Endovascular Therapies Fellowship Training (ETFT) program provides meaningful, hands on endovascular surgery training to physicians in practice, in order to allow graduates to have the basis for a well-defined endovascular skill set with broad application and sound clinical principals.
Our first visiting Fellow began in December of 2005. Since that time, at least fifteen surgeons have completed our endovascular fellowship training program. All have been successfully credentialed at their home institutions and would tell you their professional lives have been enhanced.
Through direct observation, and feedback from physicians, trainees and industrial assistance, we have continued to refine this endovascular surgery training opportunity. All specialties are welcome. This training has been developed to meet the needs of those physicians in practice, who do not have the time or opportunity to return for formal fellowship training in endovascular treatment of vascular disease.
Our endovacular fellowship training program is specifically designed for cardiac surgeons in practice (other specialties are welcome), and is conducted on a one-on-one, surgeon-to-surgeon basis. No other training obligations exist concurrent with the trainee’s training slot. The volume and experience is not diluted. The trainee is licensed and credentialed to perform endovascular procedures with Dr. Williams’ supervision.
In the six week time frame, the program will provide vascular and endovascular procedures in excess of the minimum credentialing requirements of greater than 90% of hospitals in the U.S. It is the only program available to non-resident physicians to offer unlimited access to a non-cardiac procedure simulator. There is a highly structured didactic endovascular training curriculum consisting of required reading, formal lectures, and FDA required device training.
The curriculum consists of:
- Hands on training in the use of wires, sheath, catheters, stents, balloon angioplasty, atherectomy, endografting and thrombolysis to develop basic independent skills, or enhance existing skills in all non-coronary vascular beds, which should meet or exceed joint society competency standards for angiography and procedures.
- Didactic sessions (classroom, and in cath lab, informal and P.PT.)
- Diagnostic Angiography
- Procedural Tutorials
- Infrarenal Endografting
- Required Reading by Peter Schneider: (available on various websites)
At the conclusion of the program, a letter of competency may be issued for one of the following:
- Basic Endovascular Skills - (Arterial, venous access abdominal aortic and lower extremity angiography)
- Intermediate Skills - (Angioplasty/
(Infrarenal endografting, carotid angioplasty/
Completion of the course assures future access and resource utilization, opinions, film review, etc., at no charge. Credentialing will be established at 1 – 7 hospitals. During periods of inactivity in the lab, visiting fellow will be expected to cover course reading or be in attendance for non-hands on observation. A simulator with non-coronary software is available for the exclusive use of visiting fellows.
Although there will be no call responsibilities, the visiting fellows will be expected to be present for procedures done after hours M-F and weekends will be free. Food, travel, lodging are the visiting fellows responsibility. Course length anticipated to be 6 weeks to 8 weeks.
For more information, please visit our website at http://www.endovascularfellowshiptraining.com
