Cardiology

Building the next generation of leaders

Treatment options for Advanced Heart Failure (AHF) are increasing in number and complexity and now include devices delivered surgically, through the skin, or as part of hybrid procedures involving both cardiac surgeons and interventional cardiologists.

Currently, interventional cardiology training does not include training in AHF. For the majority of interventional cardiologists, AHF training is not required. However, for a growing number of interventional cardiologists, an additional year of in-depth training in Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology (AHFTC) will provide the knowledge to make optimal decisions for patients with AHF who are being considered for drug or device therapy, and to be dual board eligible.

The group of interventional heart failure specialists will be uniquely positioned to evaluate and implement emerging drug- and device-based therapies for the management of all subtypes of heart failure, including: heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), valvular heart failure, right ventricular failure, pulmonary hypertension, cardiorenal syndrome, acute decompensated HF, cardiogenic shock and complication associated with left ventricular assist devices.

We are currently recruiting for the IHF Class of 2021, which involves Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology Training in 2021 followed by Interventional Cardiology Training in 2022. 

View all of our cardiovascular training opportunities >

An unprecedented gift to the newly-formed CVCRI from Boston-based Abiomed, Inc. will resource this novel fellowship program. Under the direction of Dr. Navin Kapur, The Robert Kung Interventional Heart Failure Clinical and Research Fellowship Program grant will be used to support the annual salaries and related costs of dual fellows in IHF:

• The Kung IHF Clinical Fellow will complete a 2-year clinical training program in Advanced Heart Failure and Interventional Cardiology with an emphasis on advanced hemodynamics, acute and durable mechanical circulatory support, invasive cardiology, and cardiogenic shock management. Tufts Medical Center intends that the Kung IHF Clinical Fellowship Program be ACGME accredited and include a year of advanced heart failure clinical training under the direction of David DeNofrio, MD. 
  
  

• The Kung IHF Research Fellow will complete 1 year clinical or preclinical research program focused on acute mechanical circulatory support within the domain of interventional cardiology, heart failure, or cardiogenic shock. Both Kung IHF Fellows will be required to submit a minimum of 3 abstracts and 2 manuscripts per year, participate in the TEACH (advanced hemodynamic program) through the Cardiovascular Research Foundation, and attend the TransCatheter Therapeutics (TCT) and A-CURE meetings during their fellowship training program. 

This partnership represents an innovative and integrated way for Tufts MC to provide scientific, educational and training opportunities to ambitious and talented Advanced Heart Failure students and can be used as a model for further collaboration between research, industry, and philanthropy across the Medical Center.

Learn more about the Fellowship >

The primary objective of the Interventional Heart Failure Training is to develop interventional cardiologists with an advanced understanding of heart failure physiology, diagnosis and management with further in-depth technical training related to device implementation for patients with advanced heart failure.

Our faculty members are among the nation’s leaders in bringing the latest advances in heart failure into clinical practice. All are on the academic staff of Tufts Medical Center and are faculty at Tufts University School of Medicine.

Navin K. Kapur, MD

David DeNofrio, MD
Michael S. Kiernan, MD, MSc
Carey D. Kimmelstiel, MD
Amanda Vest, MBBS, MPH
Andrew R. Weintraub, MD

Eligibility: We are currently recruiting for the IHF Class of 2021 (HF 2021 and IC 2022). To be eligible, applicants must have completed 3 years in an ACGME certified Cardiology Training Program in the United States by June 2021.

Requirements: Cardiology fellows who enter the Interventional Heart Failure Training are expected to complete one full year of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) certified Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology Training followed by one full year of ACGME certified Interventional Cardiology Training (see table below). Graduates of the program will be dual eligible in Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology.

Tufts Interventional Heart Failure Training Curriculum
Advanced HF/Transplant (12 months)	Interventional Cardiology (12 months)
Inpatient Management	Complex Coronary Intervention
Outpatient Clinic	Structural Heart Intervention
Endomyocardial Biopsy	Advanced Hemodynamics
Invasive Hemodynamics	Acute Circulatory Support (Acute MCS)
LVAD and Transplant Management	LVAD Interrogation and Intervention
End of Life Decision Making	Emerging Devices for Heart Failure
Clinical and Preclinical Research
Dual Board Certification (Interventional and Advanced Heart Failure)

1. A personal statement describing the applicant’s interest in Interventional Heart Failure Training (500-750 words).
2. A Curriculum Vitae.
3. Two letters of reference from an Advanced Heart Failure attending and Interventional Cardiologist attending at the referring institution.
   
   

General Cardiology Training	Advanced Heart Failure	Interventional Cardiology
Years 1-3	Year 4	Year 5

Applications should be submitted to Rebecca Thorne at 617-636-4769 or rthorne@tuftsmedicalcenter.org

• Youssef Rahban, MD (2018-2019) – HF
• Colin Hirst, MD (2018-2019) – IC
• Lija Swain, MD (2018-2019) – Kung Research Fellow

Nima Aghili, MD
Denver, CO

The Acute MCS Working Group 

Acute Cardiac Unloading and Recovery (A-CURE)

Device Therapies for Heart Failure (D-HF) 

Treatment of Cardiogenic Shock: Heart Team Approach

Navin K. Kapur, MD, Interventional Cardiology & Advanced Heart Failure; Executive Director, Cardiovascular Center for Research and Innovation (CVCRI); Director, Acute Circulatory Support Program; Director, Interventional Research Laboratories

Division of Cardiology
Tufts Medical Center
800 Washington Street, Box 80
Boston, MA 02111
P: 617-636-6140
F: 617-636-1444
Email: nkapur@tuftsmedicalcenter.org