Univ Arizona - Tucson thoughts?

[hov9x]

I searched the forum but couldn't find any feedback on Univ Arizona - Tucson.

Anyone have any feedback?

---

Members don't see this ad.

 

[IfeelYourPain]

I searched the forum but couldn't find any feedback on Univ Arizona - Tucson.

Anyone have any feedback?

Sorry in advance for the long post, but I know interview season is confusing and I want to shed as much light as possible. We are glad to host all of you on interview day, and really look forward to meeting the next group of fellows.

Current fellow at UA-Tucson and I did residency at UA. First off, Banner health purchased UA hospitals around 5 years ago. The transition is smoothing out, and the culture is still very much academic. The cardiology fellowship is closely linked to the Sarver Heart Center, which provides additional funding for staff and fellows.

The program is very strong, and you will get exposure to all the latest and greatest in cardiology: transplant, lvad, tavr, mitraclip, all percutaneous support, complex pci, all EP procedures. The fellowship is certainly busy, but that's really what is required to make you a strong, independent cardiologist. COCAT numbers are not an inssue, especially if you designate which path you want to pursue early. Matching into desired advanced fellowships is generally not an issue, as most of the faculty are very well-known and respected in their fields.

Overview:
5-6 fellows per year. We cover three hospitals: 1) the main campus 2) the south campus 3) the VA. Clinic is at 1 of the sites 1/2 day per week. Conferences are offered daily at 0700 (unless busy, tired from call, etc). There are advanced fellowships in IC, EP, and HF. There is not much room for heavy research during the typical clinical pathway, however, one project is required throughout the three years. It is encouraged to do an extra dedicated research year if truly interested in pursuing a research-based career. There are no private/outside attendings, so all are invested in teaching and you will know all of them by the middle of your first year. Be wary of "high volume" programs that have private group attendings rotating in - some are good, some are bad.

Rotations:
Main UMC:
The only two inpatient services covered by cardiology fellows are CCU and HF. CCU has resident support for notes and you will cover a wide range of patients from hypothermia protocol post-arrest to stable post-TAVR patients. You have support from the CVICU team comprised of anesthesia residents/ crit care attending if needed.

During CCU day hours, you are the STEMI call for main campus, and you signout to the night float fellow at 7pm. Generally the hours are 6/7-7pm daily, 6 days week for one month. There is no additional call while on CCU.

The HF service is probably the busiest for fellows, as there is generally only 1 NP/PA assisting with rounding. The patient census is around 10-20 daily and comprised of a wide range: ECMO, tandem heart, new transplant, stable-mild rejection pts, swans, etc. The HF fellow works 6/7-7 pm (may signout around 5 to CCU fellow if no unstable patients). Weekends are free when on HF and there is no additional call while on service.

The consult service is managed by NP/PAs and an attending. Cath, Echo and nuclear are also at UMC. Fellows typically do one month of EP between UMC and south campus.

South campus:
Smaller, more community-type hospital, but very sick patients.
Fellows manage consult service, which can be busy depending on resident support. Fellows typically do one month of south campus cath their first year as well.

VA:
Fellows manage consults (generally 10-15 per day), but it is very rare not to have resident support for notes. Typically there are 2-3 residents on consult service. VA cath is a very good experience, impella, CTO, etc. VA EP also available with micra, cryoablations, bread/butter pacer/ICD.

Call:
Fellows are never on call for all three hospitals simultaneously. There is a dedicated call fellow for each site with in-house (night float) at main UMC. Thus, there are a higher frequency of calls, but there are times when you will receive very minimal pages as you only cover either south campus or the VA from home. The addition of night float has made the fellowship much more reasonable in terms of work hours. First year, you are typically on call 1-2 weekends/month and 1-2 weekdays/month.

Extra perks: matching 4% 401k after employed for one year, and very comfortable salary for cost of living. Free parking, 9 months a year of amazing weather and very little traffic!

 

[BMW M5]

Sorry in advance for the long post, but I know interview season is confusing and I want to shed as much light as possible. We are glad to host all of you on interview day, and really look forward to meeting the next group of fellows.

Current fellow at UA-Tucson and I did residency at UA. First off, Banner health purchased UA hospitals around 5 years ago. The transition is smoothing out, and the culture is still very much academic. The cardiology fellowship is closely linked to the Sarver Heart Center, which provides additional funding for staff and fellows.

The program is very strong, and you will get exposure to all the latest and greatest in cardiology: transplant, lvad, tavr, mitraclip, all percutaneous support, complex pci, all EP procedures. The fellowship is certainly busy, but that's really what is required to make you a strong, independent cardiologist. COCAT numbers are not an inssue, especially if you designate which path you want to pursue early. Matching into desired advanced fellowships is generally not an issue, as most of the faculty are very well-known and respected in their fields.

Overview:
5-6 fellows per year. We cover three hospitals: 1) the main campus 2) the south campus 3) the VA. Clinic is at 1 of the sites 1/2 day per week. Conferences are offered daily at 0700 (unless busy, tired from call, etc). There are advanced fellowships in IC, EP, and HF. There is not much room for heavy research during the typical clinical pathway, however, one project is required throughout the three years. It is encouraged to do an extra dedicated research year if truly interested in pursuing a research-based career. There are no private/outside attendings, so all are invested in teaching and you will know all of them by the middle of your first year. Be wary of "high volume" programs that have private group attendings rotating in - some are good, some are bad.

Rotations:
Main UMC:
The only two inpatient services covered by cardiology fellows are CCU and HF. CCU has resident support for notes and you will cover a wide range of patients from hypothermia protocol post-arrest to stable post-TAVR patients. You have support from the CVICU team comprised of anesthesia residents/ crit care attending if needed.

During CCU day hours, you are the STEMI call for main campus, and you signout to the night float fellow at 7pm. Generally the hours are 6/7-7pm daily, 6 days week for one month. There is no additional call while on CCU.

The HF service is probably the busiest for fellows, as there is generally only 1 NP/PA assisting with rounding. The patient census is around 10-20 daily and comprised of a wide range: ECMO, tandem heart, new transplant, stable-mild rejection pts, swans, etc. The HF fellow works 6/7-7 pm (may signout around 5 to CCU fellow if no unstable patients). Weekends are free when on HF and there is no additional call while on service.

The consult service is managed by NP/PAs and an attending. Cath, Echo and nuclear are also at UMC. Fellows typically do one month of EP between UMC and south campus.

South campus:
Smaller, more community-type hospital, but very sick patients.
Fellows manage consult service, which can be busy depending on resident support. Fellows typically do one month of south campus cath their first year as well.

VA:
Fellows manage consults (generally 10-15 per day), but it is very rare not to have resident support for notes. Typically there are 2-3 residents on consult service. VA cath is a very good experience, impella, CTO, etc. VA EP also available with micra, cryoablations, bread/butter pacer/ICD.

Call:
Fellows are never on call for all three hospitals simultaneously. There is a dedicated call fellow for each site with in-house (night float) at main UMC. Thus, there are a higher frequency of calls, but there are times when you will receive very minimal pages as you only cover either south campus or the VA from home. The addition of night float has made the fellowship much more reasonable in terms of work hours. First year, you are typically on call 1-2 weekends/month and 1-2 weekdays/month.

Extra perks: matching 4% 401k after employed for one year, and very comfortable salary for cost of living. Free parking, 9 months a year of amazing weather and very little traffic!

Any thoughts on the phoenix program?

 

[Cards_15]

Any thoughts on the phoenix program?

Phoenix program does not have LVAD or transplant program and sends their patients to Tucson. They also do not have EP or advanced HF fellowships. Even though Phoenix is the bigger city, Tucson campus is definitely the stronger program compared to all other programs in Arizona.

 

[BMW M5]

Phoenix program does not have LVAD or transplant program and sends their patients to Tucson. They also do not have EP or advanced HF fellowships. Even though Phoenix is the bigger city, Tucson campus is definitely the stronger program compared to all other programs in Arizona.

They do have structural and interventional cardiology though. I wonder if they take internal applicants.

 

[IMreshopeful]

They do have structural and interventional cardiology though. I wonder if they take internal applicants.

The cath program at Banner in Phoenix has three fellows from who they sometimes take one internally, the second year is a separate application

 

[BMW M5]

The cath program at Banner in Phoenix has three fellows from who they sometimes take one internally, the second year is a separate application

It would be interesting to know why 1-2/3 spots for their IC fellowship aren’t consistently chosen internally..

 

[IMreshopeful]

It would be interesting to know why 1-2/3 spots for their IC fellowship aren’t consistently chosen internally..

Because it depends on who’s interested in cath during that year? Many people don’t want to do it

 

[BMW M5]

Because it depends on who’s interested in cath during that year? Many people don’t want to do it

Right. I would figure (and i may be wrong) that 1/3 of graduating fellows would want cath. ~ 800 fellows graduate every year and almost ~ 300 apply for IC.

I guess being a non-invasive cardiologist/imaging specialist is more rewarding these days.