Our Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program, launched in 1971 and certified in 1988, is a three-year ACGME-accredited program that provides training across all disciplines recommended by the American College of Cardiology COCATS. The program is affiliated with the University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center, a center of excellence with more than 165 members, including cardiologists, cardiothoracic and vascular surgeons, neurologists, research scientists, and other medical specialists.
Fellows rotate in all cardiology subspecialties at three Tucson hospitals: Banner – University Medical Center Tucson, Banner – University Medical Center South, and the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System. Fellows receive training in all aspects of cardiology, including advanced imaging, heart failure, transplantation, electrophysiology, congenital heart disease, and interventional cardiology. Our program allows fellows to fulfill the requirements of Level II COCATS training in the areas they wish to emphasize.
Why Fellows Choose Our Program
We asked current fellows what they were looking for in a fellowship program and what they found here. Common themes include:
- Friendly colleagues who work hard and enjoy working together
- Accessible faculty who are national leaders and committed educators
- Strong research opportunities, from clinical and population-based studies to bench research in NIH-funded laboratories
- Diversity among fellows, faculty, patients, and cardiovascular conditions
- A high quality of life in Tucson, with affordability, outdoor recreation, and a vibrant local community
Program Leadership
For more information about the program, please contact Christeana Castro, Program Coordinator, at christeanacastro@arizona.edu or 520-626-1232.
Curriculum and Training Structure
Didactic Conferences
Cardiology fellows participate in structured morning conferences each weekday from 7 – 8 a.m. Sessions cover core cardiology topics, case-based learning, and advanced subspecialty discussions.
- Core Conference
- ECG / Echo / Angiogram Practicums
- Quality Improvement
- Imaging Conference
- Cath Conference
- Core Conference
- ECG / Echo / Angiogram Practicums
- Journal Club
- Self-Directed Learning
- Grand Rounds Speaker Breakfast
Self-Directed Learning is a structured study period where fellows explore specialized topics such as Cardio-Oncology, Cardio-Obstetrics, and Vascular Medicine, culminating in a Jeopardy-style review session.
Friday sessions also provide an opportunity for fellows to meet visiting Grand Rounds speakers for informal mentorship and networking.
Continuity Clinics
Fellows participate in weekly outpatient continuity clinics to develop long-term patient management skills. Fellows attend clinic one afternoon per week and are excused from their clinical rotation during that time.
- Banner University Medical Center – North Campus: Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday
- Southern Arizona VA Health Care System: Tuesday
Sample Rotation Schedule
The fellowship curriculum is designed to provide comprehensive clinical exposure while allowing fellows to pursue subspecialty interests and research opportunities. Most fellows achieve COCATS Level II training in echocardiography and other subspecialty areas depending on career goals.
| Rotation | Third Year | Second Year | First Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inpatient Consults | 8 weeks | 10 weeks | 10 weeks |
| CCU | 4 weeks | 4 weeks | 2 weeks |
| Night Float | None | 4 weeks | 6 weeks |
| Electrophysiology | 4 weeks | 4 weeks | 6 weeks |
| Cardiac Catheterization | 4 weeks | 6 weeks | 10 weeks |
| Echocardiography | 8 weeks | 8 weeks | 8 weeks |
| Nuclear Cardiology | 4 weeks | 4 weeks | 4 weeks |
| Ambulatory | 4 weeks | 4 weeks | None |
| Research / Electives | 12 weeks | 4 weeks | 2 weeks |
Research Pathway Program
Research is a central component of cardiovascular training at the University of Arizona. Fellows in the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program have opportunities to pursue clinical, translational, and basic science research through structured training pathways and mentorship from Sarver Heart Center investigators.
In addition to a minimum of three months of protected research time during fellowship, highly motivated fellows may pursue expanded research training, including an additional year of dedicated investigation supported through NIH-funded programs and faculty mentorship.
The program also supports trainees interested in physician-scientist careers through pathways such as the American Board of Internal Medicine Research Pathway, which combines clinical training with extended research experience.
For more information on the research pathways available to cardiology fellows, including dedicated research training and the American Board of Internal Medicine Research Pathway, explore the program details below.