Cardiothoracic Surgery NP and PA Fellowship
About
Program Overview
This unique, immersive program will give Fellows the opportunity to provide perioperative care to Cardiothoracic Surgery patients from initial consultation to discharge. In collaboration with established APPs, Fellows will have the opportunity to master their skills including:
- Critical Care Management: Fellows will manage patients recovering from various cardiothoracic surgeries, including aortic surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting, thoracic surgery, and valve surgery.
- Collaboration on Mechanical Circulatory Support: Fellows will work closely with APPs and attending physicians to manage complex mechanical circulatory support devices such as ECMO, Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump (IABP), Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs), Impella, and Right Ventricular Assist Devices (RVADs).
- Multidisciplinary Communication: Fellows will master the essentials of communicating the plan of care effectively with the multidisciplinary team, especially regarding any changes in the patient's condition.
- Procedural Skills: Fellows will have opportunities to enhance their procedural skills in common intensive care settings, including bronchoscopy, central line placement, arterial line insertion, and chest tube management.
- Patient Experience Optimization: The Fellows role will also focus on optimizing the patient experience, satisfaction, quality of care, and overall outcomes through effective perioperative care.
Mission, Goals and Strengths
- Prepare APPs for a career in Cardiothoracic Surgery as competent, highly functional members of an interprofessional healthcare team.
- Provide APPs with further education, specialized clinical and professional experience that will allow them to deliver exceptional patient care.
- Provide APPs with the skills and expertise to practice at the top of their scope of practice.
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Curriculum
This dynamic program includes didactic instruction and clinical training components that Fellows will complete over 12 months. Orientation will be approximately six weeks including credentialing, EMR training, skills labs, system orientation, etc.
Clinical Rotations
- Cardiac Anesthesia
- Cardiology
- Consult Service
- Critical Care
- Elective Rotation
- Outpatient Clinic
- Presurgical Testing Clinic
- Progressive Care Service
The majority of clinical time will be spent in the Cardiothoracic Surgery Intensive Care Unit (CSICU), under the supervision and direction of Carilion faculty. Fellows will be working alongside other NPs, PAs, residents, and attending physicians in all sections of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery. There will be various shift rotations, including both day and nightshift.
Didactic Sessions
Didactics include, but are not limited to:
- Weekly education conferences
- Morbidity and Mortality Conferences
- Journal Club
- Procedure labs
- Certification Courses: BLS, ACLS, PALS, CSU-ALS, FCCS
The didactic portion begins with a month of orientation and skills workshops designed to provide an introduction to Cardiothoracic Surgery. Fellows will attend lectures that cover the core curriculum of Cardiothoracic Surgery.
Faculty
Graduates
How to Apply
Admission Requirements
The ideal candidate has demonstrated leadership ability, flexibility, self-directed learning, excellent clinical skills, and a sincere interest in Cardiothoracic Surgery.
Admission Process and Timetable
Graduation from an accredited PA/NP program. NP applicants must have completed an Adult-Gerontology Acute Care Nurse Practitioner (AGACNP) program. To be competitive, applicants should have graduated with a minimum of 3.0 grade point average in their program. Completed applications will include personal statement, curriculum vitae, transcripts, and three letters of recommendation.
- Application Deadline: September 15, 2024, for winter entry and March 16, 2025, for summer entry.
- Interviews occur in October and November for winter entry and April and May for summer entry.
- Winter entry begins in February and summer entry begins in July.
Admission Components
- Academic transcripts showing status and completion of NP/PA program
- Three letters of recommendation
- CV, including recreational and community service activities
- Personal statement: discuss anticipated strengths that you bring to the fellowship as well as professional knowledge, skills, and or behaviors that you wish to enhance.
Contact Us
Applications can be completed by applying through Carilion Human Resources
You may also submit an application to Charles Bullins, N.P., Program Director, electronically (preferred): cmbullins@carilionclinic.org
