Dr. Kevin Wheelan, M.D. Director of the Baylor Fellowship Program
Physicians from the HeartPlace Baylor office sponsor and coordinate an accredited cardiovascular fellowship program at Baylor University Medical Center. The duration of the Cardiovascular Diseases Program is three years with 6 accredited positions in the general program. Comprehensive training in all major aspects of clinical cardiology is combined with training in basic and clinical cardiovascular research. The educational program will provide training and experience in the evaluation and management of a wide variety of patients with acute and chronic cardiovascular conditions. We also offer PGY-7 positions in interventional cardiology and electrophysiology, which are twelve month programs.
Dr. Manish Assar is the Program Director for Electrophysiology Fellowship Program. HeartPlace Baylor cardiologists serve as the faculty of the program. Other faculty members include nationally recognized academicians Drs. Bill Roberts, Paul Grayburn and Clyde Yancy. HeartPlace electrophysiologist Dr. Kevin Wheelan serves as the director of the program. The program accomplishes COCATS level II training in cardiac imaging, nuclear cardiology, ECG interpretation, and invasive cardiology.
Clinical rotations include invasive cardiology, interventional cardiology, cardiac electrophysiology, cardiac transplantation, cardiac rehabilitation, lipids, noninvasive cardiology (including transesophageal echocardiography), nuclear cardiology, vascular medicine, and pediatric cardiology. In addition, all fellows have 6 months of protected time for research during which they will design and complete a clinical cardiology research project.
The Division of Cardiology performs about 1,600 interventional procedures each year, including atherectomy, stents, and newer techniques such as alcohol septal ablation for HCM, ASD closure, and the percutanous mitral valve clip. The division also participates in various ongoing clinical research studies examining various interventional procedures.
The division includes four full-time electrophysiologists who are actively involved in clinical research with ongoing projects, including cryo and radiofrequency ablation, cryoballoon ablation for Afib, studies of investigational drugs, and the implantation of investigational defibrillator devices. These physicians perform about 700 catheter ablations, 500 defibrillator implants, and 800 pacemaker implants each year. A significant percentage of the devices include CRT therapy. Laser lead extractions are also performed.
An active cardiac transplantation program exists including LVADs and other circulatory support devices. Advanced cardiac imaging including CT angiography and cardiac MRI is an emphasis for the fellows. Advanced intervention in peripheral vascular disease is also an active area of practice and research.
If you have any specific questions concerning the fellowship program, please email the program coordinator, Christina Hernandez, at Christina.Hernandez@baylorhealth.edu.
