Duke Cardiac Anesthesiology Fellowship Program

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pumpblood said:
Any info/advice on how the program is? Any past Duke fellows out there? How does it compare with the likes of CCF, Brigham and Texas Heart?
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I didn't do fellowship at CCF, Brigham, or Texas Heart - nor did I even apply to or interview at any of them - so I can't really comment on those programs.

Obviously the faculty and case load/complexity will be superb at any top program, despite quibbling over who's #1 vs #2. Also obviously, the kind of anesthesiologist you'll be on the other side mostly depends on you, wherever you go.

Duke has a much better basketball team than any of those places.

One thing that is a little unusual about Duke is that you'll spend 98% of your time doing your own cases. There are very few days supervising residents, unlike many programs that have a majority of time spent sharing cases with residents. There are positives and negatives to both.

But if you're looking for an "echo fellowship" where you pop from room to room to do some TEE while you help residents with their cases, Duke isn't for you. Duke's cardiac fellowship will have you in the OR from 0530 until the work is done. I'm a firm believer that there's no substitute for time in the OR, so this was a positive to me. I was less enthusiastic about the "supervisory echo fellowships" I considered.
 
I'm a fellow at one of the other programs listed. I recommend you go to a fellowship where you do the cases no one else is willing to do. You will get this at any of the programs mentioned. There are some subtle differences in institutional culture between these programs and how much you pay for that experience but in the end you will be better for having been through it.
 
Nivens said:
Aw that’s no fun! 😉
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yeah but you already have my cell, lol.......hope all is well!

If you want fun and my biased opinion summarized (original question was duke vs ccf/bwh/texas):

Duke vs BWH
- duke more cardiac complexity in cases (not saying BWH doesn't do complex)
- duke less thoracic case volume/complexity (not saying duke doesn't do complex)
- duke inferior TEE training (not saying duke has bad TEE training, just that BWH is fantastic)
- duke inferior structural heart experience (haven't heard much from duke folks on this, but my buddy doesn't do much)
- duke more hours of work (in house call vs home call as well)
- both mainly do your own cases
- both have vast networks to help you get a job

Duke vs ccf
- duke more of an academic feel (especially if SCA abstract is any indication)
- similar case complexity
- duke more work (both have in house call)
- duke no preop clinic during call days or vascular cases at night (pretty sure, could be wrong tho)
- duke crna integration? (ccf has fellows, crnas, ect doing hearts)
- duke more grads end up academic than at ccf?
- duke better TEE training

Duke vs texas
- no clue

feel free to correct wherever I am mistaken if you have first hand knowledge
 
I interviewed at all and am also at one of the other places mentioned for fellowship.

It’s set up very similar to CCF so the pros/cons are almost identical. I’ve had many friends who have completed fellowship there - it’s a hard year (630 AM starts) with overnight work but you come out very well trained. I thought they did preop clinic before coming in for call like CCF, but I could be mixing them up from interviewing there. I interviewed there on a Friday and the fellows looked like they were worked like dogs, and most would agree with that statement.

You can’t go wrong with any of the 4 you mentioned, most would probably say they are the best-regarded nationally. All have huge alumni networks nationally which greatly helps with job placement. There are nuances to each, of course.

In my opinion, Duke as an institution has a very narcissistic attitude, it comes out everywhere from undergrad to the anesthesia department (one of my interviewers scoffed at me considering other programs, “why wouldn’t you come here, it’s Duke!”). It’s probably easy to tune out for a year (or join in!), but it really rubbed me the wrong way. Just a personal anecdote.
 
Thanks for the above posts contrast and comparing - made this user name for the sake of being anonymous. Could anyone compare columbia to some of the programs above. I've also heard good things about UCSD - i wonder if anyone has any input on work hours (call schedule)/TEE training at san diego as well. Thanks!
 
lverbmb said:
Thanks for the above posts contrast and comparing - made this user name for the sake of being anonymous. Could anyone compare columbia to some of the programs above. I've also heard good things about UCSD - i wonder if anyone has any input on work hours (call schedule)/TEE training at san diego as well. Thanks!
Click to expand...

PM me and I can put you in contact with people who very recently graduated from UCSD
 
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lverbmb said:
Thanks for the above posts contrast and comparing - made this user name for the sake of being anonymous. Could anyone compare columbia to some of the programs above. I've also heard good things about UCSD - i wonder if anyone has any input on work hours (call schedule)/TEE training at san diego as well. Thanks!
Click to expand...

From my interview impressions a couple years ago:

UCSD was a pretty sweet program. You mostly supervise residents and TEE training is excellent. Lots of PTEs and an occasional transplant or two, but not sure about much else in terms of case complexity. Small department, but great connections to jobs in Southern California.

Columbia was trash. Fellows seemed overworked and underappreciated. The program mostly takes their own (6 out of 7 spots went to Columbia residents my year) and rumor has it that if you're an outsider who matched there, it'll generally be a tougher year for you. I would avoid Columbia unless you absolutely have to be in NYC.
 
thinkorswim said:
From my interview impressions a couple years ago:

UCSD was a pretty sweet program. You mostly supervise residents and TEE training is excellent. Lots of PTEs and an occasional transplant or two, but not sure about much else in terms of case complexity. Small department, but great connections to jobs in Southern California.

Columbia was trash. Fellows seemed overworked and underappreciated. The program mostly takes their own (6 out of 7 spots went to Columbia residents my year) and rumor has it that if you're an outsider who matched there, it'll generally be a tougher year for you. I would avoid Columbia unless you absolutely have to be in NYC.
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Thanks for the reply, besides the above mentioned programs (not really looking at penn) any other places to consider?
 
lverbmb said:
Thanks for the reply, besides the above mentioned programs (not really looking at penn) any other places to consider?
Click to expand...

Cedars Sinai is the place to be if you want West Coast. UCLA is also good, but has lower case volume and a more academic/research focused fellowship. I have heard Hopkins and Penn are great, but you will be supervising at both. Vanderbilt is also building a very robust program and will be a big name in the next couple of years.

Programs I would avoid are Mount Sinai (you are literally a slave there) and USC (it may be different now with more fellows, but there were only 2 when I interviewed and they could barely lift their heads up on interview day).
 
Last edited:
Any info on University of Washington program? Also ACT and CC at same program - still looking at the same options as above (CCF, Duke etc.)? Any insight appreciated.
 
dude, its duke, its one of the best known CT programs. You'll come out well trained. Interview there and see how you like it and if it fits "you"
 
pumpblood said:
Any info/advice on how the program is? Any past Duke fellows out there? How does it compare with the likes of CCF, Brigham and Texas Heart?
Click to expand...

I like all these places for Cardiac so I recommend you apply to the one with your long term plan in mind. Where do you plan on working after the fellowship? All are strong programs that will provide great training to their fellows.

Durham vs Boston vs Cleveland are all very different towns to say the least. Does cost of living or location matter to you? Are you burned out from Residency already and seeking a "cushy" fellowship? Do you want to network in certain regions of the country? Interested in Academics vs PP?
 
AdmiralChz said:
I thought they did preop clinic before coming in for call like CCF,
Click to expand...

This may be a dumb question, but what exactly is preop clinic? Is it just seeing cardiac patients pre-op and making sure all presurgical testing is complete?
 
I think Duke is second to none. One of my colleagues did his fellowship there and he can handle just about anything.
 
anes121508 said:
yeah but you already have my cell, lol.......hope all is well!

If you want fun and my biased opinion summarized (original question was duke vs ccf/bwh/texas):

Duke vs BWH
- duke more cardiac complexity in cases (not saying BWH doesn't do complex)
- duke less thoracic case volume/complexity (not saying duke doesn't do complex)
- duke inferior TEE training (not saying duke has bad TEE training, just that BWH is fantastic)
- duke inferior structural heart experience (haven't heard much from duke folks on this, but my buddy doesn't do much)
- duke more hours of work (in house call vs home call as well)
- both mainly do your own cases
- both have vast networks to help you get a job

Duke vs ccf
- duke more of an academic feel (especially if SCA abstract is any indication)
- similar case complexity
- duke more work (both have in house call)
- duke no preop clinic during call days or vascular cases at night (pretty sure, could be wrong tho)
- duke crna integration? (ccf has fellows, crnas, ect doing hearts)
- duke more grads end up academic than at ccf?
- duke better TEE training

Duke vs texas
- no clue

feel free to correct wherever I am mistaken if you have first hand knowledge
Click to expand...
Do you think duke’s TEE training is better then CCF?
 
GasserNtraining said:
This may be a dumb question, but what exactly is preop clinic? Is it just seeing cardiac patients pre-op and making sure all presurgical testing is complete?
Click to expand...

It's copy paste info from cardiologist\surgeons notes, paste relevant studies, and proceed with case lest you want to be the guy who threw a wrench into the "machine." Most come for pre-op clinic the day before surgery so there's not much to not be done anyways.
 
2Fast2Des said:
It's copy paste info from cardiologist\surgeons notes, paste relevant studies, and proceed with case lest you want to be the guy who threw a wrench into the "machine." Most come for pre-op clinic the day before surgery so there's not much to not be done anyways.
Click to expand...

Which is sad because it seems to me (a noob) that theoretically it could be so much more. Also hate it when ppl copy paste the surgery HPI. it's like come on have some self respect and write a real HPI
 
Those places with 530-630 starts... how early do you come in to set up for your room???? i usually come in 1.45-2 hrs prior to case start time to set up my room cause it takes freaking forever. but if its 530 start... get there at 330 to set up? sounds miserable
 
2Fast2Des said:
It's copy paste info from cardiologist\surgeons notes, paste relevant studies, and proceed with case lest you want to be the guy who threw a wrench into the "machine." Most come for pre-op clinic the day before surgery so there's not much to not be done anyways.
Click to expand...
Just got thrown under the bus for throwing a wrench in the machine to recently. I didn’t follow protocol.
 
anbuitachi said:
Those places with 530-630 starts... how early do you come in to set up for your room???? i usually come in 1.45-2 hrs prior to case start time to set up my room cause it takes freaking forever. but if its 530 start... get there at 330 to set up? sounds miserable
Click to expand...

Are you building a vent and concocting the drugs for your case with mortar and pestle? Why does it take 2 hrs to set up for your case? I agree that 530am case start sounds horrendous, but I can't fathom why it takes that long to set up for your cases.
 
anbuitachi said:
Those places with 530-630 starts... how early do you come in to set up for your room???? i usually come in 1.45-2 hrs prior to case start time to set up my room cause it takes freaking forever. but if its 530 start... get there at 330 to set up? sounds miserable
Click to expand...
That does sound miserable.

It depends on the techs to a large degree. If you're stuck priming your own a line tubing and have to go look for stuff ...

I typically arrived an hour before room time, or a bit more if it was a peds case or something unusual.
 
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