Tufts Medical Center Program

The Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellowship Program at Tufts Medical Center is meticulously designed to prepare trainees for excellence in patient care within the field of cardiac anesthesiology. The program's primary mission is to transform students into superior clinicians and influential leaders in the specialty. With a small fellowship cohort, individualized mentorship and guidance are provided, beginning from day one, tailored to each fellow's unique career aspirations.

This fellowship offers a one-year training in Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology, with an option to extend into a two-year program that combines Cardiac Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine.

Applicants must have successfully completed an accredited residency program in anesthesiology and must be eligible for a Massachusetts medical license. The application process involves submitting a letter of intent/personal statement, curriculum vitae, and three letters of recommendation from the current residency program. Applications for the fellowship position must be submitted via the online fellowship matching service, SF Match. Post-application, applicants may be selected for a formal interview, with final decisions determined through a consensus among the cardiac anesthesia group and the department chair.

Clinical Training

Tufts Medical Center is recognized as the busiest heart transplant center in New England, holding records for transplant volume and consistently ranking among the top 10 programs for heart transplants in the country. This extensive experience is further supported by a renowned heart failure division, as well as robust ECMO and LVAD programs. By the end of the fellowship, trainees will have developed expertise in mechanical circulatory support. Additionally, fellows have exposure to a dynamic and growing structural heart program which entails performing complex and challenging cases in the domain of cardiac anesthesiology.

Trans-Esophageal Echocardiography Training

Education in echocardiography is extensively emphasized, with all attending physicians in the Cardiac Anesthesiology division being board-certified in Trans-Esophageal Echocardiography (TEE). A significant portion of cases at Tufts MC involves intraoperative echocardiography, ensuring that fellows receive ample hands-on experience. Fellows will perform and interpret echocardiograms daily, and there is dedicated preparation for the Advanced Perioperative Echocardiography exam. Historically, all fellows have successfully passed this exam over the past five years.

Curriculum

The curriculum is rich and diverse, incorporating both intraoperative education as well as several conferences and lectures, including: Cardiac Anesthesia Lecture Series, Cardiology Fellowship Lecture Series, Anesthesiology Grand Rounds, CT Surgery Grand Rounds, a Journal Club, and Structural Heart Team Meetings.

Research Opportunities

The program emphasizes the development of fellows as academic leaders in anesthesiology. Trainees are encouraged to identify a research question to explore throughout their fellowship. Incoming fellows are advised to reach out regarding research topics before the fellowship begins to facilitate the IRB process. Presenting research findings at national conferences such as SCA, IARS, or ASE is expected.

Salary and Benefits

For detailed information regarding salary and benefits, prospective fellows are encouraged to refer to the Tufts Medical Center benefits package, which provides comprehensive insights into the advantages available to fellows throughout their training.

Visa Support

The fellowship program offers visa sponsorship for international medical graduates, typically providing support for J-1 visas. This allows qualified foreign medical graduates to apply and participate in the program, thus enhancing the diversity and breadth of clinical experience within the fellowship.

Competitiveness

The Adult Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellowship at Tufts Medical Center is regarded as a highly competitive program. It is accessible to graduates from both allopathic and osteopathic medical schools, including International Medical Graduates (IMGs) who meet the entry requirements.

Special Application Requirements

Specific application criteria include successful completion of an ACGME-accredited anesthesiology residency, and candidates should take note of any limitations, such as the maximum failure rate for STEP exams, if applicable. Ensuring all prerequisites and standards are met is essential for a successful application.