Clinical training

Ten months of your first year are dedicated to the vascular surgery service. Responsibilities include participation open and endovascular cases and coverage of the hospital inpatient service.

At least one half-day of outpatient clinic is expected each week. One month of the first year is committed to the outpatient vascular lab learning how to read and perform vascular ultrasound examinations.

One month of your first year serves as a research month. You are expected to participate in ongoing research projects, publish manuscripts, and present at local and national meetings. Full access to research resources (statistical support, manuscript editing service, media services and library) are available to all fellows. 

Twelve months of your second year are dedicated to the vascular surgery service. You work under the direction of the staff vascular surgeons, and are given graded levels of responsibility based on abilities. You are expected to run the hospital inpatient service, participate in endovascular and open cases, and attend clinic.

Endovascular training

Basic endovascular skills are acquired during your first year. This training is done in conjunction with the vascular staff surgeons. The goal is to double the minimum endovascular requirements set forth by the Association for Program Directors in Vascular Surgery and the American Heart Association.

The Division of Vascular Surgery also has a large abdominal aortic aneurysm practice (80 cases a year), of which 80 percent of repairs are accomplished with endovascular-stent devices. The division is active with several endovascular research clinical trials.

Call frequency

Throughout fellowship, you are expected to take call an average of every other day.

Moonlighting

Moonlighting is not permitted during this fellowship.

Didactic training

Several multidisciplinary and vascular surgery conferences are held each week, including an endovascular case management conference. The formal basic science, clinical, and endovascular curricula conforms to that outlined by the Association for Program Directors in Vascular Surgery. 

Additional seminars and lectures in general and cardiovascular surgery and the allied medical fields are available for attendance as well. Education is enhanced by selected lectures given by consultants at the Mayo Clinic and through the Visiting Faculty Member Program. 

Research training

Clinical research is expected of all fellows. You submit your clinical or basic science research studies to the major regional and national vascular surgery society meetings. Publication of research in peer-reviewed journals is encouraged. You are required to complete a clinical research project prior to completion of the fellowship. Ample support is available through Mayo for support of the research efforts including financial support for presentation at regional and national meetings.

Evaluation

To ensure that you acquire adequate knowledge and develop the appropriate technical skills to meet program expectations, your performance is monitored carefully during the Vascular Surgery Fellowship. You are formally evaluated by supervising faculty members after each clinical rotation and meet with the program director to review these evaluations. In addition, you regularly evaluate the faculty to confirm that your educational needs are being met.