University of Minnesota

Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship Program, University of Minnesota

420 Delaware Street SE, MMC 207
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Mitch J. Gymrek, Program Coordinator

Hebert B. Ward, MD, PhD
Program Director

Rosemary F. Kelly, MD
Chief of Cardiovascular Division

Rafael S. Andrade, MD
Chief of Thoracic Surgery Division

Anthony Azakie, MD
Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Division

Program Information

• Traditional program (3-year track)
• Two residents accepted per year

Additional Curriculum Information

Our program has three additional curriculum components:

1. Aortic curriculum – We expose trainees early on to traditional and evolving techniques in the treatment of aortic disease. Fellows routinely round on patients admitted through the acute aortic center as well as through the aortic clinic. They assist in the preoperative planning and review of aortic imaging. They become familiar with 3-D reconstruction of aortic CT scans and stent graft planning. Motivated trainees can get sufficient endovascular experience to qualify for credentialing post-fellowship. Simulation exercises are available once per year. 3 fellows talks annually are devoted to aortic surgery. They are encouraged to participate in clinical outcomes research and present at national meetings related to aortic disease.

2. Simulation – The University of Minnesota has a unique simulation platform developed by one of our staff surgeons. A 3-D multistation cardiac surgical skills simulator allows the fellow to practice several surgical suture techniques at home in an 8 week intensive “boot camp” curriculum with on-line mentoring. These skills are mainly related to suturing during mitral annuloplasty, aortic valve replacement, coronary surgery, aortic surgery, and cannulation. 

3. End stage heart and lung failure – Fellows are encouraged to attend the Heart Failure meetings every Friday at 7AM and the Lung failure meeting every Thursday at 7AM to review inpatients and new patients considered for transplant. The fellows are involved in donor assessment and management. The fellows round on all heart and lung transplant surgical patients and select pre-surgical patients. It is expected that motivated fellows can achieve sufficient donor and recipient implant experience to qualify for UNOS status as Surgical Director of Heart or Lung Transplantation. At least 3 sessions in the educational curriculum are devoted to heart and/or lung failure. Fellows will meet the VAD numbers required for postgraduate credentialing. They are encouraged to participate in clinical outcomes research and present at national meetings related to heart and or lung failure.

Unique Program Components

The University of Minnesota Cardiothoracic Surgery Program is extremely well rounded. The motivated resident will thrive in an environment that exposes them to the full gamut of cardiothoracic surgery including aortic and endovascular surgery, transplantation, coronary bypass surgery, and minimally invasive surgery. Fellows that come through the program are exposed to innovation which translates into new concepts and ideas that are championed by the fellows. They have exposure to specialty services such as transplantation and aortic disease that are otherwise only experienced in post-fellowship programs. The staff is completely committed to training excellent clinicians, technicians and educators. Fellows with an interest in academic medicine will have access to more clinical and animal studies than they will have time to complete. Job placement is a huge focus of our program and every effort is made to ensure that fellows get their most sought after opportunity post-fellowship. The Veterans hospital affords the chief resident a unique opportunity to run an active cardiothoracic surgical service and operate at a level commensurate to their surgical experience and abilities.