Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship
The Spectrum Health/Michigan State University Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship program at Spectrum Health Frederik Meijer Heart & Vascular Institute is committed to providing the best academic and clinical training program for our fellows. Our cardiology continuum of care philosophy ensures our fellows are provided a tremendous clinical experience in a multi-disciplinary setting. As a fellow in our program, you will pursue your passion in clinical or academic cardiology. For interested fellows, we offer level two certification in echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, and diagnostic cardiac catheterization beyond the core cardiology curriculum.
Our network of care that spans 13 counties in western Michigan and our experts perform more advanced lifesaving heart and vascular procedures than any other hospital in Michigan. Our high left ventricular assist device (LVAD) and electrophysiology volumes allow fellows the opportunity to participate in complex procedures led by expert cardiologists. We are also a state leader year after year, in percutaneous coronary intervention for STEMI volumes. We always strive to adopt the latest technologies, including WatchmanTM, transcatheter aortic valve replacement, Mitraclip, chronic total occlusion interventions, and the latest LVAD devices.
Hear From Our Program Director
Nagib Chalfoun, MD, program director for the cardiovascular disease fellowship, discusses highlights of training at Spectrum Health.
Spectrum Health Medical Group Chair, Education
Frederik Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute Program Director, Spectrum Health/Michigan State University Cardiology Fellowship
Assistant Professor of Medicine
| Cath Lab Encounters | 5,662 |
| PCI | 1,454 |
| Diagnostic Catheterizations | 4,208 |
| Total Ablations | 1,394 |
| AFIB Ablations | 501 |
| Total Devices | 1,205 |
| Pacemakers | 658 |
| ICDs | 547 |
| Cardiothoracic Surgery | 1,757 |
| Cardiac Surgery | 1,385 |
| Thoracic Surgery | 372 |
| Left Ventricular Assist Device | 48 |
| Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement | 254 |
| Heart Transplant | 15 |
| Lung Transplant | 26 |
| Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation | 98 |
- Healthgrades 2018 America's 50 Best Hospital Awards
- Recipient of the Healthgrades America's 50 Best Hospitals Award for 4 Years in a Row (2015-2018)
- One of Healthgrades America's 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care for 5 Years in a Row (2014-2018)
- One of Healthgrades America's 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention for 4 Years in a Row (2015-2018)
- Recipient of the Healthgrades Cardiac Care Excellence Award for 5 Years in a Row (2014-2018)
- Recipient of the Healthgrades Cardiac Surgery Excellence Award for 8 Years in a Row (2011-2018)
- Recipient of the Healthgrades Coronary Intervention Excellence Award for 4 Years in a Row (2015-2018)
- Named among the Top 5% in the Nation for Overall Cardiac Services 4 Years in a Row (2015-2018)
The curriculum of the cardiovascular fellowship training program is designed to meet the goals delineated by the American College of Cardiology Task Force for Training in Clinical Cardiology (COCATS) and the ACGME. The 36-month curriculum gives exposure to the essential rotations in general cardiology including:
- Four months of cardiac catheterization
- Six months noninvasive imaging: echocardiography, nuclear imaging, cardiac MRI/MRA, CTA and peripheral vascular imaging
- Six months general clinical cardiology: inpatient cardiology consultation, CCU, exercise testing, rehabilitation, ECG interpretation
- In the third year, fellows can devote more time to advanced training in invasive and noninvasive techniques as well as electives. The curriculum is designed in such a way to allow fellows enough clinical months, depending on which electives they choose, to become COCATS level 2 eligible in echocardiography, nuclear imaging, and cardiac diagnostic catheterization.
- In addition, one block each year will be devoted to research. All fellows are required to complete at least one abstract per year and submit it to a national meeting. Ideally, each fellow should also submit one manuscript to a peer reviewed journal during their three years of training.
Education has been a long-standing mission of Spectrum Health/Michigan State University and Spectrum Health Frederik Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute. Faculty have designed a dedicated lecture series designed for fellows addressing basic management of all aspects of cardiology specifically geared towards fellows during their first few months of training. In addition, the faculty have a list of conferences throughout the year that both fellows, attendings and staff are expected to attend. These include:
- Meijer lecture series/cardiology grand rounds (monthly)
- Multidisciplinary heart team (weekly)
- Imaging conference (weekly)
- Cardio cath conference (weekly)
- Dr. Jovinge research academy (monthly)
- Journal club (monthly)
- Morbidity and mortality conferences (monthly)
- ECG teaching conference (weekly)
- Transplant multidisciplinary meeting (weekly)
- LVAD surgical selection meeting (weekly)
- Heart and lung transplant selection meeting
- Interventional conference (monthly)
- EP conference (monthly)
- CCU teaching rounds (daily)
- Inpatient rounds (daily)
- 2,700-square-foot design for education, training and outreach activities
- 600-square-foot simulated operating room equipped to simulate complex procedures and allow fellows to practice multidisciplinary patient care transitions
- High-tech communication to provide two-way connectivity between specific Meijer Heart Center ORs, simulated OR and learning labs
- Dedicated study space for residents and fellows to use throughout their training
Research
Read more on our 2017-18 selected publications.
- Applications are only accepted through the Electronic Residency Application Service only, paper applications will not be considered
- All applicants must possess U.S. work authorization or be eligible for J-1 status
- Applicants must have completed three years of United States postgraduate residency training in an ACGME- or RCPSC-accredited internal medicine program before entry into the fellowship program
- Applicants must be an MD or DO
- Applicants must have good communication skills
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About West Michigan
As the second largest city in Michigan, Grand Rapids is an amazing place to work, live, play and explore. This vibrant city is known for some of the best festivals in the world, like ArtPrize, and is only a short 45 minute drive to Lake Michigan. The city has been recognized by numerous sources, including The New York Times, where Grand Rapids was ranked as one of the 52 Places to Go. Additionally, Thrillist consider Grand Rapids the best food city in the state of Michigan, and in 2018, Trulia chose Grand Rapids as the Hottest Real Estate Market to Watch in the country. Grand Rapids is a city with endless experiences for people of every age.
Our teaching faculty at Spectrum Health/Michigan State University are committed to teaching our fellows to become excellent cardiologists, as well as exemplary physicians. We are very proud of the commitment that every single employed physician within our division has made to become teaching faculty. The cardiovascular disease core faculty serve as the governing team that creates the curriculum, and the day-to-day teaching is performed by our entire division. We are proud of our “all in” commitment in the creation of the fellowship and its success. Core faculty and executive faculty, made up of section chiefs, govern the fellowship creating a well-rounded educational experience. We meet monthly to ensure our fellows have adequate teaching and support. Fellows are taught on a day-to-day basis by the entire division compromised of 50 teaching faculty who have trained at prestigious institutions. Our team is dedicated to professionally challenge and mentor our fellows to become excellent cardiologists. The list below includes our core faculty, followed by a comprehensive list of teaching faculty.
