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The Boston Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Pulmonary Hypertension service at Children's Hospital accepts up to 3 new fellows a year into our 1- to 2-year training program. We welcome applicants who have completed at least 2 years of fellowship training in adult and/or pediatric cardiology. While many of our fellows have benefited from previous training in combined internal medicine-pediatrics residency programs, this is not seen as a requirement. However, depending on the individual applicant's long-term goals, those with limited internal medicine or pediatrics exposure may be strongly urged to complete a 2-year ACHD fellowship.
The BACH ACHD fellowship curriculum is based largely upon recommendations set forth by the American College of Cardiology in the 1995 Recommendations for Training in Adult Cardiovascular Medicine Core Cardiology Training (COCATS) Task Force 9, the COCATS II revision in 2002, and in the 32nd Bethesda Conference Task Force 31-3. To date, there have been no formal recommendations for ACHD training in pediatric cardiology. Our fellows attend general ACHD clinic one day a week, medical/surgical conference one day a week, and present at least 4 times a year at the weekly Brigham and Women's cardiology conference. Full-time BACH senior fellows are expected to provide at least 6 months of direct inpatient on-service time during the course of training including inpatient responsibilities 18 weekends per year. For individuals with specific interests, there is potential for tailoring the curriculum to include emphasis on non-invasive imaging (echocardiography and/or MRI), interventional procedures, or electrophysiology. For trainees with limited or no background in internal medicine, additional exposure to primary prevention, coronary artery disease, and heart failure will be ensured. Similarly, those with limited background in pediatric cardiology will be presented with additional opportunities for acquiring familiarity with embryology and post-operative management.
BACH ARCHES is a data management and registry program with goals to accurately and efficiently catalogue and assess BACH clinical, research and financial activity, and to assay productivity and outcomes. Potentials roles for ARCHES include 1) audit or peer review monitor of care/quality assurance, 2) outcomes assessment and risk stratification, when disease is sufficiently common with high levels of resource use, and, 3) generation of evidence to support care standards when disease occurrence is less common or rare, and accompanied by mostly observational outcomes data. Clinical research within the ARCHES program of BACH is an expected and necessary part of the BACH training program. Fellows are expected to bring a desire to further understand basic or clinical mechanisms of normalcy, disease and health recovery in ACHD patients, and will be mentored to continue this pursuit of knowledge within their fellowship and future academic careers.
Interested individuals are invited to contact:
Anne Marie Valente, MD
Department of Cardiology
Children's Hospital Boston
300 Longwood Avenue
Boston, MA 02115
617-355-6508
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