The Heart Failure/Transplant Fellowship at UCLA has for over a decade provided a broad exposure to clinical heart failure, cardiac transplantation and research training for Cardiology Fellows who have completed their general cardiology training. The primary goal of this fellowship is to provide a thorough knowledge of the diagnosis and treatment of congestive heart failure with an emphasis on pathophysiology, therapeutics, and prevention as well as on the humanistic, moral, and ethical aspects of medicine. Detailed and comprehensive training on the acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases, emphasizing accurate ambulatory and bedside clinical diagnosis, appropriate utilization of diagnostic studies and integration of all data into a well communicated consultation and management recommendation, with sensitivity to the unique features of each individual patient will be provided to each fellow during their training. Training and active participation in research will provide the trainee with further experience in thinking critically, evaluating the clinical literature, and potentially preparing her/him for a career in academic medicine.
The general principles enumerated in the General and Special Requirements for Residency Education in Internal Medicine will be adhered to. The Fellowship is organized to provide training and supervised experiences in the evaluation and management of patients with cardiac transplantation, mechanical circulatory support devices, congestive heart failure, cardiomyopathy, and adult congenital heart disease. The program aims to provide the best possible patient care in a compassionate manner. Developing and maintaining humanistic and ethical attributes is an essential component of the training provided.
UCLA Cardiology Heart Failure fellows receive extensive training in the diagnosis and management of patients with heart failure and of cardiac transplant recipients. UCLA evaluates 150-500 new patients for heart transplantation each year and performs approximately 40-100 heart transplants and 25-50 mechanical circulatory support device implants including Total Artificial Hearts each year. Fellows participate in both inpatient and outpatient management of patients with heart failure, mechanical circulatory support and post cardiac transplantation. The fundamental concepts involved in the physiology of congestive heart failure and its treatment is part of the core clinical training at UCLA. Training in clinical management of heart failure includes supervised experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings and involves a spectrum of underlying etiologies for the heart failure. The fellows become well acquainted with the nuances of therapy of heart failure particular to different underlying etiologies and conversant with the pharmacology of the standard cardiovascular drugs used to treat heart failure. UCLA has a dedicated and integrated heart failure/mechanical circulatory support/heart transplant clinical service. The fellows are also made aware of the complex determinants of ventricular function in congenital heart disease.
The program will provide the leadership, supporting staff, faculty, and administration fully committed to the educational program. The UCLA Center for the Health Sciences facilities will be utilized to provide the appropriate training environment. The program aims to strike an appropriate balance between academic endeavors and clinical service. The trainee will be encouraged and given the resources to develop a dedication to continuing education and scholarship. The training will also take into account the role that the heart failure/mechanical circulatory support/transplant specialist is likely to play in the health care delivery system that is rapidly evolving.
The program provides for close interaction with cardiovascular surgery, internal medicine, family medicine, palliative medicine, emergency medicine, general surgery, vascular surgery, anesthesiology, radiology, pulmonary disease, infectious diseases, neurology, psychiatry, geriatrics, pediatrics, and pathology. The fellow in this program will be given ample opportunities to interact and have close working contact with these disciplines.
To apply for the Heart Failure/Transplant Cardiology Fellowship, please submit your application via ERAS. The application cycle is from December through May. You must have completed a General Cardiology Fellowship program to apply.
Contact Info: Sandra Rodriguez
310-267-7665
sarodriguez@mednet.ucla.edu
