Heart Failure and Transplantation Fellowship

Overview

The program has significant expertise in HF related critical care cardiology which will allow us to train HF cardiologists who wish to have greater exposure to critical care cardiology. Our combined programs will have local expertise (inflammatory cardiomyopathies, imaging in heart failure, cardiopulmonary exercise testing) and fellows will be able to work with experts in these sub-areas.

Mix of diseases/types of patients seen:

The case mix that fellows will see includes: cardiogenic shock, acute decompensated heart failure, new diagnosis of cardiomyopathy, cardiac transplant patients, patients supported on LVADs. Additionally, fellows will see infiltrative cardiomyopathy (amyloid, sarcoid), HCM, HFpEF and chronic systolic heart failure.

Goals and objectives:

1. Fellows must be able to provide patient care that is compassionate, appropriate, and effective for the treatment of health problems and the promotion of health.
2. Fellows must demonstrate knowledge of established and evolving biomedical, clinical, epidemiological, and social-behavioral sciences, as well as the application of this knowledge to patient care.
3. Fellows must demonstrate the ability to investigate and evaluate their care of patients, to appraise and assimilate scientific evidence, and to continuously improve patient care based on constant self-evaluation and life long learning.
4. Fellows must demonstrate an awareness of and responsiveness to the larger context and system of health care, as well as the ability to call effectively on other resources in the system to provide optimal health care.
5. Fellows must demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities and an adherence to ethical principles.
6. Fellows must demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in the effective exchange of information and teaming with patients, their families, and professional associates.

Requirements

Successful completion of three years of an ACGME‑accredited cardiovascular disease fellowship program.

Curriculum

Rotations will be divided between the 2 existing sites (Brigham & Women’s Hospital & Massachusetts General Hospital).

Fellows spend 9 months on inpatient service, alternating between the Transplant/MCS service and the Advanced Heart Failure service. On the Transplant service fellows care for new cardiac transplants and LVAD implants and post-transplant and VAD patients who may be admitted for a variety of concerns. On the Heart Failure service, fellows round in the CCU and consult on patients with advanced heart failure (ICU and telemetry floor).

Fellows spent 3 months on outpatient rotations. During this time, fellows participate in right heart catheterization, endomyocardial biopsies and attend transplant and LVAD clinic.

The fellows have a yearlong continuity clinic where they have an opportunity to longitudinally follow heart failure patients (once a week).

Fellows are invited to participate in ongoing research projects within the section. Emphasis will be placed on the development of abstracts and original publications, which may necessitate an extension of time dedicated to the project beyond the period of the fellowship.

The fellow will also attend, and may present at, the weekly Heart Transplant/Heart Failure Didactic Conference. This conference includes: a ”Journal club” discussion of the recent literature by a fellow, presentation of research by the fellow or faculty, Morbidity and Mortality monthly conference, and presentation by extramural speakers concerning basic pathophysiology and clinical topics heart failure, transplant and mechanical cardiac support.

Attendance at Cardiac Grand Rounds, Heart Failure/Transplant Didactic Conference, and other didactic conferences of the Section (Pathology Rounds, CardioPulmonary Exercise Rounds) are required. Attendance at the monthly meetings of the New England Consortium for Heart Transplantation is also required of the fellow.

Research Experience

Fellows are invited to participate in ongoing research projects within the section. Emphasis will be placed on the development of abstracts and original publications, which may necessitate an extension of time dedicated to the project beyond the period of the fellowship.

How to Apply

Upload to ERAS the following documents (Program ID: 1592414015):

• CV.
• ERAS application.
• 3 Letters of Recommendation (one must be from current Program Director).
• Personal Statement.
• USLME Exam Status Report.
• ECFMG Certificate if FMG/IMG.

Application Deadline: July 31st

Faculty Team

Erin Coglianese, MD
Program Director, Heart Failure & Transplantation
Ecoglianese@mgb.org

Neal Lakdawala, MD
Associate Program Director, Heart Failure & Transplantation
Nlakdawala@mgb.org

Gregory Lewis, MD
Director – Heart Failure & Transplantation

Mandeep Mehra, MD, MSC
Attending in Heart Failure & Transplantation and Clinical Investigator

Daniel Zlotoff, MD, PhD
Attending in Heart Failure & Transplantation and Clinical Investigator