Assistant (ASTP)

Assistant (ASTP)

Role Overview

Description of Activities

a. Advanced subspecialty training in operative and perioperative management of patients with advanced heart failure, mechanical circulatory support (MCS), and heart transplantation.

b. Participation in the full spectrum of heart failure care, including:

i. Operative management

ii. Inpatient evaluations

iii. Multidisciplinary treatment planning in collaboration with various medical specialists

c. Mastery of advanced surgical techniques, including:

i. Heart transplantation surgery and perioperative management of patients with advanced heart failure

ii. Ventricular assist device (VAD) implantations

iii. Insertion and management of patients in need of mechanical circulatory support (MCS)

iv. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) procedures

d. Engagement in scholarly activities:

i. Clinical research

ii. Quality improvement initiatives

iii. Mentorship of junior trainees

Activities Requiring Faculty Supervision

a. Limited independent OR time for minor cases to refine surgical skills. This operating room time will be paired to be at the same time/location of one of the core faculty so there is an attending surgeon to support the fellow if any surgical questions or issues should arise.

b. Collaboration with the Surgical Director of Heart Failure and the multidisciplinary transplant team during:

i. Donor organ recoveries

ii. Heart transplant surgeries

iii. ECMO cannulations

Program Goals

a. By the end of the year, the trainee is expected to:

i. Demonstrate advanced competency in surgical heart failure procedures.

ii. Provide comprehensive, patient-centered care across the surgical heart failure continuum.

iii. Lead multidisciplinary teams and contribute meaningfully to academic surgery and cardiac surgery.