At least one to two hours daily are devoted to a didactic session in which cases are discussed in depth by faculty and fellows. The Clinical Electrophysiology Service cares for patients with cardiac rhythm disturbances at both the VA Medical Center and Parkland Memorial Hospital where full-time faculty actively participate in all aspects of clinical electrophysiology, including ablation of supraventricular and ventricular tachycardias and implantation of cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators. Cardiology fellows spend two months of their core curriculum on the electrophysiology service, one month at each hospital. Fellows with plans to specialize in clinical cardiac electrophysiology spend two full years training in clinical and research electrophysiology. Active consult services at each of the three teaching hospitals permit trainees to be involved in the care of patients with an extraordinary diversity of cardiovascular diseases.
Fellows supervise the activities of housestaff in conjunction with senior cardiology faculty.
Special experiences also are available in postoperative management of patients undergoing cardiac surgery, cardiac rehabilitation, and pediatric cardiology. Congestive heart failure and cardiac transplantation Special training in the diagnosis and management of patients with ventricular dysfunction is available in the context of a specialized heart failure service. Fellows have the opportunity to participate in the care of patients with advanced congestive heart failure, perioperative and long-term management of patients receiving transplants, and an active clinical and basic research program. Preventative cardiology Advanced training in the management of complex and difficult cases of hypertension and hyperlipidemia is available through a preventive cardiology service administered jointly by the Division of Cardiology, the Division of Hypertension, headed by Ron Victor, and the Center for Human Nutrition directed by Dr. Scott Grundy.