Fellowship Training:

Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship Training Program

The Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Michigan offers a one year Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology (CTA) Fellowship Training Program. The CTA Fellowship is devoted to advanced training in the preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative care of adult patients undergoing cardiothoracic surgery and related invasive procedures. The training includes experience in providing anesthesia for cardiac, non-cardiac thoracic, and intrathoracic vascular surgical procedures. It may also include anesthesia for non-operative diagnostic and interventional cardiac and thoracic and vascular procedures outside of the operating room. Preanesthesia preparation and postanesthesia care, pain management, and advanced cardiac life support are included.

The overall goal of the CTA Fellowship Training Program is to develop consultants with expertise in providing anesthesia care for patients undergoing cardiac surgery with and without extracorporeal circulation, and thoracic surgery including operations on the lung, esophagus, and thoracic aorta. The fellow will also become proficient in the care of patients undergoing non-operative diagnostic and interventional cardiac, thoracic, and electrophysiological procedures. Graduates of the fellowship program will be well equipped to succeed in either academic or private practice environments.

Specific skills which will be developed include the conduct of preoperative patient evaluation and interpretation of cardiovascular and pulmonary diagnostic test data, hemodynamic and respiratory monitoring, advanced-level perioperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE), management of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), pharmacological and mechanical hemodynamic support, perioperative critical care, including ventilatory support and perioperative pain management. National Board of Echocardiography Board Certification in Perioperative Transesophageal Echocardiography is expected of all fellowship graduates.

The CTA fellowship program consists of 12 months of clinical and didactic training. Clinical training opportunities include: 

• Adult Cardiac Anesthesia Rotation (5-6months) 

• Adult Thoracic Anestheisa Rotation (1-2 month)

• Adult Cardiology Echocardiography Rotation (1month)

• Cardiovascular Intensive Care Rotation (1month)

• Anesthesia Research Rotation (1month)

• Perfusion Services Rotation (2 weeks)

• Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia Rotation (1month elective)

• Additional elective opportunities are also available and training will be tailored to specific clinical interests.

A comprehensive didactic program has been developed to assure adequate knowledge and cognitive skills pertaining to cardiothoracic anesthesia. These included knowledge of the development, physiology, pathophysiology, anesthetic implications, and perioperative management of a wide array of cardiac, vascular, renal, neurological, and pulmonary disease processes. Knowledge of surgical procedure indications, complications, and supportive adjuncts including cardiopulomary bypass is necessary. Health care systems, resource utilization, quality assurance, and research methodology training are included. In addition, didactic training includes aspects of invasive and non-invasive diagnostic procedures including perioperative transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The didactic program includes:

• Weekly Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Conference

• Weekly Perioperative TEE Conferences

• Departmental and Divisional Morbidity and Mortality Conference

• Journal Club presentations

• Perfusion Lecture Series

• Critical Care Lecture Series

• Department of Anesthesiology Perioperative Ultrasound Imaging Conference

• Clinical Research Didactic Program

Thank you for your interest in our training program. We are proud of our fellowship program and strive to continually improve the training experience. Please contact the Program Director or Program Coordinator for further information.

Matthew D. Caldwell, MD

Director, Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship Training Program

Email: mdcaldwe@med.umich.edu

Barbara Hammond

Coordinator, Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship Training Program

Email: barbhamm@med.umich.edu

Phone: 734-936-9479

Fax: 734-232-4548

University of Michigan Health System

Cardiovascular Center

1500 E Medical Center Drive, CVC 4172

Ann Arbor, MI  48109-5861

More Information

• The Cardiac Fellowship for 2010 - 2011 has been closed, however, we welcome applications for our 2011 - 2012 selection. 

  • Due to significant interest in the fellowship program, we highly recommend submission of application materials by April 1st, 2010.

• Application for Fellowship Training (in Acrobat)

Dept. of Anesthesiology, Univ. of Michigan Medical School

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