Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program
Interventional Cardiovascular Fellowship at Lankenau Medical Center
The Interventional Cardiovascular Fellowship at Lankenau Medical Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education certified and has been training two trainees each year for over twenty-five years. The fellows are trained in both coronary and peripheral vascular angiography and interventions in this one-year Fellowship. In addition to time spent in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, we have a core lecture series covering every topic in our field. We have weekly meetings with our cardiovascular surgeons to discuss case management. Our program has an emphasis on running our Shock team through which the Fellows assist in taking care of the sickest of our patients.
The hospital serves a large community with a diverse population that presents to our Emergency Department with acute coronary syndromes. Lankenau Medical Center is part of a four-hospital network and receives transfers from these hospitals and others for care of the most complex coronary, valvular, electrophysiologic and heart failure patients.
The Lankenau Heart Institute conducts and participates in numerous clinical trials. Fellows are encouraged to participate in ongoing clinical trials.
Lankenau Medical Center is also a high-volume cardiology structural referral center. We presently train two Fellows a year in advanced structural cardiovascular procedures including but not limited to aortic valve balloon angioplasty, transcutaneous aortic valve replacement, mitral valve repair with MitraClip, transcutaneous mitral valve replacement, experimental tricuspid valve repairs, PFO/ASD closures, Watchman left atrial appendage closure and closure of paravalvular leaks. Lankenau Interventional Cardiology Fellows have the opportunity to apply for this additional one year training program.
Our goal is to train each of our Fellows to be experts in Interventional Cardiology. They leave our program with comprehensive training and excellent procedural volumes. They are ready for independent practice. We also emphasize training not only on the procedural aspects of our field but also on the cognitive components that go into making the best possible decisions for each patient.
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Application Process
The Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program participates in Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), and the National Medical Specialties Matching Program.
Interested applicants should provide:
- ERAS application
- Curriculum vitae
- Personal statement
- Three letters of recommendation (one from current program director)
- Medical School Dean's letter and transcript
Candidates with questions should contact:
Elizabeth Fleming, Program Manager
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 484.476.8032
Rose Marie Wells, Program Manager
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: 484.476.2682
The Interventional Cardiology participates in Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). All applications are received through ERAS in December. Invitations for interview will be sent via ERAS.
Curriculum
The Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program at Lankenau Medical Center is offered to qualified applicants for a one-year period. The supervision of the training program is conducted by board-certified faculty. The program offers systematic training to meet the necessary background requirements for certification by the American Board of Cardiovascular disease in Interventional Cardiology. The Fellows work in the cardiac catheterization laboratory every day of their fellowship in order to maximize their exposure to and experience with all procedural equipment and issues. Over the last few years our fellows have averaged performing 400 coronary interventions and almost 100 peripheral interventions during training.
We expect mastering the following procedural skills during training:
- Diagnostic coronary and bypass angiography
- Accurate and appropriate hemodynamic assessments in the catheterization laboratory
- Coronary stenting:
- Bifurcation lesions
- Left Main lesions
- Calcified lesions: Rotational atherectomy, Orbital atherectomy, Coronary lithoplasty, Laser atherectomy
- Wire escalation approaches
- Use of support catheters such as Guideliner
- Use of wire support microcatheters
- Use of thrombus aspiration devices
- Appropriate use of antithrombins and antiplatelet agents
- Hemodynamic support:
- Intraortic Balloon Pump
- Impella CP, 5.0 and RP.
- Alternative access such as Axillary artery
- ECMO V-V and ECMO V-A
- ProTek Duo
- Peripheral Vascular:
- Angiography of all vascular beds
- Interventions:
- Iliac
- Femoral
- Superficial Femoral
- Popliteal
- Below the knee interventions
- Renal
- Mesenteric
- Subclavian
- Carotid
- Techniques:
- Drug Eluting Stents
- Drug Coated balloons
- Covered stents
- Atherectomy devices: Orbital, Laser
- Miscellaneous:
- FlowTriever for acute treatment of pulmonary embolism
Conferences
- Weekly core curriculum lectures covering all aspects of interventional cardiology and peripheral vascular disease.
- Weekly Heart Team meeting to discuss complex coronary artery disease cases for best management decisions.
- Cardiology Grand Rounds featuring leading experts in cardiology discussing current and clinically important topics.
- Cardiothoracic Surgery/Cardiology conference discusses surgical/structural treatment of cardiovascular issues.
- Research conference discusses our divisional ongoing research projects.
- Journal club discusses recent articles of interest in our field.
- Morbidity and Mortality Conference meets quarterly to discuss appropriate cases across the four-hospital Main Line Health Hospitals’ Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories.
Faculty, Fellows and Graduates
Learn more about the Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program's Faculty, Fellows and Graduates.