University of Hawaii Program

Overview of the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program

The Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) Fellowship Program is a prestigious training program sponsored by the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine. This ACGME-accredited fellowship trains a total of 12 fellows across three years, with four fellows accepted each year. The program is singular in its operation as it is the only cardiovascular disease fellowship program within the state of Hawaii, providing a unique learning environment that draws a diverse array of cases from various ethnic and socioeconomic backgrounds.

Curriculum

The fellowship curriculum is structured around clinical and didactic education, encompassing comprehensive training that meets the highest standards set by organizations such as the ACGME and the American College of Cardiology Foundation. The curriculum follows a rotational model, with a macro structure that distributes training across various specialties pertinent to cardiovascular disease.

Each fellow's training is divided over three years:

• Fellow 1 (PGY-4): General Inpatient Cardiology/Consultation (2-2.5 Blocks), Cardiac Critical Care & Heart Failure (1-1.5 Blocks), Night Float (1.5 Blocks), Cardiac Catheterization (2 Blocks), Echocardiography (2 Blocks), Research (1 Block), Electrophysiology (1 Block), and Noninvasive stress testing/EKG (2 Blocks).
• Fellow 2 (PGY-5): General Inpatient Cardiology/Consultation (1 Block), Cardiac Critical Care & Heart Failure (2 Blocks), Night Float (1.5 Blocks), Cardiac Catheterization (2 Blocks), Echocardiography (2 Blocks), Electrophysiology (1 Block), Nuclear/Cardiac CT/Cardiac MRI (1.5 Blocks), and Electives (2 Blocks).
• Fellow 3 (PGY-6): General Cardiology at QMC West Medical Center (1 Block), Cardiothoracic Surgery for the General Cardiologist (1 Block), Night Float (0.5 Block), and Electives (10.5 Blocks).

Training Sites

The primary site of training for the fellowship is The Queen’s Medical Center, the largest tertiary care hospital in Hawaii, providing state-of-the-art cardiovascular care. Fellows also have hands-on exposure to a wide array of hospitals and clinical settings, enhancing their understanding of cardiovascular diseases across diverse populations.

Core Faculty and Staff

The program boasts a team of dedicated and experienced faculty members across various subspecialties including invasive imaging cardiology, heart failure, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, and adult congenital heart disease. The faculty members play a pivotal role in guiding and mentoring fellows throughout their training, ensuring a robust educational experience.

Research Opportunities

Research is an integral part of the fellowship experience. The curriculum emphasizes the application of evidence-based medicine through scholarly activity. Fellows are encouraged to undertake research projects using the state-of-the-art facilities available at The Queen's Medical Center and affiliated research institutions.

Application Process

The application process for the fellowship is competitive and details the required credentials for applicants. Candidates who graduated from an ACGME-accredited Internal Medicine residency program or equivalent are eligible to apply. Application materials are to be submitted electronically through ERAS, including the ERAS Common Application, Letters of Recommendation (including one from the Internal Medicine Residency Program Director), official medical school transcripts, and USMLE scores.

With regard to fellowship candidates, the program sponsors J-1 visas only and does not support H-1 visas. A maximum of ten (10) years since completion of residency is allowed for applicants, although this is assessed on a case-by-case basis alongside recent clinical training experiences.

Fellows are selected based on the completeness of their applications, performance, academic qualifications, letters of recommendation, and personal qualities such as communication skills and motivation.

Benefits & Salary

Along with rigorous training, the fellowship offers a competitive salary, professional development funding, health insurance, and opportunities for CME (Continuing Medical Education) attendance. The fellowship has provisions to support the professional and personal well-being of its fellows, allowing for a conducive work-life balance.

Visa Support

The program only sponsors J-1 visas, thus making it essential for international applicants to have a valid ECFMG certificate before the fellowship commencement. This policy underscores the program's commitment to fostering a diverse training environment that is inclusive of international medical graduates.

Competitiveness

This fellowship program is considered highly competitive due to its unique standing as the only cardiovascular training program in Hawaii, the caliber of its faculty, and the distinguished training environment provided at The Queen's Medical Center. It encourages Diversity and inclusivity, thus welcoming applications from International Medical Graduates.

Conclusion

The Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program at the University of Hawaii represents an exceptional opportunity for future cardiologists seeking rigorous training in cardiovascular medicine within a diverse and supportive environment.