Our fellows participate in all aspects of clinical care for children and young adults with congenital and acquired heart disease.
Specific clinical rotations are as follows:
- Inpatient cardiac patient management on the wards, and in the cardiac and neonatal intensive care units
- Inpatient cardiology consultations in all areas of the Monroe Carell Jr. Children’ Hospital at Vanderbilt
- Outpatient cardiology, including general outpatient and outreach clinics, continuity clinic and specialty clinics including transplant, electrophysiology, fetal and adult congenital clinics
- Echocardiography, with increasing exposure to advanced imaging including transesophageal echo, fetal echo and cardiac MRI
- Cardiac catheterization, diagnostic and interventional
- Electrophysiology, including interpretation of electrocardiograms, invasive EP studies, management of pacemakers and ICDs.
- Heart failure and transplant management, including patient support with ECMO and ventricular assist devices.
- Cardiothoracic surgery observational experience
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Approximate annual case load at Monroe Carell Jr. Children’ Hospital at Vanderbilt:
| Cardiac catheterizations | >800 |
| EP studies, ablations, pacemaker & ICD placement | >300 |
| Cardiac surgery | 525 (350 open heart) |
| Transplants | 18-22 |
| Outpatient visits | >22,000 |
| Echocardiograms | >20,000 |
| Fetal echocardiograms | >1,200 |
| Transesophageal echocardiograms | 700 |
| Cardiac MRI | >350 |
Fourth Year Clinical Training
Many of our fellows stay for an additional fourth year of clinical training, and this is an integral component of the program for fellows participating in the research intensive Master’s degree programs and/or T32 program. Fourth-year subspecialty training is available in advanced cardiac imaging, electrophysiology, cardiac catheterization and heart failure and transplant. Fourth-year training in each of these subspecialties is also offered to qualified external candidates when positions are available.
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We have several fellow-specific educational conferences and programs, in addition to pediatric cardiology, PHI, and Department of Pediatrics conferences that fellows are encouraged to attend. These include:
Conference
Day/Time
Purpose
Audience
Cath teaching Monday, 7-7:30 a.m. Review of basic cardiac catheterization skills and knowledge, taught by our three cath attendings Fellows only Fellows didactic conference Monday, 7:30-8:30 a.m. Review of congenital and acquired cardiac lesions, covering topics on cardiology boards on an 18-month curriculum. Alternate with quarterly journal club and outside guest speakers. Taught by fellows and faculty. Fellows, faculty attendance encouraged Multidisciplinary case conference Tuesday/Thursday, 7:30-8:30 a.m. Patient management conference. Cases are prepared and presented by cardiology fellows and 4th year imaging fellow. Pediatric Heart Institute Performance Rounds Tuesday, 4-5 p.m. Review of recent surgical patients with emphasis on quality improvement; Presented by surgeons, CICU Pediatric Heart Institute PHI Meeting - MM&I/QA Wednesday, 7-8 a.m. Quality assurance meeting, including data and outcomes review, morbidity and mortality, quality improvement. Presented by CICU with imaging data presented by cardiology fellows. **1 week per month alternates with off-site fellow business meeting. Pediatric Heart Institute Echo teaching Wednesday, 12-1 p.m. Imaging of congenital and acquired cardiac lesions; Topics align with Fellows conference for the week. Taught by imaging attendings Fellows only Electrophysiology teaching Thursday, 12-1 p.m. EP principles, curriculum over 12 months. Taught by EP faculty (primarily Dr. Kannankeril) Fellows only Week in Review Friday, 7:30-8:30 a.m. Review of complex patients (inpatient and outpatient), focus on patient management and long-term outcomes Fellows and faculty Fellow Research Conference Friday, 8:30-9:30 a.m. (once per month) Review of progress on fellow research projects with troubleshooting and suggestions from the group; research didactics; practice presentations for upcoming national meetings, when applicable Fellows and research faculty Surgery teaching Friday, 1-2 p.m. Surgeon "chalk talks" on topics selected by fellows and/or related to current inpatients. Taught by surgeons, primarily Dr. Mery (Division Chief) Fellows only (NICU, PICU fellows invited)
We have several fellow-specific educational conferences and programs, in addition to pediatric cardiology, PHI, and Department of Pediatrics conferences that fellows are encouraged to attend. See the conference schedule.