Question about academic position

[EPADHA]

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I thought I might bounce this question off this forum, and see if I can find anyone with similar interests. I am graduating from a 3-year program in 2013, and wish to work as a general cardiologist in an academic setting with varying time spent in CCU, imaging and diagnostic catheterization (including hemodyanmics). I am having a very tough time finding academic positions that will enable 'non interventional' cardiologist to do caths. I think this is due to various reasons. I would like to see if others have similar experience combining imaging and cath.
Thanks.

 

[P Diddy]

I thought I might bounce this question off this forum, and see if I can find anyone with similar interests. I am graduating from a 3-year program in 2013, and wish to work as a general cardiologist in an academic setting with varying time spent in CCU, imaging and diagnostic catheterization (including hemodyanmics). I am having a very tough time finding academic positions that will enable 'non interventional' cardiologist to do caths. I think this is due to various reasons. I would like to see if others have similar experience combining imaging and cath.
Thanks.

This depends on the institution and the political milieu of the cardiology division. In this era of subspecialization, some divisions will want you to have advanced training in heart failure to attend on the CCU, and ASE certification to read echoes.

Beyond this, each subspecialty wants to protect its turf (read: RVUs). Caths bring in money (less so now). Echoes and critical care bring in money. Coronary CT brings in money, and radiologists own this modality in some institutions.

It will be difficult to do it all, but I would think doing diagnostic and RHC as a HF cardiologist would be de rigueur (if you want an interventionalist to make themselves scarce, ask them to do a RHC). This might be more difficult as a general cardiologist; what are your research interests? It would be easier to justify reading echoes, for example, if you were doing a project on strain imaging.

Unfortunately, in an academic center you'll usually have to choose a niche
(maybe not in Nebraska), and that will determine to a great extent what kind of clinical work you're allowed to do.

p diddy

 

[dragonfly99]

I think it is hard to be an "imager" and a "cath guy" both at the vast majority of academic institutions. Realistically you are going to need time to do your research, attend on the CCU and see your clinic patients. How would you fit in being the echo reading attending and fit in your cath time? It seems the logistics won't work for academics.

 

[EPADHA]

I think it is hard to be an "imager" and a "cath guy" both at the vast majority of academic institutions. Realistically you are going to need time to do your research, attend on the CCU and see your clinic patients. How would you fit in being the echo reading attending and fit in your cath time? It seems the logistics won't work for academics.

sounds good. I am beginning to realize that its time to leave the cath lab.
Much appreciated 🙂

 

[docsaab]

I thought I might bounce this question off this forum, and see if I can find anyone with similar interests. I am graduating from a 3-year program in 2013, and wish to work as a general cardiologist in an academic setting with varying time spent in CCU, imaging and diagnostic catheterization (including hemodyanmics). I am having a very tough time finding academic positions that will enable 'non interventional' cardiologist to do caths. I think this is due to various reasons. I would like to see if others have similar experience combining imaging and cath.
Thanks.

I believe it would be rare to have an academic program that allowed non-interventional folks do diagnostic LHC/coronary angiograms. It's an unnecessary extra procedure/dye load for the patient if an intervention needs to be performed.

RHCs are different, however. At my institution, the advanced HF folks to their own RHC/biopsies on pre/post-transplant patients and the PulHTN group also do their own RHCs for hemodynamics.