Program Overview
The Preventive Cardiology Fellowship, formerly the Lipid and Atherosclerosis Fellowship, is a Texas Medical Board–sponsored program that provides trainees (after internal medicine residency or during cardiology/endocrinology fellowship) a rich experience in clinical and research aspects of preventive cardiology, with a focus on lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities. This 1- or 2-year program accepts 1–2 trainees each year. Typically, fellows attend an average of 1–2 half-day clinics specializing in lipid and lipoprotein disorders per week supervised by staff clinicians. A conference series includes topics pertaining to preventive cardiology covered by faculty members as well as trainees. Trainees also participate in clinical trials and develop their own research projects.
Vijay Nambi, M.D., is program director, and Christie M. Ballantyne, M.D., is co-director.
Each fellow is under the direct supervision of Dr. Ballantyne, Dr. Nambi, and the clinical staff directing each clinical and research activity.
Goals and Objectives
- Understanding the pathophysiology of lipid disorders and atherosclerosis
- Proficiency in treating difficult lipid disorders and clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis
- Proficiency in treatment strategies for primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerosis and vascular disease
- Experience in ongoing and original clinical/translational research in the areas of atherosclerosis, lipids, genetics, and obesity
Activities
- See lipid consults in the Lipid Metabolism and Atherosclerosis Clinic weekly, supervised by faculty
- Follow clinical research patients daily
- Attend the division's core lecture/journal club weekly
- Attend the month-long course "Fundamentals in Clinical Investigation" during the first month of training
- Participate in and design research studies in atherosclerosis, lipids, obesity, genetics, and cardiometabolic disease prevention
- Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals
- Submit and present abstracts at national scientific meetings
- Recommended: Attend cardiology grand rounds and relevant endocrine and medicine grand rounds
- Recommended: Participate in endocrine and cardiology conferences held at Baylor College of Medicine and affiliated hospitals
- Recommended: Take the American Board of Clinical Lipidology certification examination
Evaluation
Each fellow is evaluated quarterly by each faculty attending. The areas evaluated are fundamental knowledge, clinical skills, presentation skills, and character/ethics. The evaluation forms are based on evaluation tools used in the general medicine and cardiology offices. Research quality is evaluated by Drs. Nambi and Ballantyne.
Affiliates
Affiliations with leading research and healthcare institutions in and around the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest healthcare complex, provide access to an exceptionally diverse array of people and resources. Discover how our affiliations enhance our education programs.
Diversity and Inclusion
Baylor College of Medicine fosters diversity as a prerequisite to accomplishing our institutional mission and setting standards for excellence in training healthcare providers and providing patient-centered care.