Geisinger Health System (Wilkes-Barre) Program

The Cardiovascular Fellowship at Geisinger Health System, located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, is designed to cultivate competent and confident cardiologists capable of meeting future challenges in cardiovascular medicine. The program's mission is to graduate strong clinical cardiologists while fostering a commitment to lifelong learning through hands-on education and significant research opportunities.

Program Structure

The fellowship is structured over three years and is fully accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). It is primarily hosted at the Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre and includes rotations at the Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton. This dual-hospital exposure enhances the fellows' experience by providing a broad range of clinical cases and procedural opportunities, totaling nearly 600 inpatient beds across both sites 1.

Curriculum

The curriculum is meticulously crafted following the guidelines set by the American College of Cardiology and ACGME. It covers a spectrum of core competencies in cardiology, including:

• Clinical and preventive cardiology
• Non-invasive techniques
• Electrophysiology
• Interventional cardiology
• Heart failure management
• Advanced imaging techniques

The academic year is divided into 13 four-week blocks, incorporating both inpatient and outpatient rotations that emphasize the diverse aspects of cardiology. Didactic sessions are conducted five days a week, led by faculty members who are experts in their fields. These sessions are complemented by various conferences, including the Cardiology and Electrophysiology Grand Rounds 1.

Clinical Rotations

Fellows will undergo rotations that cover a wide range of experiences relevant to cardiovascular care. During some rotations, fellows work alongside attending physicians, while in others, they collaborate with medical students and internal medicine residents. Automated clinical settings, such as a 30-bed acute care unit and a dedicated cardiology outpatient clinic, enhance hands-on learning 1.

Procedural Training

The fellowship offers substantial involvement in procedural cardiology. Annually, the program boasts impressive procedural volumes, which include:

• Approximately 20,000 transthoracic echocardiograms (TTEs)
• 2,700 cardiac catheterizations
• 800 transesophageal echocardiograms (TEEs)
• Numerous structural heart interventions
• A highly active electrophysiology team performing various ablations and device implantations

Participation in these procedures prepares fellows for the realities of cardiology practice and enhances their technical skills, particularly in high-stakes environments 1.

Research Opportunities

Fellows are encouraged to engage in scholarly activities and participate in ongoing research projects supervised by experienced faculty members. Each fellow is expected to conduct research with a goal towards presentation at national conferences and publication in peer-reviewed journals 1.

Application Process

To apply for this competitive fellowship, applicants must have graduated from an accredited medical school in the U.S. or Canada, or hold ECFMG certification if they graduated from a foreign institution. Candidates must have completed an ACGME-accredited residency in internal medicine and demonstrate successful performance throughout their residency training. Additional requirements include passing scores on the USMLE or COMLEX examinations, submission of a personal statement, CV, medical school transcripts, and at least three letters of recommendation, including one from the current program director 3.

Visa Sponsorship

For international medical graduates, the program offers visa sponsorship specifically limited to H-1B visas. Applicants must ensure their visa conditions allow completion of training without interruption 3.

Competitiveness

The Cardiovascular Fellowship at Geisinger is recognized as highly competitive and welcomes applications from both U.S. graduates and graduates of international medical schools (IMG). Being IMG-friendly, it encourages a diverse pool of applicants with various backgrounds to enrich the learning environment 2.

Unique Aspects

Among the notable attributes of the fellowship is the opportunity for substantial clinical experience across two bustling hospital campuses, contributing to well-rounded graduates who excel in both clinical and academic capacities. The program emphasizes not only clinical training but also the importance of teaching and mentorship, aligning with Geisinger's commitment to healthcare innovation and excellence 1.