1. Overview
   Training in coronary angioplasty is done in a formal one year fellowship program. this program is a fourth year fellowship following a credit three year program that leads to board certification or board eligibility as outlined in the 17th Bethesda Conference in Cardiology Training. this training is not a part of the usual three year program for the General Cardiology fellowship. The fourth year leads to board eligibility in Interventional Cardiology.
   
   
2. Clinical Training, Experience and Support
   The training program in Interventional Cardiology has a full time Director who is highly skilled in interventional techniques. The facilities include a fully equipped cardiac catheterization laboratory with high resolution imaging system. High quality digital road mapping is also present. An extensive variety of balloon catheters, guide wires, guiding catheters, as well as stents and other new interventional devices are available. The technical staff is highly experienced in interventional techniques. The training program also includes required research. This may be clinical or experimental and can be integrated in the clinical training or be a separate research experience in another year.
   
   
3. Educational Programs / Conference Seminars Trainees can attend and are encouraged to attend the Annual American College of Cardiology or American Heart Association meetings in addition to major interventional cardiology meetings. these meetings may also include industry - sponsored seminars to certify fellows in competency in new techniques such as rotational atherectomy. Throughout the year, trainees are encouraged to attend the General Cardiology Conferences which are held each day. These include EKG, Echo Conferences, Journal Club, State of the Heart and Cardiac Catheterization Conference. In addition, there is a monthly Interventional Cardiology Conference in which trainees will periodically be expected to present results of their research or a timely topic in Interventional Cardiology.
   
   
4. Application Process
   Applicants for the Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program will receive a packet that will include a letter describing our program. Application for the program is made in the Spring of the year prior to the beginning year of the program. The application packet will include a list of materials which need to be included such as an application for Loyola University Medical Center and one for the Hines VA Hospital. After the application is received, it is filed until the three letters of recommendation are received. Then the application is reviewed by the Program Director. If the applicant is given a interview date, a letter of confirmation will be sent.
   
   
5. Additional Training
   For those individuals who are interested and selected, a fifth year of Interventional Fellowship Program will be available. This will include advanced interventional techniques such as transeptal catheterization, valvuloplasty, endovascular stenting of abdominal aortic aneurysms, carotid stenting, peripheral angioplasty, percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale, and septal ablation of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

Fred Leya, MD
Interventional Fellowship Program Director

Office Contact:
Renata Barylowics
708-216-4466

For an application click here (184Kb).