Research Training
One of the major strengths of the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship research program at University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center is the opportunity for innovative basic, translational and clinical research. Fellows initially identify a faculty mentor and explore clinical, translational and basic science laboratories during the first two clinical years; one to three additional years of dedicated and protected research time are available during the fellowship for mentored research projects.
Throughout the clinical years of training, fellows are encouraged to initiate and develop plans for research years. This critically important component of fellowship training is strongly encouraged and emphasized in regular meetings with the program director and other key faculty members. Grant writing and submission is strongly encouraged for those seeking extended research training and mentors assist in targeting appropriate grants and agencies.
Research in Cardiovascular Medicine Opportunities for Fellows
Basic Translational Science:
- Arrhythmias
- Cardiac myocyte biology
- Gene regulation
- Inflammation and immunity
- Stem cell and regenerative medicine
- Vascular biology
Clinical Research:
- Advanced heart failure and transplant
- Cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation
- Cardiovascular imaging
- Cardiovascular imaging
- Electrophysiology
- Interventional cardiovascular medicine
- Preventive cardiovascular medicine
- Vascular medicine
Research Collaborations
The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine has also established outstanding collaborations with other divisions, departments, schools and centers in:
- Biomedical engineering and radiology
- Dermatology
- Genetics
- Hematology and oncology
- Infectious diseases and global health
- Nursing
- Pathology
- Pediatrics
- Pharmacology
- Physiology and biophysics
Finally, the division boasts numerous funding opportunities and is constantly expanding its efforts in securing more support. Currently, divisional portfolio boasts:
- $6.5 million in annual National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding
- 15 RO1s
- 4 K-grants
- Multiple institutional training grants: 1T32, 1 CTSC and 2 AHA SDG
Physician-Investigator Track
Fellows in the Physician-Investigator track receive nine months of dedicated research time in their third year and an additional year or more in the research lab. Fellows pursuing the Physician-Investigator track may opt to enroll in the Clinical Research Scholars Program (CRSP), a flexible two- to four-year Master's program designed to prepare clinical investigators for leadership roles in academia, government and industry through rigorous didactics coupled with in-depth mentoring experience.
Harrington Physician-Scientist Residency Pathway
In preparation for the Physician-Investigator track, residents may enroll in the Harrington Physician-Scientist Residency pathway that focuses on exceptional clinical and research training early on in a resident career. As part of the training, the Harrington Physician-Scientist pathway includes:
- 24 months of internal medicine residency training
- 24 month of general cardiovascular medicine fellowship training
- 24 months of research (80 percent protected)
The majority of the general cardiovascular training program fellows pursued advanced fellowships (including additional research training). After completing the education in the fellowship program, approximately half of the graduates started practice in academic medical centers and the remainder joined a private practice.