Aurora Health Care Program

The Aurora Interventional Cardiology Fellowship offers a comprehensive training experience at Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center, the largest private hospital in Wisconsin and a renowned institution for cardiac care. The program is structured to provide fellows with advanced clinical skills, research opportunities, and a robust understanding of interventional cardiology.

Training Facility

Aurora St. Luke's Medical Center serves as the primary training facility for the fellowship program. This state-of-the-art medical center is internationally recognized for its heart care expertise and boasts a full-time catheterization staff available 24/7. Such a staffing model ensures immediate assessment and minimizes delays for patients requiring interventions, striving for the lowest door-to-balloon time possible. The facility features:

• 983 hospital beds, including 76 critical care beds, with 29 dedicated to cardiovascular intensive care.
• Ten cardiac catheterization laboratories, five electrophysiology labs, and two hybrid labs.
• An emergency department with the capacity for 38 patients and six surgical suites outfitted for cardiac procedures.
• Specialized cardiac services including centers for Adult Congenital Heart Disease, Integrative Research on Cardiovascular Aging, and heart failure treatment.

Curriculum

The Interventional Cardiology Fellowship is a one-year program that selects three candidates annually. The curriculum is designed to cultivate a mix of clinical acumen, procedural skill, and research capacity. Key components of the education offered in the fellowship include:

• Hands-on experience in consultations, diagnostics, and advanced interventional procedures.
• Post-procedure management of cardiac conditions and involvement in cardiovascular research.
• Critical care training focusing on interventional procedures, pharmacology, and acute cardiac care.

The fellows actively participate in catheterization and vascular laboratories, presenting cases during monthly conferences, adopting techniques like diagnostic heart catheterization, device trials, and peripheral angiography.

Continuity Outpatient Clinic

Fellows are required to engage in a continuity outpatient clinic, serving one half-day weekly under the guidance of an interventional cardiology teaching physician. This not only enhances clinical skills but also fosters a collaborative learning atmosphere across different campus sites, including the Milwaukee Heart Institute and Aurora St. Luke's Professional Office Building.

Research Requirements

Research is a vital component of the fellowship, with fellows dedicating 10% of their training time to cardiovascular research. Each fellow is mandated to complete a research project pertinent to interventional cardiology, which plays a crucial role in shaping the academic foundation to interpret clinical data and contribute to medical literature.

Application Process and Competitiveness

Admission to the Aurora Interventional Cardiology Fellowship is highly competitive. Candidates are typically expected to demonstrate significant maturity, clinical competence, and research experience. While specific application requirements may vary, potential applicants should be aware of the fellowship's favorable stance towards candidates including DOs and IMGs, reflecting an inclusive approach in selecting fellows.

Special application requirements may include a limit on the number of failed STEP examinations and relevant graduation timelines from medical school. Transparency in the application process is emphasized to ensure candidates understand the expectations and preparations needed for successful admission.

Visa Support

The fellowship program provides visa support and is capable of sponsoring J-1 and H-1B visas for qualified international medical graduates. This support is crucial for fostering a diverse and talented cohort of fellows who can contribute significantly to the field of interventional cardiology.

Salary and Benefits

The Aurora Interventional Cardiology Fellowship offers a competitive salary alongside comprehensive health coverage and additional benefits designed to support fellows throughout their training period. Specific details regarding salary scales and benefit packages can typically be provided during the application phase.