Advanced Cardiac Surgery Fellowship

Advanced Cardiac Surgery Fellowship

The Division of Cardiac Surgery at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and Northwestern Medicine Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute is offering an advanced 1- or 2-year fellowship in cardiac surgery with three distinct training pathways:

This advanced fellowship is designed for surgeons seeking high-level subspecialty training in a leading academic cardiac surgery program. Fellows will gain exposure to a broad and high-volume surgical practice, with opportunities for clinical research strongly encouraged.

The Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at Northwestern Memorial Hospital is ranked among the top 10 cardiovascular centers in the United States and performs over 2,000 cardiac surgeries annually. The program offers extensive clinical experience across the full spectrum of complex cardiac surgery, including minimally invasive, robotic, aortic, transcatheter, transplant, and mechanical support procedures.

This track focuses primarily on:

• Minimally invasive and robotically assisted coronary revascularization
• Minimally invasive and robotic valvular surgery
• Transcatheter interventions

Additional exposure may include:

• Aortic surgery
• Heart failure surgery

The program has significant experience in minimally invasive and robotic cardiac procedures, including robotic-assisted mitral valve surgery and revascularization, minimally invasive aortic/mitral/multi-valve procedures, and a broad transcatheter valve practice.

This track focuses primarily on:

• Aortic and aortic root procedures
• Complex aortic reconstruction
• Endovascular procedures

Additional exposure may include:

• Complex valvular repair and replacement
• Percutaneous valve interventions
• Heart failure surgery

The program provides extensive experience in aortic root replacement, valve-sparing procedures, Bentall root replacements, Ross procedures, ascending/arch/thoracoabdominal aneurysms, and endovascular aortic procedures.

This track focuses primarily on:

• Conventional surgery for heart failure
• Cardiac transplantation
• Temporary and durable mechanical circulatory support

Additional exposure may include:

• Valvular surgery
• Aortic surgery
• Transcatheter interventions

Fellows in this track will gain broad experience in advanced heart failure therapies, including ventricular assist devices, extracorporeal and temporary mechanical support, and transplant-related surgery.

Across all three tracks, fellows will train in a high-volume, high-acuity academic environment with access to:

• Complex operative experience
• Multidisciplinary cardiovascular care
• Robust clinical research opportunities
• Exposure to advanced technologies and contemporary cardiac surgical techniques

Applicants must have:

• Successfully completed an ACGME-accredited Thoracic Surgery program or equivalent
• Eligibility for medical licensure in the State of Illinois

Please submit the following:

• CV
• USMLE results
• ABTS certification, proof of eligibility, or equivalent
• 3 letters of recommendation