CHF/Transplant Cardiology

[MedStudent2007]

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What are your thoughts on CHF/Transplant Cardiology?

I've heard they don't make as much money as obviously Interventional or EP. But I've also heard that the lifestyle is better (don't have to go into the hospital in the middle of the night). Does anyone have a rough idea of what the salary looks like?

The other things that I've seen are that you sort of have to be in a big city at a university program that does Transplants, etc. So that kind of narrows down where you would want to live.

Your comments...thoughts??

 

[gwen]

i'm interested in finding out too. anyone who is a cards fellow or attending here??

 

[west coasted]

CHF Transplant is extremely difficult, with long work hours, often requiring rounds twice per day. The patients are sick, need a lot of attention to detail, and will suck the life from you. It is the Hem/Onc of cardiology. However, it can be a rewarding field for the right person, particularly those who are dedicated to their patients, enjoy ICU like patients, and don't mind living in the hospital. Of course, in academics you can have the fellow/residents in house to reduce the load on yourself. This is the typical setting since this is a very academic field. Also, the research is interesting, with exposure to stem cells, LVADs, diastolic dysfunction, gene studies, etc. Academic EP has much better hours, rarely requires you to go in at night, and pays better.

 

[tibor75]

I'm a CHF transplant doctorb fresh out of fellowship.

If you're going into private practice, it's a waste of time. but if you're interested in academics and want to be in a transplant center, I think it's a great lifestyle. The key is to be in a large enough group where you don't have to round every other weekend. Post-transplant can be a drag as a lot of the patients have chornic medical complaints that you now have to deal with. But as long as you're in a program with great coordinators and great medical services (renal, transplant ID), it's really not that bad.

Salaries are hard to tell, as it depends on the medical center. AT most academic places, I'm not sure the EP or cath guys really make THAT much more than the non-interventional people. Different in private practice obviously.

 

[MedStudent2007]

tibor, please check your PM.