Department of Anesthesiology
Training & Education

Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship

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Program Overview

The Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship is a one-year ACGME-accredited training opportunity with four positions. All intraoperative echocardiography is performed by the anesthesiology service and fellows easily meet the requirements for certification by the National Board of Echocardiography in Advanced Perioperative TEE. The fellowship has a 100 percent first-time pass rate on the certifying examination and conforms to the curricular requirements of the ACGME and the NBE. The department provides support for travel to the SCA’s TEE course as part of the curriculum. Most fellows enter private practice in the Southern California area or elsewhere and to prepare them for this, fellows are given as many cases as possible acting as the primary provider under close staff supervision. When working with residents, fellows take a more supervisory and instructional role.

The ACTA service enjoys excellent professional relations with cardiology, cardiac surgery and critical care. Fellows participate in multidisciplinary conferences with these services. Participation in quality improvement projects and other scholarly activities are important components of the training program. Additionally, fellows meet several times per week with faculty to discuss the topics outlined in the ACGME’s curricular requirements for ACTA.

The section of cardiac anesthesiology is composed of 11 full time faculty members, each of whom devotes at least 50 percent of their clinical time caring for patients undergoing cardiac, major vascular, thoracic and interventional cardiology procedures. Eight faculty members are certified in advanced perioperative transesophageal echocardiography. Clinical services are provided at the Los Angeles General Medical Center and Keck Hospital – both of which function as teaching sites.

The total case volume includes approximately 750 cases requiring cardiopulmonary bypass and includes minimally invasive valve procedures, adult congenital procedures, circulatory assist devices and both heart and lung transplants. In addition, there is an active endovascular program, which includes training in stenting for aortic disease and transvascular valvular repair and replacement.

Facilities

The fellowship is located at Keck Hospital of USC and the Los Angeles General Medical Center.

Eligibility/Application

Candidates should be eligible for a California medical license and have completed an ACGME-approved residency (or the equivalent) in anesthesiology.

Contact

Interested individuals should contact:
Tara Humphrey, DO
Program Director
tlhumphr@med.usc.edu
(323) 442-7400