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 2 certification in echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, vascular imaging and diagnostic cardiac catheterization beyond the core cardiology curriculum. We also offer an advanced fellowship for multimodality imaging (MRI/CT/TEE/Nuclear) and ACGME-accredited interventional cardiology. Our network of care that spans 13 counties in West Michigan and our experts perform more advanced lifesaving heart and vascular procedures than any other hospital in Michigan. 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. Our high LVAD and electrophysiology volumes allow fellows the opportunity to participate in complex procedures led by expert cardiologists. We also have an active heart and lung transplant program with excellent outcomes.
Take a tour with our fellows
Watch as the cardiovascular fellows take you on a tour of Spectrum Health facilities
Hear From Our Program Director
Nagib Chalfoun, MD, program director for the cardiovascular disease fellowship, discusses highlights of training at Spectrum Health.
Thank you for considering the Spectrum Health/Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program at Spectrum Health Frederik Meijer Heart & Vascular Institute for your cardiovascular disease training. We are committed to providing the best academic and clinical training program for our fellows.
Our passion is teaching, and our entire program is designed with the fellow in mind. Our fellows will train at the largest medical center in West Michigan, affiliated with Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. Our cardiology continuum of care philosophy ensures our fellows are provided a tremendous clinical experience in a multi-disciplinary setting. We currently accept four fellows per year. As a fellow in our program, you will pursue your passion in clinical or academic cardiology. For interested fellows, we offer level 2 certification in echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, vascular imaging and diagnostic cardiac catheterization beyond the core cardiology curriculum.
We now offer an ACGME accredited Interventional Cardiology Fellowship for two fellows per year and a one year advanced fellowship in multimodality imaging (MRI/CT/TEE/Nuclear) following our general cardiology fellowship. We are actively working towards adding an ACGME accredited Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology Fellowship.
Hear From Our Associate Program Director
Michael McNamara, MD, associate program director for the cardiovascular disease fellowship, discusses highlights of training at Spectrum Health.
- The overall goal of the cardiology fellowship program is to prepare individuals to be competent clinical cardiologists
- It is the expectation that trainees will provide excellent and compassionate care of those with cardiovascular conditions, become life-long independent learners and enhance their understanding of themselves and others regarding cardiovascular disease.
- All training will be accomplished in an environment that maximizes fellow education, patient safety and the well-being of the fellow physicians and their patients. By the end of the fellowship, the trainees will be able to function as well trained, independent cardiologists in either a community or academic based practice.
| Procedures | 2018 | 2019 |
| Percutaneous Coronary Interventions | 1,434 | 1,463 |
| Diagnostic Caths (includes all diagnostic procedures) | 4,767 | 4,458 |
| Total Ablations | 889 | 918 |
| AFIB Ablations | 440 | 516 |
| Total devices (Includes initial insertion and generator changes) | 1,307 | 1,290 |
| Pacemakers (Includes initial insertion and generator changes) | 696 | 742 |
| ICDs (Includes initial insertion and generator changes) | 611 | 548 |
| STEMI volumes | 344 | 366 |
| Door to Balloon time (non-transfer pts) | 57 | 61 |
| Door to Door to Balloon time (transfer pts) | 120 | 117 |
| CABG (isolated) | 653 | 700 |
| Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) | 261 | 317 |
| MitraClip | 21 | 23 |
| TMVR volumes (inlcudes both research [APOLLO] and Sapien in mitral position) | 12 | 4 |
| VAD | 36 | 19 |
| Heart Transplant | 19 | 21 |
| ECMO (total number of patients) | 93 | 107 |
| VA (E-CPR) | 71 (12) | 88 (9) |
| VV | 22 | 19 |
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
Beside the clinical training in all subspecialties of cardiology we have a specific research academy for our fellows – The DeVos Research Academy. It provides a scientific training program to provide the tools to actively participate in our research projects. We have several research registries within critical care, mechanical circulatory support, electrophysiology and coronary diseases. Grand Valley State University
The Frederik Meijer Heart and Vascular Institute also works in collaboration with numerous institutions across the globe, including Stanford, Karolinska Institute, Bonn University, Van Andel Research Institute, Michigan State University and Grand Valley State University. Our experts are involved in multicenter clinical trials and investigator-initiated studies, in addition to a translational research division. Our clinical volumes have enabled us to become top enrollers in multiple trials such as the global Surgical Replacement and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation trial, where we were a top two enroller in the country.
Check out our publications from 2017 - present!
- 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
The Spectrum Health/Michigan State University College of Human Medicine Interventional Cardiology Fellowship at Spectrum Health Frederik Meijer Heart & Vascular Institute is a one-year subspecialty fellowship designed to train individuals to perform interventional procedures in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Fellows selected for this program will continue their education by gaining impressive, hands-on experience with laboratory hours, procedural participation and patient interaction.
Interventional cardiology is an advancing section of the study of cardiovascular care. To continue improving the way we provide care for our patients, we aim to make our program one that will include top-of-the-line training opportunities with innovative technologies and ground-breaking techniques.
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West Michigan - A Great Place to Call Home
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. Learn more.
Meet Our Core Faculty
Teaching Faculty
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.
Click here for our list of comprehensive teaching faculty and training.
Class of 2024
Class of 2023
Class of 2022
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Get to know our fellows
Our fellows are a diverse group from a variety of backgrounds with unique experiences and interests. We look forward to getting to know you as well!