The Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, specializes in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the cardiovascular system and is the largest practice of its kind in the United States.

In an average year, we see more than 60,000 outpatients and care for approximately 30,000 patients in the hospital. We have state-of-the-art facilities and equipment to support the high patient volume and variety of diagnostic and treatment options available.

The department is organized into divisions that encompass all areas of cardiology. The programmatic design of the practice allows vertical and horizontal integration of patient care, translational and clinical research, quality improvement, and education. This ultimately translates into continuously improving patient care utilizing cutting edge techniques with state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment and therapeutic methods. 

Teams of physicians and allied health care professionals with comprehensive expertise and experience in all cardiovascular diseases provide both inpatient and outpatient care. Faculty members are diverse and include basic scientists, clinical investigators, physician scholars, and physician educators, all engaged in health care delivery and discovery. We collaborate with nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nursing specialists, pharmacists, social workers, and technicians to push the boundaries of medical knowledge and provide the optimal integrated care for our patients.

Fellows maintain a critical role in the practice and obtain robust outpatient and inpatient experience partnering with faculty leaders in the field.

From the program directors

We appreciate your interest in the Cardiovascular Diseases Fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. The Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic in Rochester is one of the elite programs in the country. We are committed to providing comprehensive patient-centered care with the most innovative diagnostic and treatment options, cutting-edge facilities, and state-of-the-art imaging and interventional procedures. Our clinicians collaborate with basic and translational researchers to improve patient care through integrated training of expert clinicians, physician-educators, and physician-scientists.

In our program, fellows complete a core clinical curriculum, following COCATS recommendations, over the first two years of the fellowship. Year three is dedicated to clinical, translational, or basic research training. Our department includes both clinician investigators and physician scientists; we have no doubt you will find a research mentor that aligns with your career goals. In addition, fellows interested in a career in clinical trials or outcomes research can obtain a Masters in Clinical Investigation. Opportunities to educate medical students, residents, and other trainees are also readily available.

We invite you to explore our program webpage and learn more about what we have to offer.

Nandan Anavekar, M.B., B.Ch.
Program Director

Atta Behfar, M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Program Director (Research)

Michael Cullen, M.D.
Associate Program Director (Clinical Practice)

Mayra Guerrero, M.D.
Associate Program Director (Recruitment and Academic Affairs)

Faculty

In addition to caring for patients in clinical practice, Mayo Clinic's cardiology faculty is committed to both fellowship education and advancing medical knowledge. Our faculty have published and lectured extensively, and many are internationally recognized as leaders in their field.

Mentors

Fellows work closely with Dr. Atta Behfar to identify a mentor that aligns with their career and research goals. In addition to program leadership, fellow mentors help each fellow develop and obtain their individual career goals.

Visiting professors

Once a year, the fellows in the Cardiovascular Training Program select and invite an internationally recognized cardiologist as their visiting professor. During the visit, fellows are cleared from their clinical responsibilities to spend time and network with the visiting professor. During the day, fellows will review interesting cases, discuss their research and obtain career advice.