The Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia at UAB offers a one-year fellowship in cardiothoracic anesthesia, which is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). The program has 1 to 2 positions each year. The program provides excellent clinical training for the fellows in the management of adult and pediatric patients undergoing a diverse range of cardiac and thoracic procedures.
The Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesia provides care for approximately 2,100 adult cardiac, 850 pediatric, and 800 thoracic cases each year. The cardiothoracic fellows are assigned complex adult cardiac cases, including major aortic reconstruction, valve repair or replacement, ventricular assist device placement, coronary artery bypass, and transplantation procedures throughout the year. Fellows are given the experience of teaching the residents how to manage the care of adult cardiac patients. The fellows play a critical role in orienting new residents to the cardiac anesthesia service under the appropriate supervision of the attending anesthesiologists. Each fellow is given 2 months of transesophageal echocardiography experience under the guidance of the board certified echocardiography staff in the Division. The fellows are also given the opportunity to review examinations performed in the echo lab.
Rotations in intensive care, non-cardiac thoracic, and electives including perfusion, clinical research, or congenital cardiac anesthesia are included in the fellowship experience. The rotations are set up as indicated below:
- 6-7 months in the Cardiac OR at UAB Hospital or the Birmingham VA Hospital
- 2 months (or equivalent) dedicated to transesophageal echocardiography
- 1 month (or equivalent) dedicated to non-cardiac thoracic surgery
- 1 month dedicated to postoperative care of the cardiac surgical patient (CICU)
- 1-2 month of electives, to be arranged with the program director prior to starting fellowship
Electives include:
a. Research Project, 4-8 weeks or equivalent time interspersed throughout the year. A mentor and specific goals (e.g. publications or presentations) to be approved by program director.
b. Cardiopulmonary Bypass (2-4 weeks).
c. Cardiac Cath Lab
d. Additional Core months as described above.
The Division has a comprehensive didactic program in which the fellows participate.
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