Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency

 

The Training Program in Cardiothoracic Surgery at Duke University Medical Center is designed to develop academic cardiothoracic surgeons. At the completion of the program, residents will demonstrate proficiency in all clinical aspects of cardiothoracic surgery and will have extensive experience in clinical research.

 

The training program, a 3-year program with 3 residents at each training level, provides for progressive responsibility and a balanced exposure to adult cardiac surgery, congenital cardiac surgery, and general thoracic surgery. The philosophy of the training program is predicated on the mentorship system, where each resident rotates on a service with 2-3 faculty members for 4 months, providing consistent, sustained relationships.

 

Clinical Rotations in Cardiothoracic Surgery (rotations are 4 months in duration)

 

Year 1	Year 2	Year 3
Adult Cardiac (Duke)	Adult Cardiac (Duke)	Adult Cardiac (Chief Resident-Duke)
General Thoracic (Duke)	General Thoracic (Duke)	Adult Cardiac and Thoracic (Durham VA)
Adult Cardiac and Thoracic (Asheville VA)	Congenital Cardiac (Duke)	Elective* (Duke or Away)

Curriculum
In addition to the clinical experience, a comprehensive didactic teaching schedule is emphasized. The training program is an active participant in the web-based curriculum in Cardiothoracic Surgery, developed by the Thoracic Surgery Directors’ Association.

 

The faculty and residents participate in a comprehensive conference schedule, designed to optimize clinical experience, didactic teaching, and interactive learning.

Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Educational Curriculum (Duke Hospital)

 

Monday	7:30 PM	Resident Teaching Conference
Tuesday	6:30 AM	Attending Rounds
Wednesday	7:00 AM	Cardiothoracic Surgery Grand Rounds/Residents Conference
Wednesday	8:30 AM	Multidisciplinary Pulmonary Conference
Wednesday	5:00 PM	Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Conference
Thursday	7:00 AM	General Thoracic Surgery Case Review/Pathology Conference
Friday	8:30 AM	Congenital Heart Surgery Conference

Adult Cardiac Surgery
Myocardial Revascularization
Valve Repair and Replacement
Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
Surgery for Atrial Fibrillation

 

Congenital Cardiac Surgery
Pediatric Congenital
Adult Congenital

 

General Thoracic Surgery
Lung Cancer
Esophageal Cancer
Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery

 

Surgery for End-Stage Cardiac Disease
Heart Transplantation
Ventricular Assist

 

Surgery for End-Stage Pulmonary Disease
Pulmonary Transplantation
Lung Volume Reduction Surgery

 

To promote the development of each resident as an academic surgeon, there is protected time for participation in clinical research. Some residents choose to participate in clinical research through the Duke Clinical Research Institute (DCRI), which houses one of the largest cardiovascular data banks in the world, as well as an array of professionals with expertise in clinical research, information technology, epidemiology, and biostatistics. Upon completion of the training program, residents have the opportunity to complete multiple projects, with publications in major peer-reviewed journals. In addition, residents have access to resources related to the American College of Surgeons Oncology Group (ACOSOG) and the Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB).

 

Upon entering the Program, residents are assigned an advisor, who becomes integral to the clinical and academic development of each resident. The Director and Associate Director take ultimate responsibility for the academic development of each of the residents in the training program.

 

In order to enhance education improve the national exposure, each resident has the opportunity to attend two national meetings annually, at the expense of the Division. These opportunities are in addition to any meeting in which the resident is participating as a presenter.

 

One of the most important features of the training program is the opportunity for elective rotations in the third year, in order to fully develop the clinical strengths and enhance the academic potential of each resident. In order to facilitate this process, the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery has established relationships with a number of other academic programs nationally. The goal of the training program is the development of the complete academic surgeon, competitive for all professional opportunities at the Assistant Professor level, with no requirement for future training.

 

The call schedule is designed to adhere to an 80-hour week, and to provide every other weekend off duty. While 3 residents rotate in-house call at any one time, there is no scheduled in-house call on the weekend. Of the 9 residents in the program, 7 residents are in rotations at Duke Hospital.

 

Residents on the following rotations take in-hospital call every third night (Mon-Fri):
Cardiac Surgery (year 1), General Thoracic Surgery (year 1), Cardiac Surgery (year 2)

 

Residents on the following rotations take back-up call from home on a rotating basis:
General Thoracic/Transplant (year 2), Cardiac Surgery (year 3)

 

Residents on the following rotations are independent, without scheduled call:
Asheville VA (year 1), Congenital Heart Surgery (year 2), Durham VA (year 3)

 

 

Year 1	Hrs/wk	Year 2	Hrs/wk	Year 3	Hrs/wk
Cardiac	80	Cardiac	80	Cardiac	74
GT	80	GT/Tx	74	Durham VA	54
Asheville VA	54	Congenital	70	Elective	64
Mean	72	Mean	75	Mean	64

 

Duke Office of Graduate Medical Education: http://www.gme.duke.edu/

 

To apply to the Residency, please submit applications through the ERAS System.

 

 

Thomas A. D’Amico, MD
Professor of Surgery
Program Director in Cardiothoracic Surgery
Duke University Medical Center
Box 3496
Durham, NC 27710

(919) 684-4891