Introduction
The cardiothoracic fellowship training program in the Department of Anesthesiology is designed to provide advanced education and experience at the CA-4 level in providing care for patients undergoing invasive surgical procedures of the cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. Candidates will have completed anesthesiology training at an ACGME accredited residency program. One of the main goals of the fellowship program is for successful completion of the requirements for board certification in Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE), including passage of the PTEeXAM. Since it was established in 2003, five postdoctoral fellows have completed training in the one-year fellowship program. Admission & Program Requirements
Educational Program
The basic curriculum centers on adult patients with cardiac, pulmonary, and vascular disease. Fellows will spend 6 months in cardiac surgery at VCU Medical Center, 2 months in clinical echocardiography, 1 month in thoracic surgery, 1 month in critical care, and two months of electives choosing from pediatric cardiothoracic anesthesiology, cardiac catheterization and interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, extracorporeal perfusion, interventional pulmonology, medical or surgical critical care, and research. Didactics include echocardiography conferences, journal clubs, grand rounds, quality assurance conferences, and cardiothoracic case conferences. Research is strongly encouraged. Fellows are evaluated by the faculty on a quarterly basis.
Faculty
The division includes seven full-time faculty with subspecialty experience including fellowship training or its equivalence in cardiothoracic anesthesiology. Four of the faculty are board certified in Perioperative TEE by the National Board of Echocardiography. In addition, faculty in critical care, cardiology, cardiac surgery, thoracic surgery, and perfusion provide training.
Fellowship Program
The program supports 2 fellows per year. The strength of the program is in the large number, diversity, and complexity of surgical procedures. Included in the more than 1000 surgical procedures per year, will be cardiac and pulmonary transplantation, ventricular assist device placement, thoracoscopic and interventional pulmonary procedures, “off-pump” revascularization, and minimally invasive procedures.
2007 Cardiothoracic Fellows
Dwayne McClerklin, MD
Undergraduate: BA Psychology (Wake Forest Univ, Winston-Salem, NC)
Graduate: MD (Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, S.C.)
Residency: Anesthesia (VCU Health System)
Tom Maher, MD
Undergraduate: BA History/Chemistry (Southern Methodist Univ, Dallas, TX)
Graduate: MD (Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN)
Residency: Anesthesia (Henry Ford Medical Center, Detroit, MI)
