have access to expert assistance in biostatistics, study design, research methods, data collection and tabulation within the department and at the research institute.
- Ambulatory continuity clinic - 1/2 day throughout the year
- Training in the use of electronic medical records
Second year (12 monthly rotations)
Laboratory-based - Cardiac catheterization (4 months)
- Echocardiography (1 months)
- Imaging rotation (including nuclear, computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging) [1 month]
- Electrophysiology (1 month)
- Clinical inpatient cardiology (including coronary care unit, step-down telemetry unit and general cardiology ward) [2 months]
- Cardiovascular consultation [1 month]
- Research (2 month) – During these two months the fellow has obtained IRB approval for the project and has begun or will begin data collection and analysis, the results are presented at a research seminar and plans are made for completion of the projects. Most fellows are engaged at this time in more than one project. Continued support is provided to the fellows in data analysis at this time.
- Ambulatory continuity clinic - 1/2 day throughout the year
Third year (12 monthly rotations)
Completion of core cardiology training in consultative and laboratory-based areas. Customized schedule to allow development of additional skills depending on the area of interest. Elective rotations are available to senior fellows in areas of: - Adult congenital heart diseases
- Cardiothoracic surgery
- Vascular medicine and surgery
- Congestive heart failure
- Cardiac transplantation (off-campus)
Fellows can choose several tracks during the three-year program including non-invasive, invasive, and combined non-invasive and invasive. Research (3 month) – During these three months the fellow completes data analysis and prepares an abstract of his/her work to submit for presentation to a national specialty or subspecialty meeting with the help of the mentor. He/she is also expected to initiate the writing of a manuscript for publication in a peer-reviewed subspecialty cardiology journal. As most fellows gain significant knowledge in the area of their research by the time their project is completed, they are encouraged to also write a review article on the subject for publication in widely distributed journals. Research efforts may be linked to additional laboratory experience, but the expectation is that the fellow uses this time to recruit patients into the study, obtain proper studies for analysis and in general focus on the scholarly activities rather than procedural experience. Fourth Year (focused subspecialty training) |
