University of Kentucky College of Medicine (Bowling Green) Program

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine (Bowling Green) Cardiology Fellowship Program located at The Medical Center at Bowling Green is a comprehensive three-year program designed to provide fellows with extensive exposure to general clinical cardiology. The program is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and accommodates six fellows across its three-year curriculum. This program primarily focuses on training skilled, competent, and compassionate cardiologists through a structured environment fostering independent learning and scholarly activities.

The program includes a minimum of twenty-four months dedicated to clinical rotations, allowing fellows to participate actively in patient care and management. Other training opportunities encompass management of patients in the cardiac care unit, critical care unit, telemetry floors, and consultation services across various departments including medicine, surgery, and obstetrics/gynecology. Additionally, fellows engage in a weekly cardiology continuity clinic and gain experience in pre- and post-operative management of cardiac surgery patients and those receiving cardiac transplants. The curriculum is designed to comply with the Core Cardiology Training Statement and Subspecialty Program Requirements established by the ACGME.

Program Structure and Curriculum

The curriculum for the Cardiology Fellowship spans three years, broken down as follows:

Post-Graduate Year 4

• 3 months of Cardiology Inpatient Service
• 1 month Cardiology Consult Service
• 2 months Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
• ½ month Heart Failure
• 2 months Echocardiography
• ½ month Research
• 3 months Nuclear Cardiology

Post-Graduate Year 5

• 2 months Cardiology Inpatient Service
• 1 month Cardiology Consult Service
• 3 months Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
• 1 month Heart Failure
• 1 month Echocardiography
• 1 month Electrophysiology Service
• 1 month Nuclear Cardiology
• ½ month Research
• ½ month Cardiac CT and MRI
• 1 month Elective in Congenital Heart Disease (implemented during clinic hours through visiting physicians)

Post-Graduate Year 6

• 2 months Cardiac Care Unit (CCU)
• 1 month Nuclear Cardiology
• 2 months Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
• 3 months Echocardiography
• 1 month Electrophysiology Service
• ½ month Cardiac CT and MRI (UK Medical Center)
• ½ month Advanced Heart Failure (UK Medical Center)
• ½ month Vascular Surgery
• ½ month Research
• 1 month Elective

Application and Eligibility Requirements

Eligibility for fellowship candidates mandates completion of a medical school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education (LCME) or the equivalent for osteopathic graduates. Additionally, candidates must possess a valid Kentucky Medical License and have completed three years of residency training in an ACGME-accredited Internal Medicine program, being board eligible or certified. All applicants must pass USMLE Steps or the equivalent COMLEX examinations, achieving high scores without failures on any step, preferably with scores of 250 or above on USMLE or 550 on COMLEX.

The Cardiology Fellowship Program solely accepts applications processed through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Essential documents include the common ERAS application form, USMLE/COMLEX scores, medical school transcripts, and letters of reference. International medical graduates must hold a valid ECFMG certificate and apply as Green Card holders or those needing a J-1 visa. The program does not support H-1 visas.

Competitiveness

The University of Kentucky's Cardiology Fellowship Program is known to be highly competitive with considerable emphasis placed on academic credentials, communication skills, and personal attributes indicating motivation and integrity. Previous fellowship applicants are encouraged to demonstrate excellence in examinations and training experiences.

Research and Didactic Learning Experiences

The program integrates extensive research training, providing opportunities for fellows to engage in clinical and operational research, resulting in valuable presentations at local and national meetings. Fellows can also expect broad educational experiences through various didactic learning sessions, including Clinical Competency Conferences, Morbidity and Mortality Conferences, and specialized conferences focusing on multiple disciplines of cardiology.

Visa Sponsorship

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine (Bowling Green) only sponsors J-1 visas as part of the fellowship application process. It does not accommodate H-1 visas, making it imperative for international medical graduates to align with the J-1 visa requirements.