APP Fellowship in Cardiac Critical Care Medicine

As advances in cardiology reshape possibilities, the critical illness care of patients with severe cardiovascular disease becomes more specialized. The need for medical providers capable of meeting those patients’ needs is growing. The Emory APP Fellowship in Cardiac Critical Care Medicine is a post-graduate training program which equips PAs (physician assistants) and NPs (nurse practitioners) to develop knowledge and skills in the subspecialty of cardiac critical care medicine. Fellows train alongside other APP and physician residents and fellows. During this intensive year, fellows attend didactic lectures in critical care and advanced cardiology, hone their skills in simulation labs, and rotate through critical care, cardiology, and off-service specialties. Upon graduation, fellows receive a certificate of completion. Our graduates are well-rounded advanced practice providers who are equipped to excel in providing high-quality, evidence-based medical care for patients hospitalized with severe cardiovascular disease.

Mission

Our mission is to prepare certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants to practice the specialty of cardiac critical care medicine as members of a multi-professional team. 

Vision

Our vision is to provide an educational pathway for certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants which imparts a strong didactic background as well as an intense practical clinical experience and establishes high levels of proficiency and critical-thinking skills in the practice of multidisciplinary cardiac critical care medicine.

Curriculum

Didactic curriculum:

• Join with other critical care APP fellows for monthly lecture days
• Additional cardiology-specific lectures, including point-of-care ultrasound and advanced EKG interpretation
• Attend cardiology and critical care physician fellows’ lectures, morbidity and mortality conferences, and additional hands-on device training
• Twice monthly simulation labs

Clinical curriculum:

• Rotations in CICU (cardiac ICU) and CVICU (cardiovascular surgery ICU), as well as other specialty ICUs (medical, neuro, surgical)
• Rotations in cardiology, including heart failure, cardiology consults, electrophysiology, congenital heart disease, and LVAD
• Off-service rotations, including infectious diseases, nephrology, and palliative care
• Exposure to mechanical cardiac support devices, including Impella, intra-aortic balloon pump, ventricular assist devices, and ECMO (extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation)
• Elective rotations, based on the individual fellow’s areas of interest

Application

Requirements: Applicants must graduate from an accredited PA or acute care NP not-for-profit program and be eligible for licensure. Applicants may apply before graduation, but must graduate and obtain their certification and licensure before matriculation into the program.

Applications are housed on the Emory Career Center (search for cardiac critical care fellow)
Applications must include:

• Copy of PA or NP school transcripts (minimum GPA 3.2)
• Resume or CV
• Two letters of recommendation (at least one from a clinical preceptor or supervisor)
• Personal statement explaining why the applicant wants to pursue a fellowship in cardiac critical care medicine (maximum one page, double-spaced)                             

*Please note, all application materials must be uploaded and submitted via the career center/application portal website by the application deadline in order for candidates to be considered.

Our next Virtual Open Houses will be held on July 16th, 2026 and September 3rd, 2026 from 5- 7 PM EST. For a link to the Open House or if you have additional questions regarding the application process, please reach out to Hannah Kaylor

Applications for the Spring 2027 start date will open on August 1st, 2026. Please visit the Emory Career Website and use keyword search Cardiac Critical Care Medicine Fellowship, making sure to apply to the Cardiac Critical Care specialty as opposed the general critical care fellowship depending on your interest.

Hannah Kaylor, DNP, AGACNP-BC
Program Director

Kyle Briggs, MPAS, PA-C                                 
Fellowship Founder and Co-Director
Education Lead for Cardiac Critical Care
Simulation Director 

Jacob Bliss, PA-C

Vi Nguyentran, ACNPC-AG

Louis Buhrley, PA-C

Mackenzie Alber, PA-C

Jason Felt, AGACNP-BC

Hannah Gluck, PA-C

Hannah Kaylor, AGACNP-BC

Gwen Barwood, PA-C