Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science (Jacksonville) Program

The Cardiovascular Diseases Fellowship at Mayo Clinic's Jacksonville campus is a distinguished three-year training program that focuses on preparing fellows for a successful career in cardiovascular medicine. The program emphasizes clinical excellence and academic achievement through a blend of comprehensive training, innovative research, and hands-on experience in a variety of subspecialty areas of cardiology.

Program Overview

The fellowship offers in-depth training across multiple subspecialties, including but not limited to cardiac catheterization and interventions, electrophysiology, advanced heart failure, valvular and structural heart disease, vascular disease, and echocardiography. Mayo Clinic's outstanding faculty guide fellows through a rigorous curriculum designed to ensure comprehensive understanding and skill mastery in all aspects of cardiovascular medicine 1.

Curriculum Structure

In the first two years, fellows participate in core rotations that develop the essential knowledge and technical skills needed for advanced training. This phase covers a myriad of subspecialty areas as fellows gain exposure to both inpatient and outpatient settings, while managing patients with diverse cardiovascular diseases. Following the core rotations, fellows have 10 months of elective and research time, allowing flexibility to pursue areas of interest while engaging in scholarly activities 4.

The core rotation schedule includes:

• Hospital service: Supervision of resident teams, interns, and medical students.
• Heart transplant and advanced heart failure service: Direct supervision of the service alongside nurse coordinators and an advanced registered nurse practitioner.
• Echocardiography: Initial focus on outpatient settings followed by hands-on training in hospital settings.
• Electrophysiology: Involvement in both inpatient and outpatient consultations, invasive procedures, and device programming.
• Cardiac catheterization: Training in state-of-the-art labs with a full spectrum of diagnostic and interventional procedures.
• Nuclear cardiology: Involvement in imaging studies and understanding regulatory guidelines.

Throughout the fellowship, fellows will also participate in various specialty conferences, journal clubs, and a variety of didactic training sessions to reinforce knowledge 6.

Research Opportunities

Research is a vital component of the fellowship, with ample opportunities provided to fellows for developing and executing individual research projects. The program expects fellows to produce a manuscript worthy of publication at the conclusion of their training, with various support mechanisms in place, including mentorship and assistance with research design and statistical analysis 9.

Fellow Life and Wellness Support

The Mayo Clinic fellowship promotes a healthy work-life balance, with access to numerous wellness initiatives, fitness facilities, and mental health resources. Trainees are encouraged to partake in social and well-being activities outside of their clinical responsibilities 10. Additionally, there are provisions for diversity, equity, and inclusion, fostering a supportive environment for all fellows 11.

Competitiveness and Application Process

This fellowship is highly competitive, receiving an average of 900 applications annually while interviewing around 50 applicants. Admission criteria focus on the holistic assessment of candidates based on letters of recommendation, board scores, and previous academic achievements. The program typically accepts five fellows each year 3. Applicants must have completed three years of training in an ACGME-accredited internal medicine residency to be eligible.

Visa sponsorship is available for suitable candidates, thereby welcoming international medical graduates (IMGs) and DOs to apply.