Cardiothoracic Surgery...

[Dawg_MD]

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What is the pathway to doing Cardiothoracic Surgery and how long does it take from the time you begin your residency?

Thanks for the help.

 

[dumbest premed]

It usually takes 7 years. After med school you do a 5 year surgical residency and then a 2 year cardiothoracic surgery fellowship. I heard some news about a 4+2 program...but I'm not sure.

It traditionally takes 7 years after medical school.

 

[dr.evil]

Although you can finish CT in a minimum of 7 years, many of the CT applicants have finished 5 years of general surgery, 1-2 years of research, and are applying to a 3 year fellowship. So it could be as many as 10 years if you do research or as little as 7 years if you find a 2 year fellowship. I think realistically 8 years for most.

I would love to see the 4+2 but many cardiothoracic guys are old school and would have a very tough time with this program.

 

[eddieberetta]

The other thing to consider is that the market for CVT surgery in the US is somewhat uncertain. There will certainly be a need for them, but the total number required may be low as a result of interventional procedures and improved medical tx. Increasingly, CVT may be centralized at major centres, which may limit practice opportunities. Others may think this is unduly pessimistic but the full 5+3 route makes you a fully certified and trained gsurg. I think it is a relatively small price to pay for the flexibility but I guess people who are hardcore CVT may disagree.

Cheers

 

[Dawg_MD]

Thanks for all the input.

 

[Skylizard]

Originally posted by dr.evil
Although you can finish CT in a minimum of 7 years, many of the CT applicants have finished 5 years of general surgery, 1-2 years of research, and are applying to a 3 year fellowship. So it could be as many as 10 years if you do research or as little as 7 years if you find a 2 year fellowship. I think realistically 8 years for most.

I would love to see the 4+2 but many cardiothoracic guys are old school and would have a very tough time with this program.

I agree completely. Most of the CT fellows I know consider themselves lucky if they got out of Gsurgery with only 2 years of research adding on to the program. Most have done 2+ years of research and it of course depends on where you want to fellowship. Also, it is my understanding that the CT fellowship has just been officially extended from a 2 year program into a 3 year program. There are variations though cause you can do "additional training in thoracic" and other such things but the "board certified" CT program is to my understanding now a 3 year fellowship....I could be wrong and welcome anyone who might be on the cutting edge of this dynamic changing situation to clarify it.

 

[droliver]

Nope, 3 years is still the exception (Emory, Colorado, Carolinas Med Center & a few others) rather then the norm. Also few people going into CT would feel the need to spend 2 years in the lab anymore unless its part of the surgery program routinely (a la Duke or B&W). Its just not that hard to get a good spot if you come from a reputable academic program & as salaries have taken a hit, its hard to justify extending your training