“We embrace the opportunity of teaching future generations of cardiologists in that our fellows will experience every cardiology subspecialty and have exposure to the expansive clinical research done at The Christ Hospital,” said Dean J. Kereiakes, MD, FACC, FSCAI, President of The Christ Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute. “Our fellowship program will benefit the candidates, the Heart & Vascular Institute team, and, most importantly, our patients,” continued Dr. Kereiakes, who serves as Medical Director, The Christ Hospital Research Institute, and Professor of Clinical Medicine, The Ohio State University.

The four selected participants, who have completed training in Internal Medicine, are instructed by a core group of experienced cardiologists with the backing of the entire institute. Paired with a mentor for guidance, support, and resources to maintain their physical and mental well-being, the fellows will rotate monthly within all Heart & Vascular Institute subspecialties and connect with physicians of other specialties at the hospital. The training is conducted at the Auburn campus with the support of the extended cardiology team of physicians, nurse practitioners, medical assistants, and pharmacists. In addition to their studies at Auburn, fellows are encouraged to attend national conferences to bolster their learning.

“We’ve created a fellowship program that is not for the fainthearted,” said Santosh G. Menon, MD, Medical Director of the Adult Cardiology Fellowship Program, Medical Director of Clinical Cardiology, and Medical Director of the South Asian Cardiovascular Clinic. “To succeed, participants must demonstrate passion, intellectual curiosity, and the philosophy that they will always go above and beyond for their patients. At the same time, their well-being is very important to us, and we want them to have a good time while they learn.”

The fellowship, which has been in the planning stages for several years, includes a core group of cardiologists who will be actively involved with the students, but over 90 percent of the cardiology team has asked to participate. “I think everyone realizes that teaching keeps you on your toes and that we have the responsibility to share our knowledge,” said Dr. Menon. Several of the newly hired Heart & Vascular Institute cardiologists said that the fellowship program was one of the many significant reasons they accepted a position at The Christ Hospital.

Theresa Ratajczak, MD, Advanced Cardiology Imaging Specialist, a recently hired member of the Heart & Vascular Institute, enthusiastically participates in this educational venture. “I enjoyed teaching when I was a chief fellow, and it’s exciting to witness all the work that’s gone into starting this fellowship,” she said. “I will teach in my field of specialization and am thrilled to be part of this educational advancement program.”

Oversight for the program is through the Accreditation Council of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). According to its charter, this not-for-profit organization sets standards for U.S. graduate medical education programs, rendering accreditation based on compliance with these rigorous standards. This governing body exists to provide a structured framework to support the health and safety of patients, residents, fellows, and faculty members.

After three years of training, the American Board of Internal Medicine requires all fellows to pass a series of necessary exams before becoming board-certified cardiologists. Then they may begin practice or continue their studies focusing on a subspecialty of cardiology.

Plans to expand the fellowship include the addition of four participants annually, for a proposed group of twelve fellows, with the intention of becoming the top cardiology fellowship program in the region. “The ones who started out this year will graduate in 2025, and each year new fellows will rotate into the schedule,” said Dr. Menon. “We are delighted at the interest in our fellowship, which is a reflection of our reputation, in that applicants know they will receive excellent training here and, with our high volumes of patients, will have exceptional experiences.”

About The Christ Hospital Health Network

The Christ Hospital Health Network is an acute care hospital located in Mt. Auburn, with a remote hospital location in Liberty Township, five ambulatory outpatient centers, and dozens of offices conveniently located throughout the region. More than 1,300 talented physicians and more than 6,000 dedicated team members support the Network. Its mission is to improve the health of the community and to create patient value by providing exceptional outcomes and the finest experiences, all in an affordable way. The Network has been recognized by U.S. News & World Report—for the seventh consecutive year as the #1 hospital in Greater Cincinnati for cardiology and heart surgery—and awarded Healthgrades “America’s 50 Best Hospitals” for being in the top 1% in the nation for providing the highest clinical quality year after year. It is also a Press Ganey Guardian of Excellence Award recipient, which recognizes top-performing healthcare organizations that achieve the 95th percentile or above for performance in patient experience. The Christ Hospital is among a select number of hospitals in the nation to be awarded Magnet® recognition for nursing excellence. For more than 130 years, The Christ Hospital has provided compassionate care to those it serves.