Fellowship - Cardiac
A twelve month clinical fellowship in cardiac anesthesia is offered within the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority (WRHA) / St. Boniface General Hospital Cardiac Sciences Program. This is a University of Manitoba affiliated program, administered through the Department of Anesthesia. With a caseload of approximately 1300 adult cardiac surgical procedures per year, consisting of all major open heart procedures (including ventricular assist devices) with the exclusion of cardiac transplantation, fellows are exposed to a broad range of cardiac surgical and anesthetic procedures, including extensive experience with transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). The clinical core curriculum allows for some flexibility, but generally includes rotations consisting of:
  1. A minimum of 33 weeks of clinical Cardiac Anesthesia
  2. A minimum of six weeks of dedicated echocardiography (including four weeks in the Cardiology echo lab and two weeks in the operating room)
  3. Two weeks of cardiology in the cath lab
  4. One week of clinical perfusion experience
  5. Five weeks of post-cardiac surgery critical care
  6. Four weeks vacation time
  7. One week paid conference leave

In addition to the clinical experience and one-on-one instruction that fellows receive in the operating room, a formal didactic program also exists with one dedicated academic day per week to allow lectures and other self-directed learning on key topics in Cardiac Anesthesia. In addition, a separate seminar series involving all Cardiac Sciences Program fellows (Cardiac Anesthesia, Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery and Critical Care) has also been established. Weekly journal clubs/rounds review pertinent literature in the Cardiac Sciences field, and this includes combined sessions with Cardiac Surgery.

Successful applicants will also experience a high level of training in perioperative echocardiography (including TEE in every case) to successfully prepare them for the National Board of Echocardiography Perioperative Transesophageal Examination (PTEeXAM).

There are currently fourteen Cardiac Anesthesiologists on staff with advanced echo training. The intraoperative echo system is state of the art with digital workstations in every cardiac operating room. Fellows will also have the opportunity to participate in a “wet lab” to review cardiac anatomy with a specific focus on valvular repair. A comprehensive in-house echo exam is also being developed for Cardiac fellows.

Research opportunities are available in the basic sciences and in ongoing clinical studies within the Cardiac Sciences Program.

Salary is competitive and does not require participation in any non-cardiac cases. A cardiac anesthesia call (from home) requirement is mandatory.

Prospective fellows must be eligible for specialty certification (Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada) at the end of their year of training. Please refer to the RCPSC web site.