Chief Fellows’ Welcome

Welcome to LA General/USC Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship Program

There are so many important aspects to a strong, successful cardiology fellowship program and I hope you were able to read about some of ours in Dr. Van Herle’s welcome letter. Here’s an inside look at a few areas that we are most proud of:

First, our clinical experience is nothing short of phenomenal. As fellows, we are offered a unique experience to train at both a quaternary academic institution, as well as one of the largest non-profit safety net hospitals in the country. At Keck Medical Center, we are exposed to patients referred from other institutions in need of advanced procedures such as high risk percutaneous coronary intervention, complex ablations, as well as those in need of advanced heart failure and transplant services. Across campus at Los Angeles General Medical Center, fellows are an essential part of the cardiology services. Whether it be in the coronary care unit or in cardiology clinic, we all have a crucial, autonomous role. The contrast between the two environments provides a well-rounded clinical experience.

In addition to a strong foundation in clinical cardiology, the program provides numerous opportunities for research and scholarship activities. General cardiology fellows and advanced fellows are involved in research throughout the year and are encouraged by the faculty to present at national and international conferences, when awarded the opportunity. In an effort to boost our work, the division created a “research-track” in the fellowship program that provides protected time away from clinical duties to pursue scholarship.

Finally, we couldn’t brag about our program without mentioning our outstanding faculty. We have been taught and mentored by world renowned cardiologists, who are giants in their field. Not only do they excel at the bedside and in the lab, but their dedication to our training is remarkable. In our time at LA General/USC, we have been mentored by brilliant clinicians and teachers who have shaped not only our clinical knowledge, but our career paths. We look forward to calling them our colleagues in the future. As we each move on to our next adventures after fellowship, we feel confident in our abilities as a general cardiologist. LA General/USC cardiovascular medicine has provided us with an exceptional foundation in general cardiology and we couldn’t have asked for a better training environment filled with interesting clinical cases alongside phenomenal mentors and co-fellows.