St Luke's University Hospital Program

The Vascular Surgery Fellowship Program at St. Luke’s University Health Network offers an extensive educational experience in a fully integrated healthcare setting. This program hosts a traditional 5+2 fellowship track, which has received accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), affirming its commitment to meeting high educational standards. The fellowship is designed to prepare future vascular surgeons through a comprehensive curriculum and hands-on surgical training across multiple clinical sites.

Curriculum

The curriculum emphasizes both didactic and clinical training, structured to fulfill ACGME requirements and facilitate the development of critical skills. Fellows engage in regular educational conferences, including a primary Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Conference, which takes place 3-4 times per month. This conference allows fellows to review core topics, management strategies, and contemporary literature, fostering an environment of rigorous academic discussion.

Additional educational opportunities include various teaching conferences such as combined morbidity and mortality conferences, journal clubs, and non-invasive vascular lab correlation meetings.

Clinical Training Sites

Fellows receive training at two main hospital campuses within the St. Luke’s University Health Network:

• Bethlehem Campus - A Level I trauma center and tertiary care facility, this campus is equipped with advanced technology, including the GE/Discovery Hybrid OR. Here, fellows lead patient care duties and participate in complex open and endovascular procedures.
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• Allentown Campus - This community hospital exposes fellows to a diverse patient population and routine vascular surgeries, further expanding their clinical skills in a community setting.
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Research Opportunities

Research is a critical component of the fellowship. Each fellow participates in clinical surgical research, which may lead to opportunities for publication and presentations at national conferences. Support is provided through multidisciplinary faculty, statistical resources, and involvement in quality improvement projects. The program’s alignment with the SVS VQI Registry program underscores its commitment to quality care, with both campuses achieving prestigious 3-star ratings within the region.

Faculty and Mentorship

The faculty consists of several highly trained vascular surgeons dedicated to mentoring fellows throughout their training journey. Program leaders bring diverse expertise from various educational backgrounds, ensuring fellows receive well-rounded guidance from qualified professionals.

Application Process and Requirements

Interested candidates can submit applications exclusively through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), and all required materials must be completed before evaluation by the program. Specific criteria for application often include graduation year limits and maximum allowable attempts on standardized exams.

Visa Sponsorship

The program provides sponsorship for visas, typically accommodating international medical graduates, ensuring they can engage in all training opportunities.

Competitiveness and Diversity

The Vascular Surgery Fellowship at St. Luke's is regarded as highly competitive, welcoming applicants from various training backgrounds, including allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) graduates, as well as international medical graduates (IMG). The program actively supports a diverse cohort, encouraging applicants with varied experiences to apply.

Fellowship Outcomes

Graduates of the fellowship are well-prepared to tackle the challenges of modern vascular surgery, having developed strong surgical skills, critical thinking, and a comprehensive understanding of both inpatient and outpatient vascular care.

The robust training offered at St. Luke’s, combined with its commitment to scholarly activity and clinical excellence, positions its fellows advantageously as they advance in their medical careers.