Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences offers a 12-month Cardiothoracic Surgery, including Heart and Lung Transplant, Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant Fellowship.

Program highlights

Over the course of 12 months, this program develops a nurse practitioner or physician assistant into a highly skilled cardiothoracic advanced practice provider capable of functioning throughout the entire spectrum of care. Fellows rotate in experiences throughout all areas of cardiovascular surgery, including heart and lung transplantation, to comprehensively understand these complicated patient populations.

The curriculum uses direct patient care experiences, simulation labs, and lectures to enhance a fellow’s knowledge and promotes Mayo Clinic’s ideals of education, research, and excellence in patient care. This program develops fellows into providing the highest quality of cardiovascular surgery care. Fellows gain direct patient care experiences within high-acuity populations including:

• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO)
• Left ventricular assist devices (LVAD)
• Heart transplant
• Lung transplant
• Cardiovascular surgery

Graduation and certification

Upon graduation, fellows receive a certificate from Mayo Clinic School of Health Sciences documenting completion of the Nurse Practitioner or Physician Assistant Fellowship in Cardiothoracic Surgery, including Heart and Lung Transplant. This training demonstrates that fellows have received advanced training that allows them to be more competitive for future roles within cardiac surgery, along with heart and lung transplant.

Accreditation information

See accreditation information from Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.