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Interventional Cardiology Fellowship

Emory's Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program is a one year fellowship program started by Andreas Gruentzig.

Emory is renowned for its pioneering work in interventional cardiology and has maintained its reputation as one of the preeminent training centers in the world led by Habib Samady, MD. Approximately 2,500 interventional coronary procedures per year are performed at four Emory hospitals, encompassing 10 catheterization laboratories.

All fellows gain an exposure to interventional cardiology during their training. Those who wish to pursue a board certification in interventional cardiology spend their fourth year of fellowship in dedicated interventional rotations.

Emory is also home to one of the busiest structural heart disease programs in the country. We offer an additional one-year training program in structural heart disease under the direction of Vasilis Babaliaros, MD.

Fellows actively participate in clinical trials. New interventional devices, restenosis and thrombolysis trials, studies evaluating methods to asses stenosis severity, as well as coronary physiology studies, are some examples. Recent trials include radiation therapy to prevent restenosis, the Lovastatin Restenosis Trial, trials evaluating new stent designs, as well as studies in directional and rotational atherectomy, radiation, and laser revascularization. Additional studies include studies of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa antagonists in unstable angina and post myocardial infarction (RESTORE and EPILOG), the EAST (Emory Angioplasty vs. Surgery Trial), and GUSTO trials. Evaluations of imaging methods such as quantitative angiography and intravascular ultrasonography are also studied.

Program Structure

The Interventional Cardiology training program is integrally affiliated with and is a component of the ACGME-accredited Cardiovascular Disease Subspecialty Training Program of the Emory University School of Medicine.

Five trainees are accepted each year for one year of training. Trainees rotate between Emory University Hospital, Emory University Midtown Hospital, and at the Atlanta Veterans Administration Medical Center. Trainees work only with Emory full-time interventional cardiology faculty.

Program Prerequisites

  • All applicants entering the program must have completed an ACGME-accredited cardiovascular disease training program, or its equivalent, to include complete training in diagnostic cardiac catheterization and coronary angiography
  • It is preferable that applicants have an interest in research with a dedicated research experience in basic or clinical research

Program Goals

The program complies with the ACGME's six core competencies: patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal and communication skills, professionalism, and systems-based practice.

  • Understand the pathophysiology of acute and chronic ischemic heart disease, valvular heart disease and peripheral vascular disease (medical knowledge)
  • Understand the indications and contraindications of interventional procedures (medical knowledge)
  • Appreciate the effectiveness and limitations of interventional procedures (medical knowledge)
  • Learn predictors, recognize and manage interventional complications (PBLI and medical knowledge)
  • Recognize and value the different modalities of treatment including medical therapy and surgical revascularization (systems-based practice and medical knowledge)
  • Understand and apply the latest methods of heart disease prevention (patient care and medical knowledge)
  • Learn and apply the clinical and technical aspects of interventional procedures in compliance with the highest standards of care that emphasize the importance of humanistic qualities (patient care, interpersonal/communication skills and professionalism)
  • Cultivate and maintain a quality approach to patient care based on critical thinking, compassion and dedication (patient care)
  • Promote scholarly research (PBLI)
  • Foster excellence in teaching (PBLI)

Program Objectives

Upon completion of the interventional cardiology training program, interventional cardiology fellows are expected to:

  • Be clinically experienced in the diagnosis and management of patients with acute and chronic ischemic heart disease and valvular disease (medical knowledge)
  • Have developed an understanding of the indications and contraindications of coronary and peripheral interventions, and have a comprehensive understanding of the different modalities of revascularization and medical alternatives (medical knowledge)
  • Have acquired knowledge to develop the decision-making process that leads to the selection of medical therapy versus coronary revascularization (medical knowledge)
  • Have developed a clear understanding of coronary physiology, plaque morphology and composition, plaque vulnerability, lesion characterization and plaque response to intervention (medical knowledge)
  • Have developed sufficient competency to practice interventional procedures without direct supervision (medical knowledge)
  • Be able to recognize and manage procedure-related complications (medical knowledge)
  • Have acquired knowledge in post-procedure management of bleeding; groin complications; acute vessel closure; etc., and in patient education, including risk factor modification and discharge planning (medical knowledge, PBLI and systems-based practice)
  • Have acquired the skills needed for the completion and interpretation of angiograms, hemodynamics, intravascular ultrasound, doppler, coronary flow reserve and pressure measurement (medical knowledge)
  • Comprehend and have acquired experience in cardiovascular pharmacology (medical knowledge)
  • Have learned femoral, brachial/radial cannulation for coronary and peripheral interventions (medical knowledge)
  • Be able to recognize and manage all aspects of mechanical and ischemic complications (medical knowledge)
  • Have acquired the necessary skills that are needed to manage acute hemodynamic resuscitation including use of vasoactive agents, use of antiarrhythmic drugs, use of thrombolytic agents, CPR, advanced life support, pericardiocentesis, intra-aortic balloon pump (medical knowledge)

Application Information

The application deadline is December 1, 2019 for fellowship starting July 1, 2021. Download the application package.*

*Please note that Emory's interventional cardiology does not use ERAS for applications.