Some information based on interview experience and from what I’ve gathered from friends on the trail (haven’t personally been on all of those programs) which will be very useful for future applicants. Please feel free to share your experiences:
Henry Ford:
3 Gen Fellows, 1 CHIP, 2 SHD. Non-ERAS application. Interviews super early (Early-Mid Dec) and offers ~2 weeks later (before ERAS season starts). Good volumes 300-400 PCIs per fellow (~1,200 total as a hospital). Excellent complexity of CHIP/CTO cases, yet expect the CHIP fellow to take the bulk of CTOs. "Aggressive" operators. Fellows cannulate and decannulate ECMOs. Good autonomy. PD of the CHIP fellowship also director of the cath lab is well renowned in the CHIP/CTO world. No true hands-on exposure to TAVRs. They do several BAVs. Weak in peripheral volumes. Fellows seemed very busy. Faculty were very involved in education.
Banner/University of Arizona (Phoenix):
3 Gen fellows, 1 SHD, no interest in adding a CHIP fellow in the near future. Interviews relatively early (Late Dec-Early Jan), 3 interview days, offer 2-3 weeks after last day. Excellent volumes 400-500 PCIs per fellow (~1,800 total as a hospital). Great reputation with excellent complexity and CHIP cases (large catchment for cardiogenic shock patients requiring HD support devices), Program offers training with advanced mechanical support, including access for IABP, Impella and ECMO. "Aggressive" operators with 100+ CTO cases a year with no CHIP fellow (IC fellows can join in the latter half of their training). Fellows cannulate ECMOs. IC Fellows get to do ICD/PPM placements too which was interesting. Reputation for great autonomy. Lot's of private operators however still academic atmosphere. A great relationship with CT surgery. PD is well renowned in the CHIP/CTO/TAVR world and very involved in the program. Recently seem to look for research-oriented applicants. Average in peripherals (~50 cases), but has a strong SHD program. Fellows seemed happy.
Minneapolis Heart Institute/Abbott Northwestern
2 Gen fellows, 1 SHD, ?1 CHIP (not confirmed). Interviews early (early Jan); 2 interview days; offers same day to 2 days later. Great volumes 350-450 cases (depends on if you choose quality vs quantity). Dr. Birlakis is there, the main highlight of the program but question how the addition of a CHIP fellow will affect your exposure with him. Very hands-on. You can do a month of peripherals (with vascular surgery?) APRNs help with almost everything. Fellow does not write procedure note. Very few calls (q6 days). 2 months are spent at Hennepin which is low volume (fellows use it to study for boards).
NYU-Langone
3 Gen Fellows, 2 SHD (1 from CT surgery, 1 from IC), 1 peripheral fellow (future), 1 CHIP fellow (future). Non-ERAS application. Interviews mid cycle (mid-late Jan); 2 interview days, offers 2-4 days after last day. Good volumes 350-400 cases per fellow. Can get ~100 peripheral cases too (question how the addition of a peripheral fellow will affect this). Low SHD exposure but can choose to do 2 weeks elective in SHD to get some cases. Fellows have good exposure to CHIP/CTO cases (the addition of a CHIP fellow may affect this but seem to have enough cases to still go around). Most faculty were nice and collegial (against the general stereotype of NY programs), everyone addressed each other on first-name basis. Good autonomy. Well known faculty. Academic atmosphere, tend to interview people interested in research. Fellows rotate in 3 hospitals (1 week is divided between VA and Bellevue, followed by 2 weeks at the main hospital). Hospitals are within 10-15mins walking distance of each other.
MGH
3 Gen Fellows, 2 SHD fellows, 1 peripheral fellow, ?1 CTO fellow (future). Relatively late the interview date, on a Saturday. The program is heavily academic, with a clear mission of training research-oriented interventional cardiologist. The fellowship is set up with a focus on coronary interventions; with an optional second year with a peripheral or structural focus. There are plans for setting up a CTO dedicated fellowship, but this is yet to be done. Falling in the same line as other Boston Programs, the procedural volume is average at best, with fellows getting approximal 250-300 cases- the majority of which however are complex. Fellows get approximately 30 STEMIs each. Structural interventions have a dedicated fellow, who is almost always internally recruited. The program sets fellows up for a successful career in academic interventional cardiology, with a focus on research. Interestingly, the interview day is set on a Saturday, with a very collegial atmosphere and faculty that is down to earth. Interview questions are focused on bouncing back-and-forth research ideas, and the usual personal questions to assess if one is a good fit. They do occasionally pop-quiz applicants, with a focus on Cath lab-related hemodynamics. Fellows must have ongoing research projects, dedicated research time, with a mentor assigned upon recruitment, and often started before one joins MGH. Program offers training with advanced mechanical support, including access for IABP, Impella and ECMO. Fellows seem very happy. The program recruits 3 a year; 2 of which are usually internal candidates. Boston is Boston, cold, intellectual and worldly.
Beaumont
The fellowship is set up at Beaumont health campus in in Royal Oak, MI. The training culture is a mix of that of an academic and a private institution. The fellowship is set up with a focus on coronary interventions; with optional second year with a peripheral or structural component. Historically, fellows who wanted structural and peripheral training had to sign up for a 3-year ride. An accelerated track where the second year is split between peripheral and structural interventions have been granted to fellows previously, but it is not the usual/norm. For the “interventional” fellow, the focus is coronary with limited/non-existent structural/peripheral work due to the presence of dedicated fellows. Volume, however, is above average with most fellows getting 400-450 interventions, a good percentage of which is complex. Mechanical support with IABP and Impellas is cardiology’s territory. However, ECMO is strictly CT surgery. Tandem Cardiac support is not available. STEMI volume is somewhat on the lower end; however, it could be augmented if the fellow is willing to drive and volunteer coverage at their Troy Campus. The program has a clinical, rather a research focus. Although, research is appreciated- with the clinical volume to support it. Moreover, Beaumont has a very well-respected faculty available for mentorship, and for career advancement/support. Fellows seem very happy. The program recruits 3 a year; 1-2 of which are internal candidates. Royal Oak is a quiet, neat suburb, with a short commute to Detroit Metro area, and airport.
MUSC
The fellowship is set up in Charleston, SC. The training culture is academic, with the hospital being the only large medical tertiary center in the State. Training is 1 year, with structural, peripheral and coronary exposure. Fellows usually complete fellowship with 350-400 interventions, 60 TAVR’s, and 10 mitral clips. Peripheral volume is average, with fellows usually doing about 50 cases. Mechanical support vascularization is cardiology territory, for IABP, Impalas and ECMOs. No Tandem MC is offered. Fellows usually do 50-70 STEMI’s. The program director has an interest in HOCM, and therefore, the program is oddly heavy on alcohol septal ablation. Structural training is limited with regards to LAA closure devices as they are mostly done by EP. The program has a healthy environment with friendly faculty and happy fellows. The program recruits 3 fellows a year, of which 1-2 are internal. The city is a touristy destination, with stunning beaches and good food.
Boston University/Boston Medical Center
The fellowship is set up in at Boston Medical Center. BU is a very well-respected name in academics. However, when it comes to the congested Boston, BUMC seems to always play second fiddle to MGH, BIDMC and Brigham’s. It is a 1-year fellowship, with a focus on both coronaries and TAVRs. No significant mitral clip volume. Fellows average 250-300 interventions, 30 TAVRs (often co-scrubbing on cases), 20 impellas and IABP. No ECMO or Tandem offered. The program offers 2 spots, with preference going to internal candidates. The interview is a panel interview, with very pleasant faculty, mostly inquiring about your resume, training, and personal interests. STEMI volume is 20 per fellow. Good support from faculty with fellows seeking second year structural training later a St. Elizabeth, and other Boston metro institutions.