Welcome

The heart failure fellowship is offered at the Hamilton Health Sciences and includes clinical and research work in the Heart Function Clinic (HFC) and inpatient Cardiology services.

The Heart Failure fellow will evaluate patients in the Heart Failure Clinic and will provide consultations on hospitalized heart failure patients. All clinical work will be under the supervision of Attending Cardiologists in the Heart Failure Program. The Heart Failure fellow is expected to achieve a high level of competency in diagnosis of heart failure, including the type of heart failure, etiology and comorbidities. The Heart Failure fellow is expected to achieve competency in requesting the appropriate diagnostic tests and in the interpretation of such tests, as well as, in the management of all aspects of heart failure (including heart failure management in outpatient and inpatient settings).

Fellows will also have the opportunity to collaborate with other Cardiologists and Specialists in areas related to the diagnosis and management of heart failure, such as valve disease, pulmonary hypertension, electrophysiology/device therapies, cardio-oncology etc. Interested fellows will have also the opportunities to spend elective time in a Heart Transplant center for exposure to advanced heart failure therapies.

The Heart Failure fellow will also conduct meaningful clinical research in heart failure, will participate in educational activities and contribute to education of trainees, nurses and PAs.

Certification Outcome

The successful completion of the fellowship will grant a Fellowship McMaster Certification.

Entry Requirements

Qualifications for the program include:

• Completed training in Adult Cardiology
• Clinical skills and competency in the assessment of heart failure patients

Recent graduates are required to submit an application form and comply with McMaster University Postgraduate Medical Education requirements for residents and fellows.

Application Deadline

The application deadline is November 30 each year. Under special circumstances, guidelines for the Heart Failure Fellowship application can be modified.

Program Faculty

The Heart Failure fellow will work with an outstanding faculty with stellar clinical and academic experience and expertise including: 

• Dr. Aiman Alak
• Dr. Faizan Amin
• Dr. Katherine Connolly
• Dr. Catherine Demers
• Dr. Philip Joseph
• Dr. Sabina Keen
• Dr. Eva Lonn
• Dr. Koon Teo
• Dr. Harriette Van Spall
• Dr. Douglas Wright
• Dr. Salim Yusuf

Goals of Training

Overall Goals and Objectives include:

• Developing advanced expertise in the diagnosis and management of adult heart failure patients.
• Developing expertise in the identification of heart failure patients requiring referral for advanced heart failure therapies, such as ventricular assist devices and/or cardiac transplantation.
• Developing knowledge in designing and implementing clinical research in heart failure.
• Develop teaching expertise and contribute to the Heart Failure Program educational activities (service rounds, teaching of more junior physicians, nurses and physician assistants.

Length of Training

Generally, a one-year fellowship will be provided. Interested fellows can apply for a second-year extension.

Funding

Trainees are generally funded by their home university.

Successful applicants are provided with letters of support for grant applications upon request.

When such funding by the home university is not available, internal funding through the McMaster Heart Failure program may be available.

Curriculum Highlights

Clinical Curriculum:

The fellow will spend 60% of his/her time in the HFC, 10% of his/her time consulting on inpatients with heart failure and 25% of the time in clinical research and education and will be provided with for time for self-learning and self-improvement. These are general guidelines and flexibility exists based on individual fellows’ preferences and demonstrated expertise in the diagnosis and management of heart failure.

Academic Curriculum:

• Review of clinical work on each patient seen with attending physicians in the HFC.
• Participating and contributing to Heart Failure teaching rounds
• Training in cardiac imaging (Echocardiography, MRI) as it pertains to heart failure (optional).
• Attending at least one national or international Heart Failure meeting.
• Training in clinical research including observational studies and clinical trials.

Supervision & Feedback

Assessment methods:

• Direct observation of clinical and research performance by the Fellowship Director and the attending Cardiologists in the HF Program.

Monthly formal review of interim objectives with the Fellowship Director.

Associated Programs