Curriculum & Didactics – Cardiology Program

Cardiology Rotation Schedule

Sample curriculum of the Cardiology Fellowship Program:

Rotation	First-Year Fellow	Second-Year Fellow	Third-Year Fellow
Cardiology Units & ICU*	16 weeks	6 weeks	6 weeks
Inpatient Nights	N/A	7 weeks	6 weeks
Echo	16 weeks	8 weeks	8 weeks
Cath Lab	12 weeks	8 weeks	8 weeks
EP	4 weeks	4 weeks	4 weeks
Nuclear Medicine & Research	N/A	11 weeks	12 weeks
CT Surgery	N/A	4 weeks	N/A
Vascular Surgery	N/A	N/A	4 weeks
Elective**	4 weeks	4 weeks	4 weeks

* ICU is included in all cardiology ward rotations.
**Elective includes fellow’s choice of device clinic, ECHO, nuclear medicine, cath lab and research. In the second and third years, this includes advanced HF and cardiac transplantation rotation at Providence St. Vincent Hospital in Portland, Oregon.
*** After COCATS level 1 reached in cath, cath lab rotation can be changed to tailor each fellow’s personal interests, advanced imaging (cardiac CT, cMRI), nuclear medicine, EP, or other.

Clinical Components

On the inpatient cardiology unit rotation, fellows learn how to care for hospitalized patients as well as manage a team of internal medicine and family medicine residents, interns and students. On the ECHO rotation, fellows learn how to perform and interpret transthoracic, transesophageal (including during TAVR and CABG cases) and stress ECHO. On the nuclear medicine rotation, fellows learn how to perform and interpret stress tests (adenosine, Lexiscan, dobutamine) with Myoview. Time spent in the cath and EP labs focus on left and right heart catheterization, coronary angiogram, pericardiocentesis, placement of temporary pacemakers, IABP, Swan-Ganz catheters, PPM/ICD placement and numerous types of ablations.

Fellow autonomy is emphasized according to his/her level of training and ability. Fellows are required to participate in scholarly activity annually; they are provided ample time to participate in longitudinal research or QI projects.

Fellows spend one half-day in clinic weekly which allows one to follow patients through all phases of outpatient care. Coordination with primary care and good communication skills are paramount and emphasized.

Didactic Components

The clinical experience is complimented by a structured didactic program that comprises of fellow-led case conference, faculty-led lectures, and weekly didactics per the core of the cardiology knowledge curriculum. Academic progress is charted throughout the year with the American College of Cardiology sponsored In-Service Training Exam.

Didactics are comprised of:

Weekly fellow-led case conference (1 hour).
Weekly faculty-led lectures (1 hour).
Weekly didactics (protected 2 hours).
Mayo Board Review lecture videos.
EKG interpretation though EKG Source.
Practice board questions through ACCSAP.
Clinical modules through MedMastery.
Coronary angiogram interpretation.
Reading from Braunwald’s Heart Disease.
Monthly M&M (1.5 hours).
Monthly fellow-led echocardiography conferences (1 hour).
Monthly fellow-led Journal Club (1 hour).

Procedural Experience

An outstanding volume of procedural cases, ECHOs and EKGs provides fellows with the following:

COCATS Level I training in cardiac CT and MRI with additional training available.
COCATS Level II training in ECHO, nuclear medicine, and cardiac catheterization.
NBE and ASNC Board Eligibility for ECHO and Nuclear Medicine, respectively, are available for the highly motivated fellow.