Fellows work 4.5 days per week in the cath lab, performing PCI’s on-the-spot as patients with STEMI or coronary disease are identified.  Fellows are the principal operator from Day 1. Fellows perform at least 500 interventions over one year. As the year progresses, fellows are allowed to choose and participate in the most complex and challenging cases, including peripheral interventions.

Didactic lectures on interventional catheterization topics are held every Thursday morning.  Over the course of one year, the full breadth of interventional cardiology is addressed. Fellows are invited to join the general fellows for Monday EKG/advanced imaging conference, Tuesday echocardiography conference, and Wednesday journal club.  Opportunity to critically review new data is provided through both clinical cardiology and interventional cardiology journal clubs.  Special speakers are invited annually for the Charles Laubach, MD, Interventional Cardiology Lecture series, with past speakers including William O’Neill, MD; David Holmes, MD; Jeff Popma, MD; David O. Williams, MD; and Spencer King MD. 

Consultations regarding intervention are frequently provided during every workday. Fellows are encouraged to participate in the decision-making process regarding the risks, benefits, and techniques of potential management strategies for cath lab patients.

Experience in outpatient management of intervention patients is provided in the Intervention Clinic ½ day per week.

Fellows may on their own initiative arrange for mini-fellowships or mini-courses at outside institutions, with the approval of the fellowship director. This is in addition to time away for medical education or vacation.

Fellows are encouraged to become involved with clinical research projects, either retrospective or prospective projects including randomized trials, typically projects relating specifically to cath lab issues. Fellows have ample time between cases or on the occasional “slow day” to do research, or to read or study for general cardiology boards.