The Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Training Program at McLaren Greater Lansing, in affiliation with Michigan State University (MSU), is meticulously designed to provide comprehensive and supervised training in the multifaceted field of cardiology. This program is ideal for medical professionals seeking advanced expertise in diagnosing and managing a broad spectrum of cardiovascular conditions, ranging from acute emergencies to chronic diseases. Our fellowship exceeds standard training benchmarks, ensuring graduates are exceptionally competent cardiovascular specialists ready to excel in their careers.
Our fellows gain invaluable experience in managing diverse cardiac pathologies, including:
- Coronary Artery Disease: In-depth exposure to the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease, encompassing both stable and acute syndromes.
- Congestive Heart Failure: Comprehensive training in managing heart failure patients, utilizing the latest medical and device therapies.
- Arrhythmias: Extensive experience in the diagnosis and management of various cardiac arrhythmias, including both pharmacological and interventional approaches.
- Acute Myocardial Infarction & Acute Ischemic Syndromes: Hands-on training in the emergent care of patients presenting with acute coronary events.
- Lipid Disorders & Hypertension: Focused education on managing lipid abnormalities and hypertension, critical components of cardiovascular risk reduction.
- Cardiomyopathy & Valvular Heart Disease: Detailed training in the diagnosis and management of cardiomyopathies and valvular heart diseases, utilizing advanced imaging and therapeutic strategies.
- Pulmonary Heart Disease & Peripheral Vascular Disease: Exposure to the complexities of pulmonary hypertension and peripheral vascular disease management.
- Inflammatory Heart Disease & Adult Congenital Heart Disease: Specialized training in less common but critical areas of cardiology, including inflammatory and congenital heart conditions in adults.
McLaren Greater Lansing provides state-of-the-art facilities to support our comprehensive educational program. Fellows benefit from access to:
- Inpatient and Ambulatory Care Facilities: Robust infrastructure for managing both hospitalized patients and outpatient follow-up.
- Advanced Laboratories: Cutting-edge labs for hemodynamics, angiography, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), invasive electrophysiologic studies, and a range of interventional cardiology procedures.
- Comprehensive Cardiac Imaging: Extensive resources for electrocardiography (ECG), ambulatory ECG monitoring, exercise testing, echocardiography (including Doppler and transesophageal studies), and radionuclide imaging.
- Peripheral Vascular and Pulmonary Physiology Assessment: Dedicated facilities for evaluating peripheral vascular disease and pulmonary function.
- Intensive Care Units: Specialized units including a cardiac intensive care unit (CCU), medical intensive care unit (MICU), cardiac surgery intensive care unit (CSICU), and general surgical intensive care unit (SICU).
- Device Therapy Resources: Comprehensive resources for pacemaker and implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) implantation and follow-up.
- Active Cardiac Surgery Program: Exposure to a dynamic cardiac surgery program, offering fellows a holistic view of cardiac care.
Rotations Curriculum
Our Cardiology Fellowship program is structured over three years, offering a progressive and well-rounded educational experience through a series of specialized rotations:
Year 1:
- Teaching Service (4 months): Foundational experience in inpatient cardiology, emphasizing clinical skills and patient management.
- Electrophysiology (1 month): Introduction to cardiac electrophysiology, including basic EP studies and arrhythmia management.
- Catheterization Lab (2 months): Initial exposure to diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization procedures.
- Heart Station (4 months): Comprehensive training in non-invasive cardiology, including ECG interpretation, echocardiography, and stress testing.
- Pediatric Cardiology (1 month): Rotation at Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital – Lansing outpatient office, focusing on congenital heart disease in children.
- Heart Failure (1 month): Specialized training at Spectrum Health – Buttersworth Hospital, focusing on advanced heart failure management and cardiac transplantation.
Year 2:
- Teaching Service (3 months): Advanced inpatient cardiology experience, with increased responsibility in patient management and teaching.
- Electrophysiology (1 month): Advanced electrophysiology rotation, focusing on complex arrhythmia management and ablation techniques.
- Catheterization Lab (2 months): Increased involvement in complex diagnostic and interventional cardiac catheterization procedures.
- Heart Station (4 months): Advanced training in non-invasive cardiac imaging and diagnostic techniques.
- Cardiothoracic Surgery (1 month): Exposure to cardiothoracic surgical procedures and perioperative patient care.
- Cardiac Transplant (1 month): Advanced heart failure and cardiac transplant rotation at Spectrum Health – Buttersworth Hospital, focusing on transplant evaluation and management.
- Cardiac Imaging (CT/MRI) (1 month): Rotation at Henry Ford Health System, specializing in cardiac CT and MRI interpretation.
Year 3:
- Teaching Service (2 months): Senior level inpatient cardiology experience, with leadership roles in patient care and resident education.
- Catheterization Lab (4 months): Focus on advanced interventional cardiology skills and complex procedures.
- Heart Station (5 months): Advanced non-invasive cardiac imaging and specialized diagnostic techniques, with potential for research focus.
- Elective (2 months): Personalized elective rotations based on fellow’s career interests, allowing for focused learning in a chosen subspecialty.
Our program utilizes a diverse range of clinical sites to provide a broad spectrum of experiences:
- McLaren Greater Lansing (MGL), Lansing MI: The primary training site, offering comprehensive cardiology services.
- Spectrum Health – Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Lansing, MI: Pediatric cardiology rotation site.
- Spectrum Health – Buttersworth Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI: Heart failure and cardiac transplant rotation site.
- E.W. Sparrow Hospital (EWSH), Lansing MI: Collaborating hospital for diverse patient exposure.
- Henry Ford Health System, Detroit MI: Cardiac CT/MRI imaging rotation site.
- McLaren Cardiovascular Group, Okemos, MI: Continuity clinic site for outpatient cardiology experience.
Continuity Clinic Experience
Fellows participate in a weekly half-day outpatient clinic at McLaren Cardiovascular Group in Okemos, MI. This continuity clinic provides essential long-term patient care experience, allowing fellows to develop their skills in managing chronic cardiovascular conditions in an outpatient setting and build lasting patient relationships.
Didactic Curriculum
Our program features a robust didactic curriculum, ensuring a strong academic foundation in cardiovascular medicine:
Weekly Conferences:
- Monday: Board Review: Dedicated sessions focused on board exam preparation, reinforcing core cardiology knowledge.
- Tuesday: Echo Conference: In-depth case reviews and discussions focused on echocardiography and cardiac imaging interpretation.
- Wednesday: Cath Conference: Interactive sessions reviewing interesting and complex cases from the cardiac catheterization lab.
- Thursday: Cardiology Conference: Comprehensive cardiology conferences covering a wide range of topics, including guest lectures and case presentations.
- Friday: Internal Medicine Board Review (Optional): Optional sessions for broader internal medicine board preparation.
Monthly Activities:
- Journal Club: Critical appraisal of current cardiovascular literature, fostering evidence-based practice.
- Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine Statewide Campus System: Participation in MSU-COM system-wide lectures and educational activities.
- Lectures/Simulation Training: Regular lectures on advanced cardiology topics and hands-on simulation training for procedural skills development.
Quarterly Events:
- Research Conference: Opportunities for fellows to present their research projects and engage in scholarly activity.
- Cardiology Morbidity and Mortality Conference: Critical review of patient outcomes to improve clinical practice and patient safety.
Biweekly Conference:
- Electrophysiology Conference: Focused discussions on electrophysiology cases, advancements, and research.
