Cardiovascular Research Training Fellowships

Research training is offered in all areas of clinical cardiology, basic investigations and outcomes research. Qualified individual may be eligible for support by NIH funded T32 training programs in vascular biology and translational molecular imaging. Other training options include a Department of Medicine Investigative Medicine PhD program that leads to a Yale PhD degree, Yale School of Medicine Masters of Health Sciences program leading to an MS degree in clinical research and a National Clinician Scholars Program leading to an MS degree in health service research.

Cardiology trainees are expected to take an active role in clinical or basic science research. Based on the interests and background of our trainees, dedicated research training may occur prior to basic clinical training.

Guidance is provided by Edward Miller, MD, PhD, Jeffrey Bender, MD, Albert Sinusas, MD, and Eric Velazquez, MD, as well as other faculty members and mentors. A specific mentoring program will pair a faculty member to a fellow for general mentorship of career goals and training. In most cases, this relationship will begin prior to the formal start of fellowship in order to help with the transition. Research training is available in all clinical sub-specialties, clinical epidemiology and health sciences research and several areas of basic and translational cardiovascular research.

Advanced research training for fellows is coordinated by the Program Director. The length of training, sequence relative to clinical training, and identification of specific laboratory/mentor will depend on a number of variables, including previous training, current goals, and available lab resources. In general, such training involves a multi-year commitment on the part of both fellow and faculty mentor. Fellows potentially interested in research are encouraged to discuss options with faculty early in their training, and to speak to a broad range of faculty so as to be fully aware of the scope of the options.

Interested applicants may apply for combined research and clinical fellowship programs, which may begin with two to three years of research training, usually supported by T32 training grant mechanisms. Alternatively, research fellowships can occur after clinical training. It is recommended that if applicants are interested in these pathways submit their application to the fellowship program through ERAS but specify their interest combined clinical/research training in their personal statement.

Research training can be accomplished within the scope of the general cardiology fellowship but may also be performed as part of a number of specific programs that are available at Yale. Information is available on the section’s website. These include:

1. NIH T-32 training grant in vascular biology (Jeffrey Bender, MD, Director) 

2. NIH T-32 training grant in translational cardiac imaging (Y-TRIC, Albert Sinusas, MD, Director)
3. Investigative Medicine (Ph.D.) program
4. Yale Masters of Health Sciences (MHS) program
5. ABIM Research Pathway (coordinated with the residency program in Internal Medicine)
6. The National Clinician Scholars Program (NCSP) formerly Robert Wood Johnson Clinical Scholars Program) is directed by Dr. Cary Gross and is designed to train physicians to be leaders in health care delivery, policy, design and implementation of clinical research, and outcomes research. The program is one of only four in the country, and is comprised of rigorous course work and practical experiences, with formal training in critical thinking and quantitative research methods. The program is competitive, and applicants who wish to pursue such training during fellowship must apply in the 2nd year of training. If accepted, the 2-year program will include the 3rd year of general cardiology training, as well as a 4th additional year.
7. Clinical and Translational Research. Focused, in-depth training can be arranged in clinical and translational research for fellows and is coordinated by the Program Director. The length of training, sequence relative to core clinical training, and identification of specific laboratory/mentor will depend on a number of variables, including previous training, current goals, and available lab resources. In general, such training involves a multi-year commitment on the part of both fellow and faculty mentor. Opportunities vary widely, and include areas such as noninvasive imaging, outcomes research, interventional cardiology, and heart failure.

In the addition, the Section of Cardiovascular Medicine at Yale School of Medicine supports and encourages trainees in the American Board of Internal Medicine Research Pathway (Physician Scientist Training Program) to apply to our program.

Resident applicants offered admission into the Yale ABIM Physician-Scientist Research Pathway will be guaranteed:

1. Admission to the subspecialty fellowship programs of their choice, including Cardiology fellowship without the need to re-apply.
2. Guaranteed salary support for three years of research training.
3. Salary supplementation above the NIH scale during research training.

Final acceptance into the Yale ABIM Physician-Scientist Research Pathway will be contingent on excellence of PGY1 performance.

Because we make every effort to individualize the training program for our fellows, we recognize that training paths may differ. For example, some trainees may go directly into their clinical cardiology fellowship from residency and focus their training in a particular subspecialty of cardiology, integrating academic projects into three years of clinical training. Others may devote two or more years to intensive research prior to completing their clinical training in cardiology. Below are examples of different training pathways taken by our fellows.