Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesia (ACTA) Fellowship 2026 Discussion
Lurker here applying dual CT/CC
I’ve heard from Cleveland Clinic, Maryland, Michigan, Mayo, Stanford, Miami, Hopkins, Vandy, Yale, Beth Israel, UPenn, Florida, and Duke. Have not heard a peep from MGH or Brigham.
Interviews (only done 3 so far) have all been super conversational / chill. Basically they went over the program details via PowerPoint and a few 10-15 min interview with 2-3 staff just talking about the location or unique stuff from their respective programs followed by a 30-60 min talk with current fellows.
I’ve heard from Cleveland Clinic, Maryland, Michigan, Mayo, Stanford, Miami, Hopkins, Vandy, Yale, Beth Israel, UPenn, Florida, and Duke. Have not heard a peep from MGH or Brigham.
Interviews (only done 3 so far) have all been super conversational / chill. Basically they went over the program details via PowerPoint and a few 10-15 min interview with 2-3 staff just talking about the location or unique stuff from their respective programs followed by a 30-60 min talk with current fellows.
Brigham reached out today.
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anesteasya
New Member
Are these all CT specific interviews or combined with CC interviews?
iirc BWH historically interviews combined applicants first, and then reaches out and interviews cardiac only applicants later (think March-May).
anesteasya
New Member
Is this true for the other programs as well?
scyth93
New Member
I would assume most programs would send interview invites to dual applicants first
It’s about 50/50 mix (not all programs offer combined interviews and require you to be invited , schedule , and interview for CC and CT fellowships completely independent of eachother).
The combined CC/CT interview invites were from Stanford, Vanderbilt, Florida, Duke, Yale, Beth Israel, Hopkins, and Brigham (they offered both interviews at the same time but it’s one whole day for CC and one day for CT).
Forgot to add UPenn for combined CC/CT invite list.
One of my juniors doing cardiac only got an interview from Stanford. Last year they only interviewed a total of 40 applicants
If you are looking to do your own cases instead of supervising residents, I can take care of you.
Has anyone heard from Loyola about interviews?
anesres249
New Member
I’m still waiting to hear from them too. Seems like invites have slowed down
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getcreativewithit
New Member
have heard from maybe 75% the places i applied. my co residents who applied to similar places haven't heard from the same places as me. Nobody on this forum seems to have heard back from some of these places either unless they were dual applicants. My guess is there will be a steady trickle throughout february. Keep your hopes up!
Lol this cracks me up, given that literally just a few years ago 100% of interviews were in person. THAT was stressful to try and make happen in the midst of residency.
Considering the current crop were MS1 the last time interviews were fully in person, and probably learn more by podcasts than lectures, I can understand. I believe 90% of programs are still doing remote interviews--it's just easier and cheaper for everyone. It's like telling your kids when you can drop off/pick up someone from the terminal gate 25 years ago.
I haven’t heard from nearly as many programs as I expected.
I can understand too. Doesn't make it any less comical to me that trying to get to one single interview is stressful.
Has anyone heard back from the California programs yet? I got waitlisted by Stanford but have otherwise not heard anything from UCLA, UCSD, USC, and Cedars...
anesres249
New Member
I think UCSD sent out some invites
Stanford rejection. UT Southwestern reached out today.
Reached out means interview invite?
Yep, interview invite.
stanford rejection as well
I am aware that the informal deadline to apply is a month away. I am curious id there is anyone remotely nterested that hasn't applied at this point?
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LukaIsALaker
New Member
I got an invite from Cooper University but since it's in person I declined it on SF Match. Do you think I should also email the program to let them know I declined it? Not sure what's considered professional in this situation.
I was on the fence about applying and did not submit until late January! I imagine some of my co-residents are in a similar position? There is likely a few rotating through cardiac again this month before deciding to send in their apps!
bypassbandit
New Member
Any interviews from Chicagoland? Straight silence from Northwestern, UChicago, etc so far here
You could email
I didn't hear from them either and that really surprised me
I got interviews from both about 3 weeks ago
Cedars-Sinai invite today! Anyone with insight on how it compares to the other programs in the area like USC and UCLA?
D
deleted87051
No first hand experience. Have worked with a few of their grads. They were well trained.
But they do have the highest volume in the state.
CCSIP
californiacardiacsurgery.com
Cedars has most volume in the state and often seen as second best in the state second to stanford
getcreativewithit
New Member
Have cardiac only applicants started hearing back from MGH / BWH / BI?
preroundingforfun
New Member
Cardiac only - heard back from BI earlier this month.
preroundingforfun
New Member
echoing this.
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One of the 4 have a program director that thinks that DEI should be a top goal of our specialty. If important to you either way it is up to you to figure out and factor that in your decision. The reality is that the ACTA program directors are currently a very diverse group and not a large portion of straight old white men.
thnx...what about quality of clinical training etc?
I am not arare of places with bad clinical training. You must figure out where you are a good fit. One of our staff is starting at Columbia March 1. One of our former medical students trained at Columbia and was on the fence about doing an ACTA but didn't because he saw how hard the fellows there worked.
Any news from any programs?
I haven't heard from any new programs in February.
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