Program Director's Message
The Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesia fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine is based out of the Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine, at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center in Houston, Texas (U.S. News & World Report ranking #17 for Cardiology & Heart Surgery). We offer a year-long ACGME certified fellowship specializing in adult cardiac, thoracic, vascular and transplant anesthesia. Our fellows gain experience in a wide variety of complex cardiothoracic procedures including:
- Coronary artery bypass grafting surgery
- Heart valve repairs/replacements
- Adult congenital heart disease repairs
- Ascending aortic replacements
- Aortic arch replacements
- Open and minimally invasive descending aorta replacements
- Minimally invasive cardiac procedures
- Robotic assisted cardiac surgery
- Percutaneous procedures performed in the hybrid operating rooms as well as the Cath lab
- Left/right ventricular assist device placement
- Total artificial heart implantation
- Heart transplant
- Lung transplant
- Liver transplant
In addition to the primary clinical rotations within the specialized operating rooms of the Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine, at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, fellows can complete electives with our outstanding cardiology service, perfusion service as well as gain extra experience in pediatric and adult congenital heart surgery at Texas Children’s Hospital (U.S. News & World Report ranking #20 for Cardiology & Heart Surgery) which is attached to our institution. We believe that the outstanding clinical experiences combined with our robust multidisciplinary approach to didactics prepare our fellows well to begin their careers after graduation.
Each class is comprised of ten outstanding and diverse fellows from all over the country, united by their desire and interest in learning more about cardiothoracic anesthesia. Graduates from our program can be found in academic centers, private practices and in leadership positions locally and nationally. As a former graduate of this program and on behalf of my colleagues, we take great pride in our training program and our graduates. We look forward to helping them achieve their goals.
Please contact me at dtolpin@bcm.edu or Michelle Farley michelle.farley@bcm.edu with any questions you may have.
Dual Faculty/Training Position
We are currently offering a Dual Faculty/Training Position.
The Department of Anesthesiology at Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center is seeking a qualified Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiologist for its Division of Cardiovascular Anesthesiology. The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work at the Texas Heart Institute at Baylor College of Medicine and Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center general operating rooms as a faculty member. This is a split position, 50% of the time will be spent as faculty providing anesthesia within the cardiac and regular operating rooms. The other 50% of the time will be allocated to achieving special competency in the echocardiographic guidance of structural heart disease interventions.
Why is this faculty/training position being offered? Please see the quote below from the recently published Recommendations for Special Competency in Echocardiographic Guidance of Structural Heart Disease Interventions: From the American Society of Echocardiography and endorsed by the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists.
“As the field of transcatheter therapy for structural heart disease (SHD) continues to mature, the imaging discipline of interventional echocardiography (IE) also continues to evolve. IE is an emerging specialty that requires a specific set of skills to support an array of transcatheter therapies. IE is unique compared with most standard echocardiographic techniques, as imaging is performed and interpreted in real time; is highly dependent on three-dimensional (3D) and nonstandard views; has immediate and profound implications for patient management; and requires candid, accurate, and timely communication with other members of the multidisciplinary SHD team. In the new era of heart team–based decision-making, rapid clinical adoption of US Food and Drug Administration approved devices, and multimodality imaging, the demand for competent interventional echocardiographers has steadily increased.”
For further information regarding the training please see the full document.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Fellowship in Cardiovascular Anesthesiology from an ACGME-accredited program.
- Board certified or eligible in Anesthesiology.
- Minimum procedural volume required for board certification by the National Board of Echocardiography for special competence in advanced perioperative TEE for anesthesiologists.
- Demonstrated commitment to clinical excellence with a proven track record of outstanding clinical performance during residency and fellowship.
- Enthusiasm for scholarly activities and a commitment to ongoing education.
Daniel Tolpin, M.D.
Program Director
Kirk Jackson, M.D.
Associate Program Director.
Admissions and Benefits
The Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesia fellowship participates in the SF match program. To apply to the Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesia Fellowship, please visit the SF match site (sfmatch.org) and complete the application.
Important Documents
- Three letters of recommendation submitted through SF match.
- One letter should be from a training program director.
- The other two letters should be from objective physicians. (i.e., not relatives or family friends) who have direct personal knowledge of your skills and ethics.
View stipends and benefit information on the Baylor College of Medicine’s graduate medical education website. Stipend levels are at the national average, but Houston's cost of living ranks among the lowest of metropolitan areas in the United States.
Fellows receive a $1,500 education stipend, in addition to a PTE Masters membership for online Echo training.
Maintaining your physical and emotional wellness is a prerequisite to professional success. Our residents have access to a number of programs to support their well-being. View wellness resources.
Information about vacation and leave of absence is available on the graduate medical education website.