Echocardiography Fellowship
The Cardiology Division at Western University's Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry operates an echocardiography subspecialty fellowship program. The program provides training which meets requirements for level 3 certification in adult echocardiography as defined by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society, and as such the program duration is for one year. The training program also meets the requirements for level 3 certification from the American Society of Echocardiography.
Interested candidates are invited to contact the individuals named below for further information prior to applying. Candidates who meet the RCPSC eligibility criteria for advanced echocardiography training will be considered for appointment.
The adult echocardiography laboratory at Western operates a busy clinical service across the three hospital sites in the city. Trainees will primarily be based at University Hospital although may be allocated duties periodically at other sites. Applications for lab accreditation with the Cardiac Care Network of Ontario have been submitted for each site and the accreditation decisions are pending.
The majority of adult echocardiograms are performed on Philips iE33 (8 systems) and GE Vivid e9 (3 systems) ultrasound platforms. Two Philips CX-50 machines are also available. Transesophageal studies are undertaken at two sites using the Philips X7-2t multiplane esophageal transducer with 3D capability. The Philips Xcelera PACS system is used for reporting and archiving of clinical studies. Available software for advanced echocardiographic analysis includes Philips QLAB software, the TomTec image analysis platform and the GE EchoPac suite.
Currently 19 sonographers, each of whom are ARDMS credentialed, work in the clinical labs. Transthoracic studies are interpreted by seven reading echocardiographers, and six cardiologists operate the regular transesophageal lists.
Fellows will receive training in all aspects of adult echocardiography including transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography, and stress echocardiography. Advanced echocardiographic modalities including contrast and 3D echocardiography, left ventricular deformation analysis by tissue Doppler and speckle tracking is also included. Formal training in the administration of an academic echocardiography lab is incorporated in the program.
Echocardiographic assessment to guide cardiac interventions is an emerging area of practice and trainees will participate in the evaluation of patients with structural heart disease. Training in the use of echocardiography to guide ASD/PFO device and left atrial appendage closure, percutaneous mitral valve procedures including trans-septal mitral commissurotomy and mitral valve repair, and transcutaneous aortic valve replacement is available. The program provides opportunity for training in the echocardiographic assessment of patients with heart failure being considered for device therapy.
All fellows are expected to complete an echocardiography based research project during their fellowship and extensive expertise in basic laboratory, applied clinical, and health service delivery research is available within the Division. Interested candidates may wish to undertake a second year of training specifically for research and this is encouraged.
Trainees will be expected to participate in the education of general cardiology residents and allied health professionals including cardiac sonographers.
The program will include echocardiography for adult congenital heart disease patients. No formal training in pediatric echocardiography is included although opportunity for interested candidates to pursue a clinical elective in this discipline during their fellowship can be explored.
Various Western clinical disciplines operate point of care ultrasound programs. Training in this technique is not provided under the echocardiography fellowship program. Interested candidates will be directed appropriately.
A large number of intra-operative transesophageal echocardiograms are performed by Western colleagues in the Department of Anesthesia. Routine training in intraoperative echocardiography is not included although opportunity for interested candidates to pursue a clinical elective in this discipline during their fellowship can be explored.
Program Contact Details:
Ms. Donna Hill
Program Administrator
