The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery offers an Adult Advanced Cardiac Surgery fellowship for 1-3 fellows each year. The goal of the Adult Advanced Cardiac Surgery Fellowship Program is to train the fellow in the necessary specialized surgical skills required for treating patients with cardiovascular system diseases. Prior to the fellowship, a candidate must have completed a two-year cardiothoracic surgery residency accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or comparable training and experience in a non-accredited program.

Learning objectives include mastering surgical techniques for the entire spectrum of surgery for acquired cardiovascular disease including coronary bypass grafting, valve repair and replacement, and the treatment of pericardial disease; extensive use of arterial conduit; minimally invasive endoscopic techniques for conduit harvesting and revascularization; mastering full responsibility for surgical planning of a patient from assimilation of preoperative assessment and invasive studies; mastering full responsibility for conduct of the surgical procedure; competently assess, based on available scientific evidence, the indications for surgery for patients with adult cardiovascular diseases; the manner in which to effectively run an outpatient cardiac surgery clinic in conjunction with nurse practitioners and mastering the principles of cardiopulmonary bypass including running the pump.

The fellows will rotate at UPMC Presbyterian, UPMC Shadyside and UPMC Passavant and the rotations will include exposure to major cardiovascular procedures including primary and re-operative operations for coronary atherosclerosis (on and off pump and minimally invasive), ventricular aneurysm, mitral and aortic valve repair and replacement, and aortic root replacement. In addition to operative experience the fellow will attend outpatient clinic to evaluate new patients including their histories and physical and diagnostic data and will be involved in developing the plan for therapy.

Fellows will also be responsible for the postoperative management in the cardiovascular intensive care unit as well as the less intensive postoperative patient care on the general cardiothoracic surgical unit. Weekly conferences will include Weekly Update Conference; Morbidity and Mortality Conference; and Cardiac Case Conference.