University of California Riverside School of Medicine/St. Bernardine Medical Center – Dignity Health Program

The Cardiovascular Fellowship Program at the University of California Riverside School of Medicine and St. Bernardine Medical Center is a three-year program that offers a rigorous clinical and didactic education, accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The program primarily takes place at St. Bernardine Medical Center in San Bernardino, California, providing fellows with comprehensive outpatient and robust inpatient experiences, emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach to complex cardiac issues through a heart team model.

This fellowship program is committed to training competent and compassionate physicians capable of functioning effectively in multidisciplinary settings, emphasizing the need for critical evaluation of literature and adherence to evidence-based practices. Each year, the program accepts four fellows, culminating in a total of twelve fellows across the training duration.

Curriculum and Rotations

The Cardiovascular Fellowship curriculum is structured around the Core Cardiology Training Symposium (COCATS4) guidelines, targeting the core healthcare needs of the Inland Southern California region. Key components of the curriculum include:

• Familiarization with the 15 COCATS4 content areas and achievement of competence in these areas along with population health.
• Development of core competencies as delineated by ACGME, while also incorporating scholarship and community health as additional competency areas.
• Milestone monitoring and evaluation that allows fellows to declare independence as their training progresses.
• Greater emphasis on continuity of care paired with specialized training in targeted areas.

The fellow's training includes core rotations in various settings such as the Cardiac Catheterization Lab, Echocardiography, and specialty clinics focusing on arrhythmias, heart failure, and congenital heart diseases. Additionally, fellows participate in research and quality improvement projects under the guidance of faculty, ensuring that they develop critical thinking skills and are well-versed in research methodologies.

Training Sites

The primary training site for the fellowship is St. Bernardine Medical Center, recognized for its state-of-the-art cardiovascular program which includes various cardiac procedures. The facility provides comprehensive care for a diverse patient population and has a robust volume of cardiac interventions, thus allowing fellows to gain substantive clinical experience.

In addition to St. Bernardine, the fellowship encompasses rotations at other esteemed locations such as:

• Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Hospital, providing exposure to veterans' healthcare.
• Loma Linda VA Medical Center offers fellowships in cardiac critical care.
• Various outpatient clinics for continuity of care training.

Research Opportunities

Research training is an integral component of the fellowship, with fellows encouraged to engage actively in quality improvement projects, case reports, and original research. The collaboration with biostatisticians at UCR aids in these endeavors, fostering an environment where fellows enhance their understanding of research methodologies that they will utilize throughout their careers.

Competitiveness & Application Process

The Cardiovascular Fellowship Program is highly competitive, seeking candidates who have completed an Internal Medicine residency. The program participates in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP) and accepts applications solely through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS), making it accessible for U.S. and International Medical Graduates (IMGs).

Important application requirements include submission of USMLE or COMLEX scores, a Dean's letter (MSPE), and three letters of recommendation. There are no maximum limits specified for failed STEP exams, making the program approachable for a broader pool of candidates.

Visa Sponsorship

The program provides visa support and can sponsor J-1 and H-1B visa types, ensuring that international applicants can seamlessly integrate into the training setup without legal hindrances.