Info on Fellowships

The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Kentucky has a fellowship training program emphasizing preparation for careers in academic and clinical cardiology. Located as part of the beautiful main campus in Lexington, our fellowship program offers comprehensive training in all major aspects of clinical cardiology, combined with training in basic and clinical cardiovascular research.

The goal of our program is to offer one of the best, most well-rounded cardiology fellowships in the country. Following your training you will have the technical and intellectual tools to become a recognized leader in cardiology, whether in the academic or clinical setting. Currently, opportunities exist for specialized training in only interventional cardiology, but in the near future additional opportunities will be available in electrophysiology and heart failure/transplantation.

Cardiology Fellowship Training Program

The Cardiology Fellowship Program at the University of Kentucky involves three years of clinical cardiology training in an active academic medical center and its affiliated Veterans Administration Hospital. The program is geared towards assuring an exceptional educational experience that fully encompasses all aspects of the core competencies through: A thorough understanding of the extensive cardiology knowledgebase; exposure to state-of-the-art patient care; professionalism in all aspects of patient care, education and research; development of outstanding communication skills with patients, their families and other healthcare professionals; working within a multifaceted health care system to optimize patient care; and most importantly, how to continue the self-learning process well beyond the completion of fellowship training. Currently, there are 5 fellowship positions annually.

The first year of fellowship is devoted primarily to clinical training. The rotations include: Coronary Care Unit, Catheterization Laboratory, Cardiology Consult Service, Electrophysiology Service, Echocardiography Laboratory, Heart Station, Nuclear Cardiology and 2 months of research. Out-patient continuity clinical begins in your first year and continues throughout your training.

The second year of fellowship provides more in-depth experience in the procedural aspects of cardiology as well as more independent decision making in clinical care settings. Research time during this year is expected to be focused on the successful completion of an original research project.

The third year of training is designed as a transition year from fellowship to faculty, and is oriented to greater clinical decision-making and teaching. There is an emphasis on rotations of particular interest to the individual fellow with extensive research and elective time allowing for fine-tuning prior to starting an academic career, pursuing further sub-specially training, or beginning a career in clinical cardiology.

Throughout the fellowship special emphasis is placed upon the care of the acutely ill cardiac patients in the Coronary Care Unit at both UK and VA Medical Centers. Hemodynamic monitoring by means of pulmonary artery balloon catheters, pacemaker insertion, and intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation are typically performed by the fellows. In addition, trainees will participate in invasive intracardiac electrophysiological studies including ventricular stimulation procedures, device implantations and a variety of ablation techniques. The fellowship in cardiology enables the trainee to develop the technical and procedural skills necessary to perform most diagnostic invasive cardiac procedures. Cardiac catheterization and angiography are performed in patients with a variety of disease entities at both the UK Medical Center and the VA Medical Center. Some exposure is provided to all aspects of coronary and peripheral percutaneous revascularization procedures. The opportunity also exists to participate in catheterization procedures performed on the pediatric cardiology service during elective time.

An integral part of the cardiology fellowship training program is direct involvement in clinical research, and basic science research if desired. The cardiology faculty is made up of a number of nationally-recognized leaders in multiple aspects of clinical and basic research, which allows for ample exposure and opportunity for a fellow to make a meaningful contribution through their original research projects. In conjunction with a faculty advisor, fellows conceive clinical research projects, design protocols, gather and analyze data, and draw appropriate conclusions.

Weekly didactic lectures are provided to cover a broad range of cardiovascular topics. There is a Core Curriculum lecture weekly as well as alternating weekly echo and EP conferences. A Cath Conference also takes place every week in which there is an open and interactive discussion among faculty and fellows regarding interesting cases and diagnostic dilemmas from the cardiac cath lab. There is a monthly Journal Club focusing on a new, state-of-the-art article pertinent to the practice of cardiology. A Classic Journal Club is also held once a month that gives the fellows a chance to discuss articles from the past that still continue to influence our practice today. Research conference is held every month where fellows are exposed to campus-wide research opportunities along with being given the opportunity to present their own research for critique and suggestions. Finally, there is a monthly Case Conference where an interesting and often perplexing, but always educational case from the previous month is discussed at length.

The clinics and hospitals of the UK and Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Centers provide a rich source of clinical material. Both UK and VA hospitals number approximately 300 beds. Accordingly, a combined average of 225 cardiac catheterization procedures are performed at the two hospitals on a monthly basis: 3,300 electrocardiograms; 200 exercise stress tests; 650 echocardiograms; 610 ablation devices and 80 nuclear imaging procedures. Annually, 15-20 transplants are performed. Outpatient visits during the past year numbered 9,000 in the University of Kentucky Cardiology Clinics, and 960 at the VA Cardiology Clinics.

To make an appointment or find a physician, please call UK HealthCare at 859-257-1000 or toll free 1-800-333-8874.
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Page last updated Wednesday, January 31, 2007 3:02 PM