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Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program

The Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program offers 4 ACGME accredited positions per year. The fellowship is a comprehensive one year program that includes advanced coronary and peripheral interventions, as well as structural heart therapies. The fellows training will include patient evaluation and appropriateness for invasive procedure, technical skills training, post procedure follow up, and complication management. A robust clinical research program supplements training with over 30 multicenter clinical research trials actively enrolling and several investigator initiated studies. Graduates of the program perform at an exceptional level of competency, fully equipped to function independently within the interventional field.

Candidates may apply if they have completed, or anticipate completion of a three-year General Cardiology Fellowship Program; are ABIM/AOBIM board certified or eligible; successfully passed all 3 USMLE/COMLEX steps; and have a valid ECFMG certificate for all foreign medical graduates.


Program Overview

The Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program accepts 4 fellows per year. Throughout the year a fellow in training can expect to participate in hands on teaching in the cardiac catheterization lab and hybrid operation room. Didactic conferences are held three times per week on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings at 7:30 AM which include cardiac catheterization conference, endovascular conference, and interventional cardiology conference. Journal club and morbidity and mortality meetings are scheduled once per month. All fellows will participate in a half-day of clinic once per week.


Training Program

The duration of the training program in interventional cardiology is 12 months. 15 days will be provided for vacation time and 8 days of conference time to be used by the trainee at their discretion. The formal interventional cardiology training program will consist of:

  • Diagnosis of cardiovascular disease states amenable to catheter based interventions. Catheter based interventional procedures should be discussed in the context of therapeutic options for the patient including medical therapy or surgery.
  • Indications for urgent catheterization in the management of patients with acute coronary syndromes. Issues regarding the choice of therapy including catheter based intervention, medical or surgical therapy should be established.
  • Indications for and the proper technical placement of intra-aortic balloon counter pulsation devices and other ventricular support devices including Impella®.
  • Indications for and the proper technique for placement of emergency temporary pacemakers.
  • Preparation and performance of interventional cardiology procedures including, but not limited to:
    • Balloon angioplasty
    • Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
    • Complex Chronic Total occlusion PCI
    • High risk PCI
    • Intra-aortic balloon pump/Impella insertion and management
    • Cutting/Scored balloon angioplasty
    • Laser atherectomy
    • Orbital/Rotational atherectomy
    • Thrombectomy (mechanical+aspiration)
    • Intravascular ultrasound
    • Optical coherence tomography
    • Fractional flow reserve/Instantaneous wave free ratio
    • Guidewire advancement
    • Guide catheter placement
    • Femoral, brachial, and radial access
    • Selection and use of vascular access devices
    • Selection and use of vascular closure devices
    • Coil embolization
    • Pericardiocentesis
    • Management and treatment of cardiogenic shock
  • Preparation and performance of peripheral endovascular interventional procedures, including but not limited to:
    • Femoral, brachial, radial and pedal access
    • Selection and use of vascular access devices
    • Selection and use of vascular closure devices
    • Angiography of all peripheral vascular beds, including carotid angiography
    • Guide catheter or sheath advancement
    • Guide wire techniques and choices for patent vessels and total occlusions
    • Total occlusion devices
    • Re-entry devices
    • Atherectomy, including Laser, Rotational atherectomy, Orbital atherectomy, Directional atherectomy (Hawkone®), mechanical atherectomy with aspiration (Jetstream®), OCT guided atherectomy (Pantheris), Phoenix atherectomy
    • Balloon angioplasty
    • Cutting/Scored balloon angioplasty
    • Stents, balloon expandable and self-expanding
    • Covered stents and other bail out devices
    • Coil embolization
    • Interpretation of noninvasive peripheral vascular studies
    • Drug eluting balloons and other local drug delivery devices
    • Intravascular ultrasound
    • EVAR/TEVAR
    • Acute/Critical limb therapies
    • IVC filter deployment and retrieval
    • Venous stenting
    • Invasive DVT/PE management
    • Superficial venous therapies
  • Preparation and performance of structural interventional procedures, including but not limited to:
    • Aortic and mitral balloon valvuloplasty
    • Transcatheter aortic valve replacement
    • Percutaneous mitral valve repair (MitraClip®)
    • Left atrial appendage occlusion
    • Trans-septal catheterization
    • PFO/ASD closure
    • VSD closure
    • PDA closure
    • Paravalvular leak closure
    • Alcohol septal ablation.
  • Knowledge of the biological effects and indications for the use of pharmacologic agents common to the practice of interventional cardiology. These agents should include thrombolytics, antiplatelet agents, anti-thrombotic agents, anticoagulants, vaso-active drugs, anti-arrhythmics, contrast agents, sedatives, and analgesics. Additionally, the importance and recognition of radiation safety should be established.
  • Recognition and Management of all potential coronary and peripheral interventional complications, including but not limited to:
    • Coronary and peripheral vascular dissection/perforation
    • Acute vessel closure
    • Slow and no reflow phenomenon
    • Distal embolization
    • Side branch loss
    • Vascular access site complications
    • Infection: recognition, treatment and follow up
    • Acute blood loss and retroperitoneal hemorrhage
    • Cardiac tamponade
    • Compartment syndrome
    • Acute MI/unstable angina/stent thrombosis
    • Significant cardiac arrhythmias
    • Acute stroke
    • Acute hypotension and hypertension
    • Over sedation/airway management
    • Covered stents for perforation
    • Snaring of foreign bodies
  • Knowledge of vascular biology including the processes involved in plaque formation, vascular injury and vasoreactivity, as well as a thorough understanding of the process of restenosis and the therapeutic options available for the treatment of this phenomenon. Knowledge of the coagulation cascade and the effect of pharmacologic agents as noted above.
  • Understanding of radiation safety and overview of x-ray equipment function.
  • Adequate communication skills to enable the trainee to convey the risks, benefits and general technique of interventional procedure to the patient and family. The trainee should be able to obtain informed consent in this context.
  • Participate in 100% of interventional cases (divided evenly among all fellows) and as many diagnostic cases as possible. The cardiovascular trainee should serve as the primary operator. The primary operator shall perform, under supervision, the majority of the technical aspects of the procedure. The primary operator shall be actively involved in decision making regarding equipment selection, problem solving, post procedural assessment and complication management.
  • Optional training will be available in carotid stenting with both distal and proximal protection devices. To receive certificate, applicant must attend didactic sessions for each device, and must participate in 20 cases, half as primary operator.

Ongoing Research

Research is a required and integral part of the training curriculum. An Interventional Fellow will be paired with a research mentor and be responsible for the generation of at least 1 research project which will include patient enrollment, data analysis, presentation or publication of results in abstract form and/or published manuscript as well as actively participate in and recruit for all ongoing clinical research protocols.


Program Director

Muhammad Raza, MD
Program Director, Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program
Dr. Raza is an interventional cardiologist and is board-certified in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology. Dr. Raza completed a residency in internal medicine at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. He also completed a fellowship in cardiology and interventional cardiology at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA.

Fellowship Coordinator
Tiffany Gomez
GomezT@deborah.org
609-893-1200, ext. 5803


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 completed application materials via Electronic Residency Application System (ERAS). Contact the Fellowship Coordinator for additional deadline and interview schedule information. ERAS accreditation ID number is 1523314163 under the Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University.

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

Current Program Participants

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.