Clinical training—1 year program

 The Echocardiography Fellowship includes clinical training in transthoracic echocardiography including strain echocardiography, stress echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography (including 3-D). Exposure to interventional echocardiography, and intraoperative echocardiography are also integral part of the training. The unique aspect of Mayo Clinic Arizona's program is that we have only one advanced echo fellow per year. This provides the fellow with the opportunity to be exposed to a variety of pathologies and to meet the requirements for American societ of echocardiography Level 3 echo training. This is done under the guidance of more than 10 experienced Level 3 faculty members who have expertise in various modalities of echocardiography.

Rotation schedule

A typical schedule in the Echocardiography Fellowship includes:

• Four days a week, you will be training in procedures in the Echocardiography Laboratory. You are expected to perform an echocardiographic examination on each patient coming to the Echocardiography Laboratory. You are expected to interpret the results of the procedure and enter these results into a computer format.
• One day a week, you are expected to pursue clinical research in the area of echocardiography. The Echocardiography Laboratory at Mayo Clinic has a large database, which has produced extensive publications under the direction of various mentors in the echocardiography laboratory.

Didactic Training

Clinical conferences, seminars, case conferences, and one-on-one instruction are integral parts of this fellowship.

Research Training

You are required to conduct some type of scholarly activity during your fellowship. You are encouraged to pursue echo-related research during the fellowship and will be provided ample opportunities, including time, to design ans participate in prospective and retrospective studies. Research can be in the form of a chart review, a case report, or an original investigation. 

Call Frequency

There are no requirements for call.

Evaluation

To ensure fellows develop adequate knowledge and technical skills, their performance is carefully monitored and evaluated by supervising faculty members. The program director reviews completed evaluations and provides feedback if necessary. Fellows also have opportunities to evaluate the program and participate in quarterly meetings with the program directors to share their input.