We have an active clinical service reflected by the fact that we perform over 2,489 heart catheterizations, 1,545 coronary percutaneous revascularization procedures, 17,185 echocardiograms, 681 electrophysiology studies (including radio-frequency ablations), 715 pacemakers and ICDs and 750 open-heart surgical procedures yearly.

Clinical Cardiology/Clinical Cardiovascular Research Training Program


The rapid development of new and more precise techniques to examine features of human biology has produced tremendous opportunities for progress in cardiovascular research. Unfortunately, at the same time, there has been a continuing decline in the number of physicians choosing a career in biomedical research. As a result, the need for well equipped clinical investigators is greater than ever. Among research disciplines, advances in genetics, genomics and proteomics have produced particularly powerful new tools to use in clinical and epidemiologic investigation of the etiology, treatment, and prevention of cardiovascular disease.

The Clinical Cardiology/Clinical Cardiovascular Research Program was established in 2004 under the direction of Dr. David Herrington. Key features of the program include a clinical cardiology fellowship coupled with completion of a Masters Degree in Health Services Research with a curriculum that includes formal training in molecular biology and genetics, supplemental training in genomics, proteomics and informatics, a hands-on basic laboratory practicum and joint mentorship with both clinical and basic science faculty, and participation in external NHLBI sponsored short courses in cardiovascular epidemiology, and the genetics of complex heart, lung, and blood disorders.

Our goal is to attract and train a cohort of outstanding physician scientists who will be fluent in the latest developments in genetics, genomics and proteomics and able to apply this knowledge to the conduct of new cardiovascular epidemiology and clinical cardiovascular research.

Tuition and stipend funding is available through an NIH training program for post-doctoral trainees who are US citizens or permanent residents.

Curriculum:

We recruit two new MD investigators per year into the program. The educational requirements for the trainees in the program include:

* Completion of the requirements for a Masters of Science Degree in Health Services Research including course work, written exams, thesis and oral examination.