Training Program

The Yale University Fellowship Training Program in Cardiovascular Disease provides the trainee with outstanding skills in clinical cardiology and cardiovascular research. Fellows will develop their basic and clinical knowledge, procedural skills, clinical judgment, professionalism and interpersonal skills required as a specialist in cardiovascular diseases. The program emphasizes training of academic cardiologists who will become leaders in the field of cardiovascular disease. For more information, download our Complete Program Brochure.

Application Process

The program accepts five trainees per year for a minimum of three years. All applications for the 2009 Training Program in Cardiovascular Medicine will be electronically processed through the ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service) website. Interviews are granted by invitation in the spring. The Section of Cardiovascular Medicine actively supports the Yale University policies and programs for affirmative action. The Fellowship Program is fully committed to recruitment and development of minority group members and women for careers in cardiology. The Yale Section of Cardiovascular Medicine participates in the Cardiology Fellowship Match Program. Deadline for submitting applications to ERAS is December 31 of each year.

Facilities

The program provides clinical cardiology training which is based at two sites. Yale-New Haven Hospital serves as a primary care hospital for the greater New Haven area and as a tertiary care center for southern New England. The West Haven VA Medical Center serves as a primary care hospital for the state of Connecticut, and as a tertiary care center for the southern New England and New York areas. The patients from these institutions represent a wide variety of common and rare cardiovascular disorders and provide excellent exposure to all areas of cardiovascular medicine.

Overview of Program

Initial fellowship training includes two intensive clinical years dedicated to acquiring broad skills in clinical cardiology. This initial training is followed by one to three subsequent years of advanced training. Advanced training is offered in interventional cardiology, clinical electrophysiology, nuclear cardiology, echocardiography, heart failure, clinical epidemiology and health services research, and basic cardiovascular research. In certain cases, specialized research training may occur prior to basic clinical training. Please download application for advanced training here.

Cardiology trainees are expected to take an active role in clinical or basic science research.

Guidance is provided by Dr. Robert McNamara (Fellowship Director), Dr. Raymond Russell (Fellowship Assistant Director), and Dr. Michael Simons (Section Chief), as well as other faculty members and mentors. A specific mentoring program will pair a faculty member to a fellows for general mentorship of career goals and training. In most cases, this relationship will begin prior to the formal start of fellowship in order to help with the transition. Research training is available in all clinical subspecialties, clinical epidemiology and health sciences research and several areas of basic and translational cardiovascular research.

Fellows are eligible to receive support for basic science research training through an NIH sponsored training grant. Training in basic science research is also available in selected Medical School laboratories outside of the Section. Fellows with particular interest in clinical research are encouraged to apply to participate in the Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program, or the Investigative Medicine Ph.D. Program which offers doctoral degrees in basic or clinical research within the context of fellowship training.

Related Links:

• Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program
• Investigative Medicine Ph.D. Program
• Yale-New Haven Hospital
• West Haven VA Hospital