The Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Training Program provides experience encompassing the entire spectrum of cardiovascular disease.
505-272-4253
The Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program at the University of New Mexico spans three years of clinical cardiology training in a nationally recognized academic medical center and its affiliated Veterans Administration Hospital. Currently, there are four fellowship positions annually.
Board eligibility requires a minimum of three years of training. Core clinical cardiology training is based on the program requirements of the ACGME and the guidelines published by the American College of Cardiology (COCATS II). Basic training in cardiovascular medicine required for ABIM certification, and corresponding to Level 1 training per the COCATS document, includes:
This level of training prepares an individual to perform at the level of a consultant in cardiovascular disease. Additional training is required for individuals desiring to independently perform and interpret studies, such as diagnostic cath, echocardiography, and nuclear imaging, corresponding to Level 2 COCATS training.
University of New Mexico Hospital is on the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center campus. It is a 368-bed general and tertiary care hospital including full pediatric services, outpatient facilities and is the only level I trauma center in the state of New Mexico. The hospital also operates its own air service, including fixed-wing and helicopter. The hospital has a coronary care unit, cath lab, electrophysiology lab, echo lab, heart station, nuclear cardiology laboratory, and a 20-bed cardiac step-down unit. It provides the fellows with several unique educational opportunities, including pediatric cardiology and cardiac trauma.
The New Mexico VA health care system is a 350-bed tertiary care hospital that serves veterans from a four-state area, active duty Air Force, and Air Force dependents. The hospital includes a coronary care unit, cath lab, electrophysiology lab, echo lab, heart station, a 12-bed CCU/cardiac step-down unit, and a 20-bed telemetry unit, outpatient facilities, and considerable research facilities.
The VA Hospital provides the trainees with the opportunity to deal with severe coronary artery disease, degenerative valve disease, and malignant ventricular arrhythmias.
The first year of fellowship is devoted to clinical training. Rotations occur at both University Hospital and the VA, and include:
Outpatient continuity clinic begins in the first year and continues throughout the duration of training. Fellows have clinic one half day per week, alternating between the University and VA.
The second year of training involves similar rotations, but with more independent decision making in clinical care settings. Research time is allotted with the expectation of preparation and submission of an abstract and/or article for peer review during the third year of fellowship.
The third year of training is designed as a transition from fellowship to future career plans, whether that is further subspecialty training, an academic career, or clinical practice. There is an emphasis on completing rotations to achieve Level 2 training in desired aspects of cardiology, as well as completion of the research requirements as outlined above. Fellows are expected to further develop their independent decision-making and teaching abilities.
Weekly didactic lectures are provided to cover a broad range of cardiovascular topics. There is a Core Curriculum lecture weekly, as well as weekly Graphics conferences, which alternate between VA cath conference (biweekly) and echo, EP/ECG, nuclear, and CT/MRI imaging conferences. The UNM cath conference is also held twice per month.
We offer a Journal Club, focusing on new, state of the art articles pertinent to the practice of cardiology, as well as a monthly didactic ECG conference, monthly combined cardiology/CT surgery case conference, and a monthly combined cardiology/vascular surgery/interventional radiology PVD case conference.
Research conference is held monthly where fellows present their own research ideas and projects for critique and suggestions. Additionally, Cardiology Grand Rounds are held approximately eight times per year, with nationally known speakers presenting interesting topics.
University of New Mexico Hospital is on the University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center campus. It is a 368-bed general and tertiary care hospital including full pediatric services, outpatient facilities and is the only level I trauma center in the state of New Mexico. The hospital also operates its own air service, including fixed-wing and helicopter. The hospital has a coronary care unit, cath lab, electrophysiology lab, echo lab, heart station, nuclear cardiology laboratory, and a 20-bed cardiac step-down unit. It provides the fellows with several unique educational opportunities, including pediatric cardiology and cardiac trauma.
The New Mexico VA health care system is a 350-bed tertiary care hospital that serves veterans from a four-state area, active duty Air Force, and Air Force dependents. The hospital includes a coronary care unit, cath lab, electrophysiology lab, echo lab, heart station, a 12-bed CCU/cardiac step-down unit, and a 20-bed telemetry unit, outpatient facilities, and considerable research facilities.
The VA Hospital provides the trainees with the opportunity to deal with severe coronary artery disease, degenerative valve disease, and malignant ventricular arrhythmias.
The first year of fellowship is devoted to clinical training. Rotations occur at both University Hospital and the VA, and include:
Outpatient continuity clinic begins in the first year and continues throughout the duration of training. Fellows have clinic one half day per week, alternating between the University and VA.
The second year of training involves similar rotations, but with more independent decision making in clinical care settings. Research time is allotted with the expectation of preparation and submission of an abstract and/or article for peer review during the third year of fellowship.
The third year of training is designed as a transition from fellowship to future career plans, whether that is further subspecialty training, an academic career, or clinical practice. There is an emphasis on completing rotations to achieve Level 2 training in desired aspects of cardiology, as well as completion of the research requirements as outlined above. Fellows are expected to further develop their independent decision-making and teaching abilities.
Weekly didactic lectures are provided to cover a broad range of cardiovascular topics. There is a Core Curriculum lecture weekly, as well as weekly Graphics conferences, which alternate between VA cath conference (biweekly) and echo, EP/ECG, nuclear, and CT/MRI imaging conferences. The UNM cath conference is also held twice per month.
We offer a Journal Club, focusing on new, state of the art articles pertinent to the practice of cardiology, as well as a monthly didactic ECG conference, monthly combined cardiology/CT surgery case conference, and a monthly combined cardiology/vascular surgery/interventional radiology PVD case conference.
Research conference is held monthly where fellows present their own research ideas and projects for critique and suggestions. Additionally, Cardiology Grand Rounds are held approximately eight times per year, with nationally known speakers presenting interesting topics.
Interim Division Chief
James Blankenship, MD
Division of Cardiology
Department of Internal Medicine
MSC10-5550
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque, NM 87131
Phone: 505-272-4253
Email: cardiology@salud.unm.edu
Cardiology Clinic
Phone: 505-272-2273
