Fellowship Tracks
Division of Cardiology
| Track Name | Traditional Clinical Fellowship |
| Duration | 36 months. Each year has 13 rotations that are approximately four weeks in duration. |
| Goal | To train outstanding clinical cardiologists for (1) academic practice in the role of a clinician educator, (2) community clinical practice, or (3) additional training in sub-subspecialty cardiology (ACHD, Advanced HF-Transplant, EP, Interventional, or Advanced Imaging). |
| Structure | 1st year (12 blocks clinical/1 block research), 2nd year (11 blocks clinical/2 blocks research, 3rd year (0-2 blocks research depending on submissions of research plan*/11-13 clinical for the rest). |
| Rotation Locations/Type | See below for general fellowship schedule. 3rd year rotations include 50% “core” rotations and 50% “electives” based on career interests. |
| How to Join This Track | Fellows who match University of Colorado will be assigned to this track as a default. |
* Blount Fellowship could support 1 trainee to have up to 3-5 months research depending on depth/scope of submitted research proposal.
| 1st Year | 2nd Year | 3rd Year | |
| Geography | 50% at UCHealth Hospital 25% at Denver Health 25% at the VA Hospital | 60% at UCHealth Hospital 20% at Denver Health 20% at the VA Hospital | 65% at UCHealth Hospital 25% at Denver Health 10% at the VA Hospital |
| Content | 30% CCU/Consultative 20% Non-Invasive 20% Invasive 10% Electrophysiology 10% Heart Failure 10% Research | 25% Non-Invasive 25% Invasive 10% Electrophysiology 10% Heart Failure 15% Research | 50% Clinical 50% Electives Based on Career Goals |
| Track Name | Physician Scientist Training Track |
| Duration | 48 months. 2 years mostly clinical then 2 years mostly research. |
| Goal | To train outstanding physician scientists for careers in academic cardiology, with an emphasis on preparation for research-based faculty positions and the acquisition of junior faculty career development awards including: NIH K series, VA Career Development Award, or AHA Scientist Development Grants. |
| Structure | 1st year (12 blocks clinical/1 block research), 2nd year (11 blocks clinical/2 blocks research, 3rd and 4th year (2-3 blocks clinical based on career/research goals†/10-11 blocks research). |
| How to Join This Track | Fellows will need to declare their interest in this track by March of their 2nd year of fellowship and formally apply for the Division of Cardiology NIH supported T32 training grant. The fellowship program director and the T32 selection committee work closely together to give priority to any MD/DO cardiology fellows interested in joining the T32 grant, and then fill positions with external PhD applicants. |
† 3 years of half day outpatient clinic is required to be ABIM board eligible. Other clinical rotations will be assigned to maintain clinical competency during research years and dove-tail with research focus. For example, if research focus includes cardiovascular imaging, imaging rotations may be required during 3rd and 4th years.
| Track Name | Cardiovascular Disease (CVD)-Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology (CCEP) Pilot 2+2 Program (aka EP Fast-Track) |
| Duration | 48 months. 2 years Cardiovascular Disease, 1 year “hybrid”, 1-year clinical EP. |
| Goal | As part of a pilot training program sponsored by the ACC, to provide training in CVD (aka general cardilogy) and CCEP (aka EP) in 4 total years. |
| Structure | 1st year (12 blocks clinical CVD/1 block research), 2nd year (12 blocks CVD/1 blocks research, 3rd year (Hybrid Year with 2 blocks clinical CVD‡, 11 blocks CCEP) and 4th year (13 blocks CCEP). |
| How to Join This Track | Fellows will need to declare their interest in this track by March of their 1st year of fellowship. Fellows will need to meet with the Cardiology Fellowship PD and Clinical EP Fellowship PD to discuss their interests in this track and ensure they are meeting competencies in CVD to be eligible for this track. Those fellows who are undecided about careers in EP or desire 3 full years of CVD training, are still eligible for the “Traditional Clinical Fellowship” and can still pursue Clinical EP training afterwards. |
‡ 3rd year/Hybrid year will require half day outpatient CVC clinic as it is required to be ABIM board eligible in CVD.
| Track Name | Research-Intensive Fellowship Applicant Physician Scientist Training Track |
| Duration | 48 months. 2 years mostly research, then 2 years mostly clinical. |
| Goal | To train outstanding physician scientists for careers in academic cardiology and obtain the most competitive research-based junior faculty positions. Ideally, fellows in this pathway will be able to apply for a junior faculty position at the completion of training with a scored/funded junior faculty career development award including: NIH K series, NIH K99/R00, VA Career Development Award, or AHA Scientist Development Grants. |
| Structure | 1st and 2nd years (2 blocks clinical to provide exposure to clinical cardiology/11 blocks research). 3rd and 4th years (11 blocks clinical/2 blocks research).§ |
| How to Join This Track | Fellows with substantial research experience prior to joining the fellowship (for example MSTP graduates, advanced degrees including PhDs and Master’s degrees, previous research fellowships) and who have an identified research focus and University of Colorado research mentor are eligible for this pathway. Fellows interesting in this pathway should discuss their intentions during the fellowship interview process and formally apply after matching with the University of Colorado Cardiology Fellowship Program. The fellowship program director and the T32 selection committee work closely together to give priority to these applicants on the Division’s NIH supported T32 training program. |
§ 3 years of half day outpatient clinic is required to be ABIM board eligible in CVD.
Program Block Schedule Example
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 5 | Block 6 | Block 7 | Block 8 | Block 9 | Block 10 | Block 11 | Block 12 | Block 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VA Cath | VA Noninvasive | VA Consults-CCU | Denver Health Noninvasive | Denver Health Consults-CCU | Denver Health Cath | University CCU-Nightfloat | University Noninvasive | University Heart Failure | University Cath | Research | University CCU-Nightfloat | University EP Consults |
Example
Schedule:
CCU/Consult (12 weeks), Echocardiography (8-12 weeks), Cardiac Cath Lab (8-12
weeks), Electrophysiology (4 weeks), Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant (4
weeks), Night Float (4 weeks), Research (4 weeks), Advanced Imaging (2
weeks)
Year 2: The second year allows
additional time for research and elective blocks while continuing exposure to
core cardiovascular rotations.
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 5 | Block 6 | Block 7 | Block 8 | Block 9 | Block 10 | Block 11 | Block 12 | Block 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University Heart Failure | University Cath | University EP Consults | University Noninvasive | Research | Research | VA Noninvasive | University Noninvasive | Research | Outpatient | University CCU-Nightfloat | Denver Health Cath | VA CCU-Consults |
Example
Schedule: Research
(12 weeks), CCU/Consult (6 weeks), Echocardiography (4-12 weeks), Cardiac Cath
Lab (4-8 weeks), Electrophysiology (4 weeks), Advanced Heart Failure and
Transplant (4 weeks), Night Float (2 weeks), Advanced Imaging (0-8 weeks)
Year 3: The third year is
primarily made up of research or elective time based on the fellow’s career
interests
Based on Career Interests:
- General Cardiology
Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4 Block 5 Block 6 Block 7 Block 8 Block 9 Block 10 Block 11 Block 12 Block 13 University Advanced Imaging University Advanced Imaging University Advanced Imaging University Advanced Imaging University Advanced Imaging University CCU-Nightfloat Research University Cath Denver Health Noninvasive Denver Health Cath Research Denver Health CCU-Consults University Noninvasive - EP
Block 1 Block 2 Block 3 Block 4 Block 5 Block 6 Block 7 Block 8 Block 9 Block 10 Block 11 Block 12 Block 13 University CCU-Nightfloat University EP Consults University Cath EP EP University Noninvasive Research Denver Health Consults EP Denver Health Noninvasive EP VA Cath Research - Research
| Block 1 | Block 2 | Block 3 | Block 4 | Block 5 | Block 6 | Block 7 | Block 8 | Block 9 | Block 10 | Block 11 | Block 12 | Block 13 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University CCU-Nightfloat | Research | Research | Research | University Noninvasive | Research | Research | Research | Research | Research | Denver Health Consults | Research | Research |