Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program 

Comprehensive clinical and innovative research training 

The Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program is a one-year training opportunity for physicians to become certified as a primary operator in invasive and interventional cardiovascular medicine according to the standards set forth by the American Board of Internal Medicine. The successful trainee will be eligible for the Interventional Cardiology Board administrated by the American Board of Internal Medicine. 

Hands-on training in a rapidly evolving field

The primary goal of the training program is to provide comprehensive subspecialty training in invasive and interventional cardiology to physicians who have completed both a residency in internal medicine and a categorical fellowship in cardiovascular medicine. 

The training program is in a continual state of evolution to keep pace with the rapidly advancing field of interventional cardiology. 

Clinical training takes place at Vanderbilt University Medical Center and the Nashville Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center. In addition, trainees take part in clinical research within the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, as well as in collaboration with the Department of Cardiac Surgery.

The first complete artificial heart transplant in Tennessee was performed at VUMC.

Training at a top-ranked, collaborative institution

Vanderbilt is ranked in the top 10 of NIH-funded universities in the United States and the Vanderbilt Department of Medicine is top among departments of medicine nationally.

These resources provide a unique environment for successful research training, and approximately half of our graduates go on to become faculty members of leading medical schools.  

A typical fellow can expect to perform approximately 400 coronary interventions during the one-year program. At the end of the training period,  fellows will be able to independently perform interventional procedures to include:

  • Balloon angioplasty
  • Coronary stenting
  • Cutting balloon angioplasty
  • Directional atherectomy
  • Rotational atherectomy
  • Intravascular ultrasound 
  • Chronic total occlusion (CTO) interventions
  • Peripheral interventions;
  • Pulmonary embolism interventions
  • Thrombectomy procedures
  • Intra-aortic balloon pump insertion
  • Operation and troubleshooting
  • Impella device management
  • Tandem heart insertion and management
  • ECMO initiation and management
  • Trans-radial and trans-brachial access for coronary angiography and intervention
  • Intracoronary doppler flow analysis
  • Tractional flow reserve determination

Trainees will have the opportunity to gain experience in the medical and interventional management of valvular heart disease, including aortic stenosis, mitral valve disease, tricuspid valve disease, pulmonary valve disease and congenital abnormalities. An opportunity to participate in transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures is available.

A wide variety of basic and clinical research experiences are available to the fellow within the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and in allied disciplines. We expect that during the fellowship, each fellow will have the opportunity to participate in experimental or clinical study design; to gain expertise in one or more research techniques; and to learn how to acquire data, analyze it, understand its importance and present it clearly. We hope that each fellow will have a chance to share the intellectual excitement of bringing a research project to development. 

We have three slots available annually for our one-year Interventional Cardiology Fellowship program. To apply for our fellowship, you must have completed a three-year cardiovascular medicine program prior to starting the Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program.  Applications are accepted only through the ERAS website, which opens for applicants to develop applications in December of each year.  

Please send the following documents to ERAS when applying: 

  • ERAS Application Worksheet 
  • Three (3) Letters of Recommendation (one preferably by program director) 
  • Personal Statement 
  • Medical School Transcript 
  • Medical Student Performance Evaluation / Dean's Letter 
  • Wallet Size Color Photograph 
  • ECFMG Status Report (International Medical Graduates Only) 
  • USMLE Transcript - Transmitted by the NBME 

For additional information, please contact: 

Charlene Thompson 

Program Manager 

cmt.thompson@vumc.org  

Program Leadership

Jared M. O'Leary, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Director, Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program