Program Overview
The Preventive Cardiology Fellowship, formerly the Lipid and Atherosclerosis Fellowship, is a Texas Medical Board–sponsored program that provides trainees (after internal medicine residency or during cardiology/endocrinology fellowship) a rich experience in clinical and research aspects of preventive cardiology, with a focus on lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities. This 1- or 2-year program accepts 1–2 trainees each year. Typically, fellows attend an average of 1–2 half-day clinics specializing in lipid and lipoprotein disorders per week supervised by staff clinicians. A conference series includes topics pertaining to preventive cardiology covered by faculty members as well as trainees. Trainees also participate in clinical trials and develop their own research projects.
Vijay Nambi, M.D., is program director, and Christie M. Ballantyne, M.D., is co-director.
Each fellow is under the direct supervision of Dr. Ballantyne, Dr. Nambi, and the clinical staff directing each clinical and research activity.
Goals and Objectives
- Understanding the pathophysiology of lipid disorders and atherosclerosis
- Proficiency in treating difficult lipid disorders and clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis
- Proficiency in treatment strategies for primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerosis and vascular disease
- Experience in ongoing and original clinical/translational research in the areas of atherosclerosis, lipids, genetics, and obesity
Evaluation
Each fellow is evaluated quarterly by each faculty attending. The areas evaluated are fundamental knowledge, clinical skills, presentation skills, and character/ethics. The evaluation forms are based on evaluation tools used in the general medicine and cardiology offices. Research quality is evaluated by Drs. Nambi and Ballantyne.
Admissions and Benefits
One or two positions are available each year. Applications are accepted July to November; applicants are encouraged to apply early.
Interested candidates should provide a CV and three references. Selected applicants will be scheduled for interviews with at least two faculty members.
Candidates are required to have the following:
- Completed postgraduate training in internal medicine
- Internal medicine board eligibility or board certification
- Outstanding personal references from previous training program(s)
- Commitment to undertaking meaningful research during training
- Desire to continue in the field of cardiovascular disease prevention
- Eligibility for medical training in Texas
Research experience is preferred.
Eligibility for NIH training grant position (US citizen or resident) is preferred, but outstanding foreign applicants with H1 or J1 visa will also be considered.
Please submit your CV and three references to:
Vijay Nambi, M.D. (vnambi@bcm.edu) and Christie M. Ballantyne, M.D. (cmb@bcm.edu)
One Baylor Plaza, MS BCM285
Houston, TX 77030
See 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.
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 absences is available on the graduate medical education website.
Curriculum
The Preventive Cardiology Core Curriculum Lecture Series is taught by clinicians, clinical staff, and basic scientists from the Sections of Cardiovascular Research and Cardiology.
- Responsible Conduct of Research
- Cholesterol Guidelines
- Nonstatin Lipid-Lowering Medications
- HDL Cholesterol and Function
- Triglycerides
- Cardiovascular Risk Stratification
- Lipid-Lowering Medications and Interactions
- Inflammation and Cardiovascular Disease
- Metabolomics, Proteomics, and Genomics
- Hypertension Guidelines, Hypertension, and Cardiovascular Disease
- Imaging of Atherosclerosis
- Weight Loss Therapies
- Lipoprotein(a) and Other Novel Lipid Tests
- Animal Models of Atherosclerosis
- Monocytes, Macrophages, and Atherosclerosis
- Biomarkers: Development, Standardization, and Follow-up
- Prevention of Heart Failure
In addition to the core lectures, the section's weekly conference includes guest speakers and journal club presentations on key recent research.
- See lipid consults in the Lipid Metabolism and Atherosclerosis Clinic weekly, supervised by faculty
- Follow clinical research patients daily
- Attend the section's core lecture/journal club weekly
- Attend the month-long course "Fundamentals in Clinical Investigation" during the first month of training
- Participate in and design research studies in atherosclerosis, lipids, obesity, and cardiometabolic disease prevention
- Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals
- Submit and present abstracts at national scientific meetings
- Recommended: Attend cardiology grand rounds and relevant endocrine and medicine grand rounds
- Recommended: Participate in endocrine and cardiology conferences held at Baylor College of Medicine and affiliated hospitals
- Recommended: Take the American Board of Clinical Lipidology certification examination
- Following clinical research patients daily
- Participating in and designing research studies in atherosclerosis, lipids, genetics, obesity, and cardiovascular disease prevention
- Participating in clinical trials
- Investigator-initiated study protocols
- Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study
- Imaging (MRI/ultrasound) of atherosclerosis
- Biomarkers of atherosclerosis
Affiliates
Affiliations with leading research and healthcare institutions in and around the Texas Medical Center, the world’s largest healthcare complex, provide access to an exceptionally diverse array of people and resources. Discover how our affiliations enhance our education programs.