Overview

The Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Training Program at MUSC is a three year program that has been accredited by the ACGME since 1970. The goal of the pediatric cardiology fellowship training program is to train our fellows to become the leaders of tomorrow in the areas of patient care, teaching, and research. In order to achieve these goals, trainees dedicate the initial portion of their training, approximately 18 months, to building their skills in general clinical pediatric cardiology. Subsequent specialized clinical and/or basic research and clinical training is flexible and determined by the trainee’s individual goals. The majority of trainees will choose to do a fourth year of subspecialty training to meet their goals-mechanisms are available to support advanced training. At the conclusion of the pediatric cardiology fellowship, trainees will have acquired and successfully demonstrated the knowledge, skills and attitudes to become valued and productive members of the academic pediatric cardiology community. The program’s success is indicative of the highly supportive academic environment, rich in mentorship and the spirit of scientific enquiry. Training is provided in all areas of pediatric cardiology at the Children's Heart Center of South Carolina including:

  • Pediatric Cardiac Critical Care
  • Diagnostic and Interventional Cardiac Catheterization
  • Echocardiography and Advanced Non-Invasive Imaging (Fetal Cardiology, Cardiac CT and MRI)
  • Electrophysiology
  • Transplant and Heart Failure
  • Adolescent and Adult Congenital Heart Disease
  • Inpatient Cardiology
  • Outpatient Cardiology
  • Research

Mission Statement

Founded in 1970, the pediatric cardiology fellowship program at the Medical University of South Carolina is dedicated to training the next generation of leaders in academic pediatric cardiology. We strive to achieve this mission by providing well-rounded and comprehensive clinical training, individualized mentorship, and opportunity for scholarly research and education.

Our mission remains driven by:

  • A steadfast commitment to providing the highest level of patient care
  • A spirit of collegiality, respect, teamwork, and altruism amongst all members of the MUSC Children’s Heart Center 
  • A commitment to engaging in innovative research that significantly advances knowledge in the field
  • A commitment to selecting and training fellows who share these values

Program Aims

  • Clinical excellence: Through high volume and diverse patient care encounters, outstanding faculty teachers, constructive feedback, and robust didactic curricula, the program seeks to provide excellent general pediatric cardiology training for a diverse group of fellows who will be confident in their abilities to care for infants, children, adolescents, and young adults with congenital and acquired heart disease upon completion he program strives to provide mentorship, training, and resources.
  • Research: To promote scholarly contributions to the field in areas related to clinical and translational research, medical education, and quality improvement through mentorship, dedicated resources and support, and ongoing training opportunities.
  • Advocacy: To foster a commitment to advocacy for the advancement of child health priorities related to heart disease at the local, national, and/or international level.
  • Leadership: To develop leadership skills through mentorship, career development workshops, and simulation training for a diverse group of fellows who will be confident leaders in areas related to clinical care, research, medical education, and national professional societies.

  • Diversity: To create an educational and clinical environment which attracts a diverse group of trainees who develop the passion and skills to care for children across the country and globe. 

  • Wellness: To foster a strong sense of wellness, resilience, and meaningfulness amongst fellows through role modeling and supporting activities that promote social networks.
  • Quality/Safety: To prepare fellows to be leaders in patient safety and quality improvement through active participation in both department-based and hospital-wide initiatives and access to training in quality improvement science.

Call schedule

All call is in-house with increasing autonomy as the trainee gains experience. In the first year, fellows take an average of five calls per month. Call frequency decreases through fellowship with second year fellows taking an average of three calls per month and third year fellows taking an average of two calls per month.

Fellow evaluations

Formal evaluations by the program directors will be performed semi-annually. These evaluations will be a composite of the following resources:

  • Direct observation by faculty during each rotation with written feedback/evaluations
  • Multi-source (360 degree) professional feedback
  • Self evaluation forms and self-assessment tools (i.e. board review questions).  
  • American Board of Pediatrics board in-training exam (SITE)  
  • Clinical Competency Committee meeting assessments
  • Medical simulation experiences
  • Morbidity and mortality review/quality assurance conference  
  • Patient surveys
  • Case logs 

Fellows have the opportunity to evaluate the faculty each month. Confidential program evaluation by the fellows are completed yearly.

Fellows also participate in meetings with the Scholarship Oversight Committee semi-annually. This committee's goal is to ensure the fellow meets the American Board of Pediatrics requirements for scholarly activity so that he or she may sit for the pediatric cardiology board exam.

Fellows meet with the program directors once a month to discuss the upcoming events and give feedback on the fellowship program as a whole. The opportunity to meet with the fellowship ombudsman occurs quarterly.