Welcome to the University of Texas Medical Branch Cardiovascular Disease Program. The program is a three-year program that is designed to offer highly qualified applicants, with a strong clinical and investigative background, the opportunity to experience comprehensive training in clinical and academic cardiology. 

In accordance with all ACGME and COCATS (Core Cardiology Training Symposium) guidelines and requirements, the cardiology program actively strives to train fellows to establish the highest standards of aptitude and proficiency in the diagnosis and management of all aspects of cardiac care. Currently, eight fellows are accepted each year into the General Cardiology Fellowship Program at UTMB.

All cardiology fellows will develop their competence in basic and clinical knowledge through core clinical rotations in all arenas of cardiology, including cardiac consultation, coronary care unit, invasive cardiac procedures, imaging procedures, electrophysiology, heart failure/transplant, and ambulatory cardiology. A remarkable array of patient populations with diverse pathologies will allow the fellows to attain expertise in the care of acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases, including arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, infectious and inflammatory heart disease, pulmonary vascular disease, valvular heart disease, and peripheral vascular disease.

Electives to further refine extensive skills in subspecialties are available, such as imaging (echo COCATS III, CT, MRI, nuclear, vascular), EP procedures (ILR, pacemakers, etc.), and cath COCATS III. In addition, fellows are encouraged to engage in clinical or basic investigative research during their general training, for which ample opportunities are available. A variety of didactic education is also integrated into the clinical program in order for the fellows to enhance and develop essential skills for the practice of cardiology and academic careers in the future. Fellows will rotate at three campuses.

These didactic seminars include weekly Cath conferences, weekly Core Lecture Series, weekly State of the Art Research conferences, weekly Journal Club, monthly Echo and Multimodality conferences, monthly EKG conferences, monthly Fellows Board Review conferences, and monthly Cardiology Morbidity and Mortality conferences. At the completion of the training program, fellows will achieve the level of clinical knowledge and proficiency to meet the requirements for board certification in Cardiovascular Diseases, as determined by the American Board of Internal Medicine.

The Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at UTMB is deeply committed to promoting the wellness of its fellows throughout their training. In addition to supporting professional development through trips to national and regional conferences, the department organizes quarterly social events to foster camaraderie and work-life balance. These include field days, beach outings, group dinners, and graduation celebrations that allow fellows to connect outside of the clinical setting and build lasting relationships with peers and faculty. These initiatives reflect the department’s holistic approach to training, emphasizing not only academic excellence but also personal well-being and community.