If you are interested in Medical College of Wisconsin Cardiology Fellowship (MCW), you may have many questions about the program, the application process, and the benefits of training at this institution. In this blog post, we will provide you with a comprehensive guide to help you learn more about the MCW cardiology fellowship and decide if it is the right fit for you.
Overview of the MCW Cardiology Fellowship
The MCW cardiology fellowship is a three-year ACGME-accredited program that offers comprehensive clinical and research training in cardiovascular medicine. The program is affiliated with the Froedtert Hospital, which is a 550-bed academic medical center and a Level I Trauma Center. The program also has access to other clinical sites, such as the Clement J. Zablocki VA Medical Center, Children’s Wisconsin, and the Cardiovascular Center at MCW.
The program aims to prepare fellows for careers in academic or clinical cardiology, with an emphasis on developing skills in patient care, teaching, research, and leadership. The program offers a variety of clinical rotations, electives, and research opportunities that cover all aspects of cardiovascular medicine, such as general cardiology, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, heart failure, transplant, imaging, preventive cardiology, adult congenital heart disease, and more. The program also provides fellows with ample opportunities to participate in conferences, seminars, journal clubs, grand rounds, board review sessions, and other educational activities.
The program has a faculty of over 50 cardiologists who are experts in their fields and are dedicated to teaching and mentoring fellows. The program also has a strong collaboration with other departments and divisions within MCW, such as internal medicine, surgery, radiology, pathology, pharmacology, biostatistics, epidemiology, and bioethics. The program also has access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment for clinical care and research.
Different Tracks of the MCW Cardiology Fellowship
The MCW cardiology fellowship offers two types of tracks for fellows: the Traditional Clinical Cardiology Training Track or the Clinical/Cardiovascular Research Training Track. Both tracks provide fellows with core clinical training in cardiovascular medicine, but differ in the amount of time and focus devoted to research.
- The Traditional Clinical Cardiology Training Track is designed for fellows who plan to pursue a career in clinical practice or clinical education. This track provides fellows with 24 months of clinical rotations and electives, and 12 months of research or scholarly activity. Fellows can choose from a variety of electives that suit their interests and career goals, such as advanced heart failure/transplant, advanced imaging, interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, adult congenital heart disease, etc. Fellows are also expected to complete a scholarly project under the guidance of a faculty mentor and present their findings at local or national meetings.
- The Clinical/Cardiovascular Research Training Track is designed for fellows who plan to pursue a career in academic research or research education. This track provides fellows with 18 months of clinical rotations and electives, and 18 months of research or scholarly activity. Fellows can choose from a wide range of research topics that span basic science, translational science, clinical trials, outcomes research, health services research, etc. Fellows are also expected to apply for extramural funding (such as NIH or AHA grants) and publish their work in peer-reviewed journals.
Both tracks are flexible and can be tailored to meet the individual needs and interests of each fellow. Fellows can also apply for additional training in subspecialty areas after completing their core fellowship training. For example, fellows can pursue a one-year ACGME-accredited fellowship in interventional cardiology or electrophysiology at MCW.
How to Apply to the Medical College of Wisconsin Cardiology Fellowship
If you are interested in applying to the MCW cardiology fellowship, you will need to meet the following qualifications:
- Have completed one of the following internal medicine programs: ACGME-accredited or AOA-approved residency program, RCPSC- or CFPC-accredited Canadian residency program, or program with ACGME International Advanced Specialty accreditation.
- Be board-certified or board-eligible for Internal Medicine upon start of fellowship.
- Have proof of current BLS (CPR) and ACLS certification prior to starting the program.
- Hold U.S. citizenship, permanent resident status (green card), J-1 clinical visa or Employment Authorization Document (EAD); this institution does not sponsor H-1 visas.
Graduates of medical schools outside of the U.S. or Canada must be certified by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) and abide by all related policies.
- You must register and apply through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) program. The annual application deadline is August 15.
- You must also register with the National Residency Matching Program (NRMP). The MCW cardiology fellowship participates in the NRMP match.
- You must submit the following documents through ERAS: completed common application form, three letters of recommendation (including one from your residency program director), personal statement, USMLE and/or COMLEX transcript, current CV, ECFMG certification (if applicable).
- You will be notified by email if you are selected for an interview. Interviews are conducted from September to November. Interviews are conducted virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
- You will be ranked by the program based on your application and interview performance. You will also rank the program based on your preferences. The final match results will be announced by the NRMP in December.
Benefits of Training at the Medical College of Wisconsin Cardiology Fellowship
There are many benefits of training at the MCW cardiology fellowship, such as:
- You will receive a comprehensive and rigorous clinical and research training in cardiovascular medicine that will prepare you for any career path you choose.
- You will have access to a large and diverse patient population that will expose you to a wide range of cardiovascular diseases and conditions.
- You will work with a faculty of renowned cardiologists who are leaders in their fields and who are committed to teaching and mentoring you.
- You will have access to state-of-the-art facilities and equipment for clinical care and research, such as catheterization labs, electrophysiology labs, echocardiography labs, nuclear cardiology labs, cardiac MRI, cardiac CT, etc.
- You will have opportunities to participate in cutting-edge research projects that span basic science, translational science, clinical trials, outcomes research, health services research, etc.
- You will have opportunities to present your work at local or national meetings and publish your work in peer-reviewed journals.
- You will have opportunities to collaborate with other departments and divisions within MCW and other institutions.
- You will receive a competitive salary and benefits package that includes health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, life insurance, disability insurance, malpractice insurance, retirement plan, vacation time, sick time, educational allowance, etc.
- You will enjoy living in Milwaukee, a vibrant and diverse city that offers a variety of cultural, recreational, and entertainment options.
Conclusion
You can also visit the following websites for more information:
We hope this blog post has been helpful and informative for you. If you are interested in applying to the MCW cardiology fellowship, we encourage you to do soÂ.
