Training Environment

Our advanced vascular medicine and endovascular interventional training pathway provides comprehensive training for physicians to pursue an independently funded academic career in vascular medicine. The overall intent of the program is to train the next generation of leaders in the emerging field of vascular medicine.

We have developed a clinical curriculum in vascular medicine designed to assure that trainees will become outstanding vascular medicine clinicians with our two pathways of general vascular medicine and endovascular therapy. The clinical training draws on the individual strengths of our faculty, and highlights the multi-disciplinary and cooperative approach to vascular care presently provided at Yale-New Haven Hospital Heart and Vascular Center.

Clinical training in vascular medicine (general vascular medicine track and endovascular track) is located primarily at Yale New Haven Hospital and West Haven VA Medical Center. Yale-New Haven performs over 500 invasive peripheral diagnostic procedures of which 80 – 90 % result in interventional procedures annually, with 90% of this volume from the Yale University interventional practice. Our Peripheral Vascular medicine group employs all modalities of state-of-the-art percutaneous intervention, including intravascular ultrasound, atherectomy, thrombectomy, distal protection, laser, crossing devices (i.e. Crosser,etc), re-entry devices (i.e. Pioneer catheter,etc). Yale-New Haven has cutting edge non-invasive evaluation services; the ultrasound service is part of select national group which serves as core laboratory for multiple clinical trials. CT-Angiography and MR-Angiography are a critical part of the patient management and physician education programs. The vascular laboratory and critical limb services are currently run in collaboration with vascular surgery as part of the multidisciplinary approach in the heart and vascular center at Yale- New Haven Hospital.

Our trainees participate in all non-invasive and invasive management of our patients both at Yale New Haven Hospital and the WHVAMC and have primary responsibility for inpatient and out-patient evaluation and management of patients with aortic aneurysms, critical limb ischemia, claudication, symptomatic and asymptomatic carotid disease, reno-vascular hypertension, deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary embolism and lymphatic disease among other pathologies. All trainees see patients one day a week for primary evaluation and for follow up after hospitalization or after elective interventions. It is expected that the Yale Vascular Medicine and Endovascular trainee will be prepared for certificate qualifications in endovascular medicine and vascular medicine (American Board of Vascular Medicine).

An additional major directive of the program is to provide trainees with the cognitive skills and practical experience to conduct research in vascular medicine. We have built with deep infrastructure Yale’s pathways and opportunities for trainees to attain in-depth knowledge about research design, conduct, and analysis. We have also developed unique opportunities to provide novel insight into the research and publication process. An essential element of this research training is mentored research.

Our trainees are expected to actively pursue research interests in basic science, with recent trainees involved in angiogenesis, stem cell therapy, and cardiac gene therapy research. Fellow trainees have the opportunity to participate in local protocols. Nonclinical research time can be tailored to the individual trainees needs and toward completion of an independent research project. Collaborations with other members of the cardiology section and members of the medical school faculty are strongly encouraged.

The overall goal of the physician training programs are to provide a solid foundation for longitudinal consultative care and advanced techniques for managing patients with vascular disease, and to develop the trainees into the next generation of local, regional, and national leaders in vascular care and research.