Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Cardiothoracic Transplantation Surgery Fellowship
Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
Fellowship Program Description – The University of Chicago Cardiothoracic Transplantation Surgery
The University of Chicago non-ACGME cardiothoracic transplantation surgery fellowship requires ECFMG certification, eligibility for licensing in Illinois, completion of the equivalent of a US general surgery residency, some thoracic surgery training, and a commitment to a career in cardiothoracic transplant surgery. Please complete an application using this link and email to Zainab.Aslam@bsd.uchicago.edu
PROGRAM DEMOGRAPHICS
Host institution: The University of Chicago Program subspecialty: Cardiothoracic Transplantation Surgery Program Address: Section of Cardiac Surgery, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue MC5040, Chicago, IL 60637 Telephone: (773) 834-3707 Facsimile: 773-702-4187 Program e-mail: Zainab.Aslam@bsd.uchicago.edu Program Director: Valluvan Jeevanandam, MD Alternate program contact: Zainab Aslam INTRODUCTION
History The University of Chicago has a long tradition of training surgeons in cardiothoracic surgery. Our Fellowship in Cardiothoracic Transplantation Surgery began in 2015 and has offered surgeons with an interest in cardiothoracic transplantation surgery the opportunity to receive additional training at University of Chicago Medicine based on the high number of heart and lung transplants performed annually. Duration The program is 12–24 months in duration and includes advanced experiences appropriate for the trainee’s level of experience and training. Curriculum will be designed by the program director with input from section faculty. Prerequisite training/selection criteria Candidate trainees must: have completed medical school, have completed the equivalent of an ACGME- approved residency in cardiothoracic surgery, be focused and dedicated to cardiothoracic surgery as a career, have the ability to be licensed in Illinois (permanent or temporary), provide appropriate letters of recommendation from their program director and/or mentors, be in good mental and physical health, have no criminal record, and be able to work collaboratively with other physicians and staff associated with the cardiothoracic service. Goals and objectives for training The goals are aligned with the ACGME competencies for fellow education, demonstrating increasing cardiothoracic transplantation expertise in: patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal communication skills, systems-based practice, and professionalism. The fellow will be exposed to the full spectrum of cardiothoracic transplant services, including both heart and lung transplantation. Program certification Both the heart and lung transplant programs have successfully completed the CMS Transplant Certification process. Additionally, the mechanical circulatory support (MCS) / VAD program is Joint Commission certified. RESOURCES
Teaching staff The program teaching staff are experienced in surgical education and are located at the University of Chicago Medicine. Valluvan Jeevanandam (PD) — MD — Thoracic Board Certification: Y — Years of Experience: 29 Takeyoshi Ota — MD, PhD — (Japanese Cardiac Surgery Board Certified) — Years of Experience: 10+ David Onsager — MD — Years of Experience: 23 Christopher Salerno — MD — Years of Experience: 18 Facilities Training takes place at the University of Chicago Medicine. The campus has 575 beds across adult and children’s hospitals, 28 operating rooms (4 devoted to cardiac, vascular, and thoracic surgery), 22 ICU beds, a cardiac catheterization laboratory, an adjacent medical library, and a 525,000 square foot outpatient building connected to both hospitals. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM – BASIC CURRICULUM
Clinical and research components There are no planned research components to this training experience. The entirety of the experience is clinically based. There are opportunities for clinical research, but participation is not required for successful completion of training. Participant’s supervisory and patient care responsibilities CT transplant fellow clinical responsibilities include patient evaluation (preoperative diagnosis and selection for surgery), performing operations, and postoperative patient care. Faculty guide and advise fellows; depending on level of training, the fellow will first assist or serve as the operating surgeon with the attending surgeon as first assistant. The fellow will supervise general surgery residents, medical students, cardiothoracic physician assistants, and cardiothoracic nurse practitioners. Procedural requirements The program is designed so that the trainee will perform more than the minimum number of UNOS-required procedures to be qualified as a transplant surgeon for heart and lung transplantation. During the first year, the fellow functions as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team and learns the fundamentals of surgical management of heart and lung transplantation. The second year includes continuity of practice with exposure to a broader range of heart and lung disorders. Didactic components Available didactic components (mandatory or elective) are listed below: Core curriculum in Thoracic Surgery — 3 times monthly — Mandatory Joint Quality Assurance (Thoracic Surgery) — Monthly — Mandatory UCM Adult Cardiac Conference — Weekly — Mandatory UCM Pediatric Cardiac Conference — Weekly — Elective UCM Heart Transplant Conference — Weekly — Mandatory UCM Thoracic Malignancies Staging Conference — Weekly — Elective UCM General Surgery Grand Rounds — Weekly — Elective UCM Quality Assurance (General Surgery) — Weekly — Elective UCM Quality Assurance (Department of Surgery) — Quarterly — Mandatory UCM Cardiovascular and Thoracic Research Conference — Weekly — Elective UCM Surgical Oncology Conference — Weekly — Elective UCM Surgery Ethics Conference — Weekly — Elective Joint Journal Club — Quarterly — Elective UCM Skinner Lecture — Annual — Elective UCM Benfield Visiting Lecture — Annual — Elective UCM Thoracic Case Conference — Weekly — Mandatory EVALUATION
The fellowship has incorporated the ACGME six competencies into its evaluation process. An evaluation form is completed quarterly by attending surgeons and reviewed by the Program Director and Program Coordinator. Every six months a formal review is conducted. Corrective counseling and/or a remedial plan may be provided as needed. Evaluations are available for fellow review at any time. FELLOW RESPONSIBILITIES
Outpatient responsibilities Goals for patient care include obtaining a comprehensive history and physical, interpreting diagnostic studies, designing treatment plans, assessing operative risks, and planning follow-up care. The fellow will manage postoperative conditions and supervise related staff in shared patient care. Medical Knowledge The fellow interprets and applies evidence-based knowledge to perioperative care, drawing on scientific literature and established guidelines. Practice-Based Learning and Improvement The fellow enhances knowledge by accessing scientific resources to inform diagnostic studies, treatment planning, and postoperative care and follow-up. Interpersonal Communication Skills The fellow develops communication with patients and families, explains diagnostic testing and treatment planning, outlines therapeutic options, describes surgical procedures in lay terms, discusses risks, and obtains informed consent. Documentation and coordination with referring physicians are emphasized. Professionalism The fellow demonstrates continuity of care, ethical behavior, and sensitivity to age, gender, race, and culture of patients and colleagues. Systems-Based Practice The fellow practices high-quality, cost-effective care, understands risk-benefit analysis, and collaborates with other specialists to manage transplant patients, including interfacing with consultative services and ancillary health services. The fellow also appreciates the administrative and financial aspects of outpatient care and the importance of communication with referring physicians. PREOPERATIVE ASSESSMENT AND POSTOPERATIVE CARE
The preoperative assessment and postoperative care of transplant patients are integral to the fellow’s experience. The fellow may perform urgent consults, conduct focused history and physical examinations, review diagnostics, and recommend appropriate tests. On the day of surgery, the fellow verifies patient identity, confirms consent and planned procedure, and manages perioperative care. Postoperatively, the fellow supervises writing of orders and rounds with the attending faculty oversight. The fellow directs patient care under faculty guidance and may supervise residents and physician extenders; the attending is available 24 hours. PROGRESSION OF TRAINING
Training involves incremental responsibility: the first year emphasizes organization of educational activities and quality improvement, while the second year emphasizes independent preoperative and postoperative management and increasingly complex operative cases with direct supervision. The program maintains that the CT transplant fellow does not perform operations independently without an attending present for critical portions of all cases.
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Host institution: The University of Chicago Program subspecialty: Cardiothoracic Transplantation Surgery Program Address: Section of Cardiac Surgery, 5841 S. Maryland Avenue MC5040, Chicago, IL 60637 Telephone: (773) 834-3707 Facsimile: 773-702-4187 Program e-mail: Zainab.Aslam@bsd.uchicago.edu Program Director: Valluvan Jeevanandam, MD Alternate program contact: Zainab Aslam INTRODUCTION
History The University of Chicago has a long tradition of training surgeons in cardiothoracic surgery. Our Fellowship in Cardiothoracic Transplantation Surgery began in 2015 and has offered surgeons with an interest in cardiothoracic transplantation surgery the opportunity to receive additional training at University of Chicago Medicine based on the high number of heart and lung transplants performed annually. Duration The program is 12–24 months in duration and includes advanced experiences appropriate for the trainee’s level of experience and training. Curriculum will be designed by the program director with input from section faculty. Prerequisite training/selection criteria Candidate trainees must: have completed medical school, have completed the equivalent of an ACGME- approved residency in cardiothoracic surgery, be focused and dedicated to cardiothoracic surgery as a career, have the ability to be licensed in Illinois (permanent or temporary), provide appropriate letters of recommendation from their program director and/or mentors, be in good mental and physical health, have no criminal record, and be able to work collaboratively with other physicians and staff associated with the cardiothoracic service. Goals and objectives for training The goals are aligned with the ACGME competencies for fellow education, demonstrating increasing cardiothoracic transplantation expertise in: patient care, medical knowledge, practice-based learning and improvement, interpersonal communication skills, systems-based practice, and professionalism. The fellow will be exposed to the full spectrum of cardiothoracic transplant services, including both heart and lung transplantation. Program certification Both the heart and lung transplant programs have successfully completed the CMS Transplant Certification process. Additionally, the mechanical circulatory support (MCS) / VAD program is Joint Commission certified. RESOURCES
Teaching staff The program teaching staff are experienced in surgical education and are located at the University of Chicago Medicine. Valluvan Jeevanandam (PD) — MD — Thoracic Board Certification: Y — Years of Experience: 29 Takeyoshi Ota — MD, PhD — (Japanese Cardiac Surgery Board Certified) — Years of Experience: 10+ David Onsager — MD — Years of Experience: 23 Christopher Salerno — MD — Years of Experience: 18 Facilities Training takes place at the University of Chicago Medicine. The campus has 575 beds across adult and children’s hospitals, 28 operating rooms (4 devoted to cardiac, vascular, and thoracic surgery), 22 ICU beds, a cardiac catheterization laboratory, an adjacent medical library, and a 525,000 square foot outpatient building connected to both hospitals. EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM – BASIC CURRICULUM
Clinical and research components There are no planned research components to this training experience. The entirety of the experience is clinically based. There are opportunities for clinical research, but participation is not required for successful completion of training. Participant’s supervisory and patient care responsibilities CT transplant fellow clinical responsibilities include patient evaluation (preoperative diagnosis and selection for surgery), performing operations, and postoperative patient care. Faculty guide and advise fellows; depending on level of training, the fellow will first assist or serve as the operating surgeon with the attending surgeon as first assistant. The fellow will supervise general surgery residents, medical students, cardiothoracic physician assistants, and cardiothoracic nurse practitioners. Procedural requirements The program is designed so that the trainee will perform more than the minimum number of UNOS-required procedures to be qualified as a transplant surgeon for heart and lung transplantation. During the first year, the fellow functions as an integral member of the multidisciplinary team and learns the fundamentals of surgical management of heart and lung transplantation. The second year includes continuity of practice with exposure to a broader range of heart and lung disorders. Didactic components Available didactic components (mandatory or elective) are listed below: Core curriculum in Thoracic Surgery — 3 times monthly — Mandatory Joint Quality Assurance (Thoracic Surgery) — Monthly — Mandatory UCM Adult Cardiac Conference — Weekly — Mandatory UCM Pediatric Cardiac Conference — Weekly — Elective UCM Heart Transplant Conference — Weekly — Mandatory UCM Thoracic Malignancies Staging Conference — Weekly — Elective UCM General Surgery Grand Rounds — Weekly — Elective UCM Quality Assurance (General Surgery) — Weekly — Elective UCM Quality Assurance (Department of Surgery) — Quarterly — Mandatory UCM Cardiovascular and Thoracic Research Conference — Weekly — Elective UCM Surgical Oncology Conference — Weekly — Elective UCM Surgery Ethics Conference — Weekly — Elective Joint Journal Club — Quarterly — Elective UCM Skinner Lecture — Annual — Elective UCM Benfield Visiting Lecture — Annual — Elective UCM Thoracic Case Conference — Weekly — Mandatory EVALUATION
The fellowship has incorporated the ACGME six competencies into its evaluation process. An evaluation form is completed quarterly by attending surgeons and reviewed by the Program Director and Program Coordinator. Every six months a formal review is conducted. Corrective counseling and/or a remedial plan may be provided as needed. Evaluations are available for fellow review at any time. FELLOW RESPONSIBILITIES
Outpatient responsibilities Goals for patient care include obtaining a comprehensive history and physical, interpreting diagnostic studies, designing treatment plans, assessing operative risks, and planning follow-up care. The fellow will manage postoperative conditions and supervise related staff in shared patient care. Medical Knowledge The fellow interprets and applies evidence-based knowledge to perioperative care, drawing on scientific literature and established guidelines. Practice-Based Learning and Improvement The fellow enhances knowledge by accessing scientific resources to inform diagnostic studies, treatment planning, and postoperative care and follow-up. Interpersonal Communication Skills The fellow develops communication with patients and families, explains diagnostic testing and treatment planning, outlines therapeutic options, describes surgical procedures in lay terms, discusses risks, and obtains informed consent. Documentation and coordination with referring physicians are emphasized. Professionalism The fellow demonstrates continuity of care, ethical behavior, and sensitivity to age, gender, race, and culture of patients and colleagues. Systems-Based Practice The fellow practices high-quality, cost-effective care, understands risk-benefit analysis, and collaborates with other specialists to manage transplant patients, including interfacing with consultative services and ancillary health services. The fellow also appreciates the administrative and financial aspects of outpatient care and the importance of communication with referring physicians. PREOPERATIVE ASSESSMENT AND POSTOPERATIVE CARE
The preoperative assessment and postoperative care of transplant patients are integral to the fellow’s experience. The fellow may perform urgent consults, conduct focused history and physical examinations, review diagnostics, and recommend appropriate tests. On the day of surgery, the fellow verifies patient identity, confirms consent and planned procedure, and manages perioperative care. Postoperatively, the fellow supervises writing of orders and rounds with the attending faculty oversight. The fellow directs patient care under faculty guidance and may supervise residents and physician extenders; the attending is available 24 hours. PROGRESSION OF TRAINING
Training involves incremental responsibility: the first year emphasizes organization of educational activities and quality improvement, while the second year emphasizes independent preoperative and postoperative management and increasingly complex operative cases with direct supervision. The program maintains that the CT transplant fellow does not perform operations independently without an attending present for critical portions of all cases.
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