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General Cardiology Fellowship Program

Each summer Deborah Heart and Lung Center welcomes a new group of fellows who are drawn to the Hospital by its outstanding medical faculty, the Hospital’s excellent educational program, its ongoing cutting-edge research, and the opportunity to work with a diverse group of patients. Highly competitive, the Program only accepts eight new fellows each year, who represent the country’s most promising physicians who are committed to providing outstanding patient care.

Deborah’s General Cardiology Fellowship Program is offered to graduates of ACGME approved Internal Medicine residency programs. The Program is sponsored through the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, and is an ACGME approved fellowship program. Fellows train for three years at Deborah, and towards the end of the second year of training, a choice of two fellowship tracks is selected, either: 1) The Invasive Track including focused lab based training in diagnostic cardiac catheterization and echocardiography, or 2) The Noninvasive Track including focused lab based training in echocardiography and nuclear cardiology (including didactic training to qualify for a license from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission).

All fellows, regardless of their chosen career track, receive training in all facets of clinical cardiology.


Program Overview

Deborah’s cardiology training program is designed to provide supervised training in the diagnosis and management of a variety of acute and chronic heart diseases. While at the Hospital, fellows will have a broad exposure to many different types of patients and a variety of different patient management approaches. This ensures acquired competency as a cardiology specialist.

The three-year program, which includes the last year in a concentrated fellowship track of either invasive or noninvasive cardiology, provides detailed practice for subsequent clinical practice. In addition to the three year program, Deborah offers advanced training programs in Interventional Cardiology and Electrophysiology for fellows who have completed an ACGME approved three year fellowship.

One month elective rotations in the MICU or on a clinical cardiology inpatient service are offered to internal medicine residents at their request. This is not only a worthwhile learning experience, but affords prospective applicants a chance to experience the cardiology training program at Deborah. This is not, however, a requirement for application or admission to the fellowship program.


Training Program

Deborah’s cardiology training program is designed to cover the main categories of cardiovascular disease including chronic heart disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, management of stable and unstable coronary artery disease, lipid disorders, hypertension, infectious heart diseases and adult congenital heart disease.

The program includes instruction in:

  • Basic science – heart anatomy, physiology, metabolism, biology, and pathology
  • Pharmacology – drug metabolism, adverse effects, prescribing guidelines, the effects of aging and costs, and interactions with other non-cardiac drugs
  • Cardiac disease prevention – study of epidemiology, hypertension, lipid disorders, diabetes, and other risk factors
  • Diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery diseases – understanding manifestations and complications, arrhythmias, hypertension, cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease, pericardial disease, pulmonary disease, peripheral vascular disease, cerebral vascular disease, heart disease in pregnancy, and adult congenital heart disease
  • Instruction in acute and chronic heart failure – coronary syndromes, severe arrhythmias, preoperative and postoperative management, transplant evaluation and management, and managing geriatric patients with heart disease
  • Instruction in diagnostic techniques including MRI, CT, and PET scans

The program is designed for sufficient experience for fellows to develop skills for recording and interpreting the history and physical exam, basic and advanced cardiac life support, bedside catheterization, cardiac pacing, stress testing, echocardiography, follow-up for permanent pacemakers and ICDs, and cardiac rehabilitation.

In addition to clinical skills, Deborah’s General Cardiology training program helps develop the “people skills” and excellent bedside manner so valued by patients. This physician-patient rapport creates a climate of partnership in health care, that is crucial in patient compliance and follow through with physician orders.


Ongoing Research

Throughout the program, fellows will have numerous opportunities to attend professional cardiology conferences and symposia; participate in key on-going research projects at the Hospital with publication of results as appropriate, and join in all departmental and professional meetings scheduled for physicians.


Program Director

Daniel Ice, MD, FACC, FSCAI
Director, Graduate Medical Education
Director, Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program
Director, Deborah First Responder Health Assessment
Dr. Ice is an interventional cardiologist and is board-certified in cardiovascular disease, interventional cardiology, nuclear cardiology, adult echocardiography and vascular medicine. Dr. Ice earned his medical degree at the University of Louisville School of Medicine in Kentucky. After medical school, he completed his residency in internal medicine at Indiana University School of Medicine. He also completed fellowship training in both cardiology and interventional cardiology at Lankenau Medical Center in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania.

Associate Program Director

Denise Zingrone, DO, FACC, FACOI
Associate Director, Women’s Heart Center
Dr. Zingrone did her residency in Internal Medicine at St. Luke’s Hospital in Bethlehem, PA, and her specialty training in cardiovascular disease at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey – School of Osteopathic Medicine, Stratford, NJ and cardiology, and nuclear cardiology at Deborah Heart and Lung Center. She is board certified in Cardiovascular Disease, Nuclear Cardiology and Echocardiography.

Fellowship Coordinator
Nichole Cornelius
CorneliusN@Deborah.org
609-893-1200, ext. 5066


Salary and Benefits

Deborah Heart and Lung Center offers a comprehensive salary and benefits package, including health, dental, disability, life insurance and paid vacation. On campus apartments are also available.


Application Process

Applicants interested in a position should submit a completed application via Electronic Residency Application Services (ERAS). Contact the Fellowship Coordinator for additional deadline and interview schedule information. ERAS accreditation ID number is #1413314297 under the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University. Deborah participates in the NMRP for programs.

Deborah is currently not sponsoring visa applications for Fellows or hosting J1 support.

Terms & Conditions

By participating in this quiz, or screening or health assessment, I recognize and accept all risks associated with it. I understand that the program will only screen for certain risk factors and does not constitute a complete physical exam. For the diagnosis of a medical problem, I must see a physician for a complete medical exam. I release Deborah Heart and Lung Center and any other organization(s) involved in this screening, and their employees and agents, from all liabilities, medical claims or expenses which may arise from my participation. Thank you for investing in your health by participating today.