Rotations and Training Structure
The Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program at Jersey Shore University Medical Center follows a 4-week block structure, with 13 blocks per year: one dedicated to vacation and 12 to clinical work. The rotations encompass:
- Cardiac Care Unit
- Consults Service
- Catheterization Laboratory
- Echocardiography
- Electrophysiology Service
- Heart Failure Service
- Vascular Medicine
- Cardiac Imaging (Cardiac CT and MRI)
- Stress Testing
- Research
- Electives
As a teaching hospital, JSUMC collaborates closely with medical residents on clinical rotations. Fellows are responsible for supervising and teaching residents while providing patient care.
Didactic Structure
The educational program is comprehensive, covering all aspects of cardiology. Key components include:
- Journal Clubs
- Echo Conferences and Echo Practical Sessions
- Cath Conferences
- Shock Review Meetings
- Morning Report
- Core Cardiology Lectures
- EP Conferences
- Guidelines Review Sessions
- Correlation Conferences
- Congenital Lecture Series
- Board Review Sessions
- Fellows Jeopardy Session
The program includes 22 didactic sessions per month, with half presented by fellows under the supervision and guidance of faculty physicians.
Comprehensive Boot Camp
For first-year fellows, a comprehensive boot camp series consisting of 25 sessions is provided by our faculty and invited guests. This series spans the first 2 months of the fellowship and covers:
Medical Knowledge:
- Cardiac Anatomy
- Introduction to EKGs and Device Interrogation
- Cardiac Emergencies
- Introduction to Nuclear Stress Testing
- Introduction to Cardiogenic Shock
- Introduction to Echocardiography
- LHC Basics and Complications
- RHC Basics
- Inpatient and Outpatient Management of Heart Failure
- Inpatient and Outpatient Management of Coronary Diseases
- Inpatient and Outpatient Arrhythmias Management
- Introduction to Percutaneous Mechanical Support Devices
- Introduction to Durable Mechanical Support Devices
- Introduction to Hemodynamics
Workshops:
- Hands-On Echocardiography
- Hands-On LHC Skills
- Hands-On RHC Skills
- Hands-On Device Programming Skills
- Hands-On Mechanical Support Devices Troubleshooting
Call Structure
The call structure follows a home call model with a dedicated call room and a post-call policy allowing fellows to work until 12 PM and then go home. Each fellow typically undertakes 7 weekend calls and 30 weekday calls per year. First-year fellows do not take calls until they complete the boot camp orientation and receive an additional 2 months of supervision from upper-level fellows. Collaboration with CCU residents is emphasized, with full support from echo technicians and device technicians overnight if needed.
This structure ensures comprehensive training and support while maintaining a good work-life balance, preparing fellows for successful careers in cardiovascular medicine.