Cardiovascular Medicine

The goal of the program is to train cardiovascular medicine sub-specialty residents (fellows) to become highly competent specialists in all areas of cardiovascular disease. Each rotation in the program is designed within the constructs of the AAMC-GME Core Curriculum; each rotation has competency-based goals and objectives for each assignment at each educational level which has been integrated into the curriculum.

Fellows will, after three years, have the requisite training and experience to perform careful and accurate cardiovascular examinations in a wide variety of patients with acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases, interpret routine and specialized laboratory studies and initiate and monitor pharmacologic therapy. In addition, all fellows will have gained experience at the COCATS Level 2 requirements.

Upon completing the CVD fellowship, the program director will provide each fellow with a summative evaluation that will document the fellow's performance during the final period of education, and verify that the fellow has demonstrated sufficient competence to enter practice without direct supervision.

Sample Schedule

First Year:

• CCU/Consult/Chest Pain Unit (CPU)/Cardiac Progressive Care Unit (CPCU - heart failure, arrhythmia, NSTEMI, etc.) - 4 months
• Non-Invasive Lab - 4 months
• Catheterization Lab - 2 months
• EPS lab - 1

Second Year:

• CCU/Consult/Chest Pain Unit (CPU)/Cardiac Progressive Care Unit (CPCU - heart failure, arrhythmia, NSTEMI, etc.) - 3 months
• Non-Invasive Lab - 3 months
• Catheterization Lab - 3 months
• EPS lab - 1 month
• Research - 1 month

Third Year:

• CCU/Consult/Chest Pain Unit (CPU)/Cardiac Progressive Care Unit (CPCU - heart failure, arrhythmia, NSTEMI, etc.) - 4 months
• Non-Invasive Lab - 2 months
• Catheterization Lab - 4 months
• EPS lab - 1

Conference Schedule:

• Essentials of Cardiology
  8:00 am
  Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays in July
  Lectures given by SUNY-HSCB Faculty
  Covering cardiology emergencies, basics and other information essential to new fellows in Cardiology
• September Noon Lectures
  KCHC Cardiology Faculty series for Residents
  Case presentation series for Residents in Medicine. Basics of cardiac Pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment are covered.
• Pathophysiology Course
  Cardiology Lectures given by SUNY-HSCB Faculty
  Cardiology lecture series component to second year medical students.
• Catheterization-Angioplasty Conference
  3:30 pm
  Mondays
  Cases from the previous week are presented and discussed. Attended by Faculty, Fellows and Cardiac Surgery Residents.
• Radiation Safety Course - KCHC
  7:00 am
  Tuesdays
  Radiology Lecture series on the essential of Radiation Safety in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory.
• Non-Invasive Conference
  12:00 noon
  Tuesdays
  Patient case-based conference with interesting non-invasive studies from the previous week are presented for discussion.
• Electrophysiology Conference
  8:00 am
  Wednesdays
  Ongoing reviews and updates in CCEP, interesting cases are presented for discussion.
• Journal Club
  12:00 noon
  First, Third and Fifth Thursdays
  Recent articles from cardiology literature are presented by fellows for reviewing analysis and discussion.
• Board/SAP Review
  8:00 am
  Monday and Wednesdays
  Begins in April of each year
  Board exams Nuclear, Echocardiography, Cardiovascular Disease.
• Seminars in Cardiovascular Medicine
  5:00 pm
  Wednesdays
  Program Director presents current topics in Cardiology (basic and clinical). Fellows= Self-Assessment is a regular component.
• EPS Journal Club
  5:00 pm
  Fourth Wednesday
  Recent articles from EPS literature are presented by EPS Fellow.
• Principles of Research Methodology Course
  5:00 pm
  16 Wednesdays throughout the year
  Didactic sessions with interactive components led by Faculty of the Division and the School of Public Health and focused on study design, hypothesis generation, avoidance of biases, principles of scientific paper writing, etc.

Fellows are expected to develop a knowledge base in the proposed research area, develop a research project, gain necessary research skills, collect data, publish research findings, and become familiar with the grant submission process. He or she will participate in the planning, data collection, and analysis of clinical and/or research projects.

Faculty will select individual fellows and encourage and supervise their participation in clinical research. Interested fellows will be encouraged and supported in the development of projects and studies.

Time will be made available, for research at our program or at an appropriate extramural site.

Fellows will develop an adequate knowledge base and an enthusiastic interest in the areas of basic and clinical science that relate to Cardiovascular Medicine. A formal course, Principles of Research Design (16 weeks, one hour per week) is provided. Attendance is mandatory for all Fellows. In addition, a series of didactic discussions of basic science topics will be presented during Rounds and at conferences. Opportunities will be provided for Fellows to participate in the regular research conferences of the Division and of the monthly joint research conference of the Division and the Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology.

Further Information also at Howard Gilman Institute of Heart Disease.

All fellow trainees are required to have completed an accredited three year residency program in internal medicine. The Cardiovascular Disease Program at SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University participates with the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP) and accepts application through ERAS system. Applicants are encourage to visit the ERAS website.

The application deadline is December 31 and interviews are scheduled in January/ February for March interviews. Candidates must complete a three year accredited Internal Medicine Program. The following documents are required with the application:

• Dean's letter
• Minimum 3 letters of reference - one from Program Director
• Residency completion Certificate
• Medical School Diploma
• Medical School Transcripts
• Proof of citizenship
• USMLE transcript
• ECFMG certificate (if applicable)

Applicants scheduled to be interviewed will meet with the Program Director and be interviewed by faculty and fellows in the Division of Cardiovascular Diseases. Each applicant will be evaluated on his/her medical knowledge, training background, participation in research, personality, motivation and letters of recommendation. The faculty will rank the candidate and make comments; each evaluation form will be reviewed by the Program Director or his/her designee and those candidates with high ranks are reviewed and ranked.