Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship

The Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship at the Medical University of South Carolina provides a rich academic and clinical experience that produces two expertly trained cardiothoracic anesthesiologists each year.

The Fellowship maintains the highest academic and clinical standards. Created in 2007, the first year of ACGME accreditation, the fellowship has maintained certification each year without any citations.

Whether the graduate seeks employment in an academic institution or in private practice, our goal is simple: to train excellent, compassionate cardiothoracic anesthesiologists who will become the next generation of leaders in our field.

Clinical Experience

• Cardiac cases include a wide spectrum of complex disease states and advanced surgical and catheter-based therapies. Examples include:
  • Surgical Aortic valve replacement.
  • Complex aortic arch replacement.
  • Mitral valve repair and replacement.
  • Heart transplantation.
  • Ventricular Assist Devices.
  • Transcatheter aortic valve replacement.
  • Mitra-clip.
  • Left atrial closure devices.
  • Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting.
  • ECMO cannulation and management.
• Collaborating with the team at Hollings Cancer Center, the only National Cancer Institute-Designated Cancer Center in South Carolina, we offer outstanding care for the patient undergoing thoracic surgery. Our experience in treating patients with advanced lung disease includes:
  • Lung transplantation.
  • Minimally invasive lung resections.
• Rotate with the congenital heart disease program – a nationally ranked surgical service–to gain the knowledge necessary to care for patients with congenital heart disease ranging from the simple ASD to the complex, unrepaired single ventricle.
• Learn to interrogate and reprogram pacemakers and ICDs in the perioperative period. Our division employs one of less than a dozen anesthesiologists in the nation with certification in cardiac device management from the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners.

TEE Training

Train directly with faculty on Intraoperative Transesophageal Echocardiography. The MUSC team has developed many of the industry’s best practices and continues to lead the conversation about what it means to be a perioperative echocardiographer.

• The Division of Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology provides all TEE services for the operating room, the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit, and all catheter-based devices including TAVR, Mitra-clip, and left-atrial appendage closure devices.
• State-of-the-art imaging platforms that include 3D TEE and TTE.
• Fellows begin their training on the advanced VIMEDIX Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) Module manufactured by CAE Health care.
• Separate TEE rotation with no other clinical responsibilities.
• Opportunity for further elective study in transthoracic echocardiography.
• Echocardiography review sessions with expert faculty.
• TEE database of all exams performed allows for research questions to be asked and answered.
• 100 percent pass rate on the National Board of Echocardiography Advanced Perioperative TEE exam.

Faculty

• Our faculty value Fellows as colleagues and work directly with candidates to provide experience to become world-class cardiothoracic anesthesiologists.
• Faculty-wide participation in the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists, including 3 past presidents.
• All adult cardiothoracic Anesthesiologists are board certified in advanced perioperative TEE.
• Faculty Members are involved in clinical research.
• Leaders in quality and safety at the SCA.
• Leaders in the Intraoperative Counsel at the Society of Echocardiography.

Educational Program

Our educational program is specifically designed for the advanced trainee who is an adult, motivated learner. Specifics include:

• Structured, online modules which include video lectures and sentinel journal articles.
• Weekly fellow education conferences.
• Echocardiography review sessions.
• Monthly cardiac surgery, cardiology, and cardiac anesthesiology M&M.
• Weekly departmental grand rounds.

Research Opportunities

Fellows are encouraged and expected to participate in an academic project during their fellowship. They are provided with the time, resources, and mentorship necessary to be successful in this endeavor. Research projects can be devised by the fellow or they may join one of the many ongoing projects within the Division.

Electives

Flexibility is incorporated into the fellowship to allow for individualization and the pursuit of areas of interest. Two months are dedicated entirely to electives. Currently, fellows are able to enrich their experience in perfusion technology, perioperative cardiology, perioperative pulmonology, critical care, pediatric cardiac anesthesiology, participate in diagnostic procedures in the cardiac catheterization laboratory, or concentrate further on research.

Moonlighting

For those who have a permanent South Carolina license and are in good academic standing, both external and internal moonlighting opportunities exist. Moonlighting should not compromise the educational experience, but rather enhance it.

Application Process

We only accept applications through the SF Match program. The SF Match common application will satisfy our program requirements. No supplemental documents are needed. 

Program Contacts

For more information about the Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship Program at MUSC please contact:

George Whitener, MD