Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Fellowship Program 

A structured and comprehensive training experience

The mission of the Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Fellowship (ACIF) is to provide a structured and comprehensive training experience in multimodality cardiac imaging. Funded by the Department of Medicine, this one-year clinical fellowship is designed to provide fellows with advanced (level 3) training in cardiac MRI and cardiac CT.

Advanced training in echocardiography may also be achieved depending on the candidate’s prior experience and desired career path. We collaborate frequently with colleagues in echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, pediatric cardiology/CMR and cardiothoracic radiology. 

Equipping trainees for a successful academic career in cardiology

The objective of the Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Fellowship Program is to provide a training experience in advanced cardiac imaging that equips trainees for a successful academic career.

The imaging fellow will be responsible for organizing and directing weekly echo/multimodality imaging conferences, and will take a primary role in teaching cardiac imaging to junior fellows. 

Vanderbilt performs over 2,000 CCT exams yearly for a broad range of indications, including structural/valvular disease, pre-pulmonary vein isolation, congenital heart disease, and coronary evaluation (including fractional flow reserve analysis). The interpretation requirement for level 3 training (450 studies) will be surpassed. The fellow will actively participate in quality assurance, post-processing of images, and the comprehensive interpretation of CT studies, and will be well prepared to pass the Certification Board of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (CBCCT) examination.

Vanderbilt performs between 2,500 and 3,000 clinical studies yearly on a dedicated magnet operated by the Division of Cardiology. Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging fellows will assume a leadership role within one of the busier cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) laboratories in the world, and will be exposed to all aspects of CMR in the evaluation of cardiac disease, including the elucidation of cardiomyopathy, ischemic heart disease, pharmacologic stress imaging, arrhythmogenic/genetic cardiomyopathy, infiltrative disease, iron overload, valvular disease, pericardial disease, cardiac mass, and aortic disease. Fellows actively participate in quality assurance, post-processing of images, and the comprehensive interpretation of CMR studies. The interpretation requirement for level 3 training (300 studies) will be easily surpassed, and fellows will be well prepared to pass the Certification Board of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CBCMR) examination.

The Cardiac Imaging Lab is a vibrant atmosphere with constant interaction between adult and pediatric/congenital cardiology, cardiothoracic surgery, and radiology faculty and fellows. Interpretation and teaching of CMR and CCT is performed by faculty within both cardiology and radiology, providing broad foundational knowledge for the imaging fellow. Junior and senior cardiology fellows rotate through the lab monthly.  

The lab is actively engaged in numerous basic and clinical research studies. The advanced imaging fellow will have the opportunity to author original manuscripts and review articles during the yearlong program. Recent publications can be found here. 

The imaging fellow will be responsible for organizing and directing weekly echo/multimodality imaging conferences, and will take a primary role in teaching cardiac imaging to junior fellows. 

  • Candidate must have completed a three-year, ACGME-approved Cardiovascular Medicine Training Program prior to starting the Imaging Fellowship 
  • Three (3) Letters of Recommendation (one by program director) 
  • Personal Statement (brief) 
  • Medical School Transcript 
  • Medical Student Performance Evaluation / Dean's Letter 
  • H-1B Visa applicants, send copy of DS-2019 and Visa status 
  • ECFMG Status Report (International Medical Graduates Only) 
  • USMLE Transcript - Transmitted by the NBME 

Applications for our program are currently closed. Please check back for updates in Spring of 2025.

Sylvia Jones

Program Manager

sylvia.a.jones@vumc.org

Program Leadership

Sean G. Hughes, MD

Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine
Director,  Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Fellowship Program