Resident Rotations
Graduate Level I
- 6 months General Thoracic Surgery
- 6 months adult Acquired Cardiac Surgery
Graduate Level II
- 3 months Congenital Heart Surgery
- 3 months General Thoracic Surgery
- 6 months Adult Acquired Cardiac Surgery
Graduate Level III
- Individualized, advanced experience in Acquired Cardiac and Congenital Disease and
General Thoracic Surgery
The third year of cardiothoracic training is the chief residency year, designed to allow residents to modify rotations in order to focus on an area of particular interest. Because residents are able to hone their skills in a particular subspecialty area, this style of curriculum is advantageous for career placement after graduation.
Surgery for acquired cardiac disease is divided into five teams, each with a Board Resident, Fellow, or Clinical Associate as a team leader responsible for directing the activities of the first and second-year residents and their service.
Resident Call Schedule
The Chief Administrative Resident creates the call schedules, and the director of the residency program formats the quarterly rotation schedule and monthly conference schedule.
Graduate Levels I and III
- Every fourth or fifth night
Graduate Level III
Conference Schedule
Under American Board of Thoracic Surgery guidelines, a mandatory didactic conference schedule covers a broad spectrum of topics in cardiothoracic surgery. Intramural and Extramural speakers are often invited to address resident conferences that are held twice each week. Quality assurance conferences to address mortality and morbidity are held bimonthly. the monthly journal club not only teaches but also encourages residents to critically evaluate the cardiothoracic surgical literature. Saturday morning conferences provide case management reviews.
Miller Family Heart & Vascular Institute Grand Rounds incorporates speakers from the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery.
Research
Each resident selects a research project and is required to conduct a research study that is formally presented at the Annual Research Day in June. Laboratory investigation is also available.
Residency Program Evaluation
To monitor the effectiveness of the residency program, residents are asked to complete anonymous evaluations on all staff surgeons. Staff is also asked to evaluate their respective rotating residents every three months and these reviews are discussed with the residents twice yearly. Resident performance on in-service examinations is important; any areas of deficit are addressed directly with the resident.
Fellowships
Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Fellowships are offered for those who have completed a training program in cardiac surgery.
Education Alumni
Three hundred sixty-five graduates of the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery practice in 40 states and 28 countries across the world.
Each year, alumni are invited to our June graduation weekend, a well-attended event that begins on a Thursday evening with a Visiting Professor lecture, followed by a reception. On Friday, our current residents present their year-long research projects to staff, the visiting professor, alumni and guests. A formal graduation ceremony and dinner is held Friday evening.
We strive to keep in touch with our alumni and value this continuing relationship. Throughout the year, alumni receive a number of mailings from the department, including an updated alumni directory, residents' abstract book from the June graduation event, periodic news of the department, and an annual calendar. The department calendar continues to be very popular among the alumni and highly requested by physicians outside of the Clinic.
Contact Information
For additional information, please contact:
Darlene Straub
Cleveland Clinic
Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
9500 Euclid Avenue, Desk J4-1
Cleveland, OH 44195
Email: straubd@ccf.org
Phone: 216.445.6816