Structural Heart and Valve Disease Fellow

Program Summary

The cardiology section of the Center for Cardiovascular Health at Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is a high volume, state‑of‑the‑art service using nationally‑ and internationally‑recognized, system‑based approaches to treat structural heart disease, including all valvular pathologies, left atrial appendage closure, ASD and PFO closure. In alignment with the Center for Cardiovascular Health’s vision to create a comprehensive multi‑disciplinary team focused on quality, research, education and innovation, the goal of the Structural Heart Disease Fellowship is to train interventional cardiologists/fellow to perform complex structural heart procedures safely and effectively, to obtain an ability to generate relevant differential diagnosis based on history and physical examination.

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health is known nationally and internationally for its application of lean principles from the Virginia Mason Production System (VMPS) to increase patient safety and quality of care, while reducing costs. The structural heart fellow will be immersed in these principles throughout the fellowship, leading to a deepened understanding of the broader health care context and how lean methodology can be applied in future practice settings.

Under the leadership and supervision of Fellowship Director Ming Zhang, MD, PhD, FACC, and core faculty members Tacoma Site Ronald Reiter, MD, and Silverdale Site Abdul Saidi, MD, and a team of core faculties, the fellow will have the opportunity to gain comprehensive training across three VMFH hospitals. In addition to learning from an experienced multi‑disciplinary heart team, fellows will benefit from individual faculty’s extensive background in research, education, and the management of complex cardiac conditions.

Dr. Zhang remains current with the latest treatment options, clinical guidelines, research therapies, and emphasizes a collaborative, team‑based approach to patient care.

The primary goal of the Structural Heart and Valve Disease Fellowship is to give the fellow the clinical and surgical skills to excel in a cardiovascular career, and serve as an ambassador for him/herself, the profession and Virginia Mason Franciscan Health. Specifically, the fellowship curriculum aims to teach requisite cognitive and technical aspects of cardiology. The fellow will be mentored and directly supervised by structural heart, interventional cardiology, cardiac anesthesia, and cardiac surgery faculties toward achievement of goals in five areas:

• Interventional skill
• Patient care
• Medical knowledge
• Research and teaching
• Interpersonal skills and communication

Fellowship Curriculum

If you have questions, please contact Mindy Vu.

• Structural Heart and Valve Disease Fellowship Curriculum
• VMFH Center for Cardiovascular Health
• SJMC Franciscan Heart & Vascular Associates eph
• SMMC Franciscan Cardiovascular Associates hael
• Visit Seattle

If you have questions, please contact Mindy Vu, Academic Specialist.

Virginia Mason Franciscan Health
1100 Ninth Ave. Mail Stop G250-B
Seattle, WA 98111

Fellows must have a Board Certification in Cardiology and ACGME accredited Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program candidates must complete the Structural Heart and Valve Disease Fellowship application.

We cannot consider applicants with J1 visa status.

To apply for the Structural Heart and Valve Disease Fellowship, please submit the following materials:

• Current curriculum vitae
• Personal statement
• Proof of formal general cardiology and interventional cardiology training
• Three (3) letters of recommendation

Applications open Sept. 1.

If you have questions, please contact Mindy Vu, Academic Specialist.