Adult Congenital Heart Disease Fellowship Program 

The VUMC Division of Cardiovascular Medicine’s Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program (ACHD) is housed in the Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute, and works in collaboration with the Division of Pediatric Cardiology. 

The ACHD fellowship is a two-year program and is open to applicants who have completed at least one of three training pathways:  

  • Internal medicine residency and adult cardiology fellowship 
  • Pediatric residency and pediatric cardiology fellowship 
  • Residency in combined internal medicine/pediatrics and then completion of fellowship in pediatric cardiology, adult cardiology, or combined pediatric and adult cardiology  

Fellows in the ACHD program learn the medical and surgical management of congenital heart disease, including technical and diagnostic expertise in invasive and noninvasive procedures. Fellows participate in the outpatient ACHD clinic, inpatient consultative services, and imaging and cardiac catheterization laboratories. 


Comprehensive clinical training 

Fellows in the ACHD program learn the medical and surgical management of congenital heart disease, including technical and diagnostic expertise in invasive and noninvasive procedures. Fellows participate in the outpatient ACHD clinic, inpatient consultative services, and imaging and cardiac catheterization laboratories.   

The ACHD fellowship is a two-year, ACGME-accredited program designed to provide comprehensive inpatient and outpatient ACHD training and exposure. Curriculum is tailored to the needs of individual fellows according to their prior pediatric or adult cardiology pathway.

Fellows learn the medical and surgical management of congenital heart disease with emphasis on echocardiography, ACHD heart rhythm management, cardiac catheterization/percutaneous management of ACHD, ACHD heart failure management, ACHD transplant, and ACHD pregnancy management. Graduates of the program will be board-eligible in Adult Congenital Heart Disease.

In close collaboration with ACHD faculty and other faculty members of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the Division of Pediatric Cardiology, ACHD fellows participate in the outpatient ACHD clinic, inpatient consultative services, image interpretation, transesophageal echocardiograms, and interpretation of cardiac catheterization data.

Research is one of our key mission areas, and is strongly encouraged for ACHD fellows throughout the duration of their training. Fellows are provided protected research time, and ACHD faculty are available to mentor research projects and assist in connecting fellows with non-ACHD faculty best suited for their specific research endeavors.

There are several didactic conferences available through the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, the Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute and Pediatric Heart Institute, and attendance by the ACHD fellow is determined by topic presented and the individual fellow’s learning needs. ACHD fellows lead monthly Adult Congenital Heart Disease Management Conferences.

Fellows are encouraged to attend, and may occasionally present at, the monthly Adult Congenital Heart Disease Conference. They are also encouraged to attend weekly Pediatric Cardiology Catheterization Conference and Vanderbilt Cardiology Grand Rounds.

We have one slot available annually for our two-year Adult Congenital Heart Disease Fellowship Program. To apply for our fellowship, you must have completed a three-year Cardiovascular Medicine or Pediatric Cardiology program prior to starting the Adult Congenital Heart Disease program. Applications are accepted only through the ERAS website, which opens in July each year for applicants to develop prepare their applications. Please send the following documents to ERAS when applying:

  • Three (3) Letters of Recommendation (one preferably by program director)
  • Personal Statement
  • Medical School Transcript
  • Medical Student Performance Evaluation / Dean's Letter
  • J-1 or H-1B Visa applicants, send copy of DS-2019 and Visa status
  • Wallet Size Color Photograph attached to your application
  • USMLE Transcript - Transmitted by the NBME (International Medical Graduates only) For more information, please contact: Charlene Thompson Program Manager cmt.thompson@vumc.org

For more information, please contact:

Charlene Thompson

Program Manager

cmt.thompson@vumc.org

Program Leadership

Benjamin P. Frischhertz, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Director, Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program Fellowship Program 

Angela J. Weingarten, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Associate Director, Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program Fellowship