University of Kentucky (Bowling Green) Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program

Program Staff

program overview

This one year interventional cardiology fellowship training program complies with all Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) requirements, in addition to following the guidelines and recommendations set forth by the American College of Cardiology (ACC) Core Cardiology Training Statement (COCATS-4).

Our fellows receive clinical training in coronary interventional procedures, peripheral interventions, structural heart procedures and experience in a longitudinal ambulatory clinic.

Within the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory located at The Medical Center at Bowling Green, fellows obtain extensive exposure to the essential components of adult invasive diagnostic and therapeutic cardiovascular procedures. By the end of the training, fellows will have acquired the knowledge base, judgment and technical skills to become an independent operator in interventional cardiology.

During the year-long program, fellows receive training and supervised experience in the evaluation and management of patients with a wide variety of acute and chronic cardiovascular conditions, including patients with the following cardiac conditions: Coronary Artery Disease, Valvular Heart Disease, Cardiomyopathy, Pericardial Disease, Peripheral Artery Disease, Adult Congenital Heart Disease, and Aortic Disease.

Interventional Cardiology Fellows

Recent Interventional Cardiology Graduates

---

program CURRICULUM

Procedural Training

Our interventional cardiology fellows spend 12 months in the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at The Medical Center at Bowling Green. The Medical Center at Bowling Green is the leader in cardiac care throughout south central Kentucky with 3,800 catheterization laboratory cases and 42 transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) cases annually.

In order to ensure the appropriate training of the interventional cardiology fellow, the training program will ensure that a minimum of 400 interventional procedures are performed per year and that the Interventional fellow has the opportunity to acquire skill in the performance of a minimum of 250 coronary interventions.

Ambulatory Clinic

Interventional cardiology fellows spend one half-day a week in the outpatient clinic for the follow-up of patients treated with drugs, interventions, devices, or surgery. In this setting, they are also expected to be involved in the pre-procedural workup of interventional cases. This outpatient exposure is expected to focus and build on the experience already gained during general cardiology training.

Med Center Health Western Kentucky Heart & Lung serves as the site for each of our fellows’ weekly half-day continuity clinic experience. The interventional cardiology physicians within this group function as the core faculty for the fellowship program. While in clinic, fellows will be under direct supervision of board certified faculty, including the program director who will provide continued oversight of the educational experience at Med Center Health Western Kentucky Heart & Lung. Each fellow is scheduled at least seven patients per continuity clinic session. 

Clinical Research

Fellows are also given the opportunity to participate in other scholarly activity opportunities including abstracts, posters, and presentations given at national or regional meetings. All research conducted must be meaningful for the health-system and the community and should be published and/or presented at a medical conference. Interested interventional cardiology fellows are allowed to engage in clinical research activity under the direction of a faculty mentor. All research and clinical trial projects offered for fellow participation must be vetted through the Western Kentucky Heart and Lung Research Foundation and Educational Trust (Foundation).

The Western Kentucky Heart and Lung Research Foundation was established as a not-for-profit organization dedicated to research and continuing medical education and collaborates with Med Center Health, parent organization of The Medical Center, to work toward the accomplishment of research and educational goals. This multi-disciplinary committee will evaluate the trainee’s research project, make recommendations for improvement, and assist the trainee with submission of the proposal to The Medical Center’s Institutional Review Board, as necessary.

It is toward that purpose the Foundation offers an annual Cardiology Symposium located in Bowling Green. The Symposium features internationally known speakers in the field of cardiology. During this event, all cardiovascular fellows, residents and medical students have the opportunity to present scholarly activities.

Lastly, all interventional cardiology fellows at The Medical Center at Bowling Green give seven to eight formal lecture and teaching presentations per year. Each lecture must be at least an hour in duration. These lectures, provided on a rotational basis, are attended by faculty, cardiovascular fellows, medical students and other ancillary staff. Topics are assigned to each fellow by the Program Director. In addition, each fellow will lead two to three journal club meetings choosing a topic from one of the main interventional cardiology related journals.

---

requirements

---

preferred qualifications

This program selects from eligible applicants on the basis of their preparedness, ability, aptitude, academic credentials, communication skills, and personal qualities such as motivation and integrity.

The program’s preferred qualifications include:

• USMLE scores of 250 and above on each step or COMLEX scores of 550 and above on each step
• No failures on any step of the USMLE or COMLEX
• Completion of an accredited Internal Medicine Residency program no more than five years prior to anticipated fellowship program start date

---

Application and Matching Services

Our interventional cardiology fellowship program participates in the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS®). All applications are processed through ERAS®. No other applications will be accepted.

ERAS® opens for applicants to develop applications in December of each year. Applications are due before the end of January the following year. Invitations for interviews will be extended annually in February.

Applications Must Include the Following:

• The common ERAS® application form;
• USMLE scores or COMLEX equivalent;
• ECFMG report and certificate for international medical graduates including US applicants attending medical schools outside the US;
• Official medical school transcript;
• Medical Student Performance Evaluation (MSPE);
• Two letters of professional reference;
• One letter of professional reference from the residency program director in internal medicine; and
• Personal statement.

---

international medical graduates

Eligible international medical graduates must have a current, valid certificate from the Educational Commission on Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) at the time of application. Note that completion of an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited Internal Medicine Residency Training Program and American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) board-eligibility in Internal Medicine are required for ABIM board-eligibility and certification in Pulmonary Disease.

The University of Kentucky College of Medicine (Bowling Green) Cardiovascular Disease Program accepts applications from internal medical graduates who are holders of a Green Card (permanent resident) and individuals who are prepared to have a J-1 visa sponsored by the ECFMG. This program does not support H-1 visas.

Applications from candidates who do not meet these requirements will not be considered. 

---

interview process

Applicants selected for an interview will be contacted via email. Interviews will be scheduled between September 1 and October 31. If you are extended an invitation for an interview, we encourage you to contact our offices as soon as possible. Interviews are scheduled on a first come, first served basis. Please note there is a limited number of applicant positions that can be accommodated on any given interview day.

Applicants selected for interview are offered the opportunity to have a scheduled meet and greet with the current fellows for an open discussion regarding the program. On the day of your interview, you will meet with the program director, program staff, core faculty, and — if in person — tour our facilities.