Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program

We offer a competitive salary and benefit package which includes relocation assistance, malpractice coverage and an annual $1,750 travel/education fund available to each resident. Annual salary for a first-year fellow will be $78,045.63.

Please visit this document for more information about our benefits.

• Sick leave: Fellows are allotted sick days. Fellows will not be compensated for any unused sick time. It is the responsibility of the Fellow to notify the appropriate individual(s) of an absence due to illness in accordance with his/her program specific policy. Fellows are eligible for a short and long-disability plan the first of the month following 90 consecutive calendar days of employment within a benefited status.
• Vacation: 15 workdays per contract year
• Continuing Medical Education (CME)/Meeting Time: Working days are allotted per academic year for scientific meetings (includes travel time).
• Interview Days: Fellows are allotted interview days during the course of their fellowship for job-related interviews.
• Birth/adoption leave: Fellows may take up to six weeks of leave in a 12 month period for the birth of the Fellow's natural child or the placement of a child with the Fellow for adoption. Absence from the fellowship program beyond six weeks may require an extension of the fellowship to meet board eligibility criteria.
• Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA): The FMLA is an unpaid, job protected leave. Fellows who meet the eligibility criteria will be eligible for unpaid leave under the FMLA. Absences from the residency program may request an extension of the Fellow to meet board eligibility criteria.

• Fellows are fully covered under Marshfield Clinic's self-insurance plan for professional liability. This is an occurrence policy. Contribution to the State of Wisconsin Patients Compensation Fund is also made on behalf of each licensed Fellow, which provides additional protection.
• Each Fellow is covered under Worker's Compensation.
• Short and Long term disability insurance is purchased for each Fellow. This policy is effective the 1st of the month following 90 days from your hire date in a benefited status.
• Group term accidental death and dismemberment insurance is an option at the Fellow's own expense.
• Group term life insurance A $50,000 term life insurance is purchased for each Fellow.

• An annual $1,750 travel/educational fund is available to each fellow for attending meetings, purchasing textbooks or a combination of these activities. The fellow is allotted seven working days per eligible academic year for scientific meeting time.
• Relocation assistance up to $2,500 per fellow family household. Wireless tablets assigned to each resident.
• A meal allowance is provided to fellows while on call in the medical complex.
• Fellows have designated "on call" rooms in the hospital.
• Lab coats and laundering are provided.
• A standard 35 percent discount (excluding contact lenses) at Marshfield Clinic Optical Shop.
• Special funds are available for fellow research presentations in representing their respective program.
• Fellows have medical transcription support and program coordinator assistance.
• Marshfield Clinic Health System offers a drug and tobacco-free environment.
• Resident Association special activities planned.
• Resident/Fellow all-day retreat.
• Resident Well-Being Committee support.
• Resident/learner lounge is accessible 24/7

Affordable housing is available in Marshfield. The average rental cost for a two bedroom apartment is $425-$700 per month. A variety of housing is available, ranging from apartment complexes to single houses and duplexes.

Goals of the first year training are to provide fellows with a broad exposure to all aspects of clinical cardiology, noninvasive and invasive procedures as well as clinical and basic research. Fellows will be expected to evaluate cardiac patients and initiate care of acute and chronic cardiac conditions under the guidance of supervising faculty. By the end of the first year training, fellows should be able to obtain accurate history and to perform a thorough cardiac physical examination. Fellows will learn the proper role of various cardiac procedures and tests in management of cardiovascular diseases.

Fellows are expected to develop a differential diagnosis and plan for care of acute and chronic conditions respecting the patient's wishes. Fellows are expected to have passed their internal medicine boards in their first year of fellowship. Fellows would be expected to start building the critical knowledge base by attending the didactic lectures, reading standard textbooks and current cardiology literature. First year fellows would be expected to learn indications, contraindications and complications related to cardiovascular procedures.

Medical Knowledge: First year fellows will be expected to build a critical knowledge base that will permit them to function as competent cardiologists. Fellows will build to their knowledge base by reading cardiology literature, standard textbooks and via didactic lecture sessions.

Procedural Skills: First-year fellows will learn the indications, contraindications and potential complications related to various cardiovascular procedures. First-year fellows will learn how to perform various cardiovascular procedures under direct supervision. These procedures will include electrocardiograms, ambulatory EKG monitoring, transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms, cardiac catheterization, exercise and pharmacologic stress testing, cardiac CT and MRI, electrical and chemical cardioversion, temporary pacemaker placement, and nuclear cardiac imaging.

Clinical Judgment and Skills: Fellows should be able to obtain an accurate and complete cardiac history and to perform a thorough cardiac physical examination by the end of the first year of fellowship training. Fellows will learn the role of various noninvasive and invasive cardiac procedures and tests. Fellows will be expected to identify of life-threatening cardiovascular conditions and emergencies and to be able to initiate prompt therapy. Fellows would be expected to contribute to patient management and discussions on rounds in conjunction with the staff physician.

Professionalism: First-year fellows would be expected to conduct themselves with the highest of the ethical standards at all times. Fellows would be expected to conduct themselves with the exemplary professionalism at all times, as evidenced by the display of respect, integrity, honesty and compassion for patients and their families. Fellows would be expected to treat referring providers and other members of the health care team with respect.

Communication Skills: Fellows would be expected to write a thorough, informative and instructive cardiac consultation note as well as accurate procedure notes. Fellows would be expected to learn how to communicate effectively with patients, families and all members of the healthcare team.

Leadership: Fellows should be able to provide guidance for medical students and residents, as it relates to patient care and should be able to participate in management discussions on teaching rounds.

Teaching: First-year fellows would be expected to provide teaching to residents and medical students on the basics of common cardiovascular conditions. Teaching methods should include actively participating in case discussions on rounds and conducting teaching sessions.

Fellows will continue to build upon the knowledge and skills gained during the first year of training and will begin to focus on their particular area of interest. Fellows will take on greater responsibility in patient management decisions. By second year, their research project should be well established. Some second-year fellows may be positioned to submit their findings in abstract form to national or regional scientific meetings.

Second-year fellows will improve upon the clinical judgment and the skills by continued participation in patient care in a variety of settings. Fellows would be expected to demonstrate continued improvement in patient care, procedural skills and continue to refine their understanding of risks and benefits of various cardiac procedures.

Fellows would be expected to advance their knowledge base by critically reviewing literature and continuing to participate in core curriculum conferences, Journal club and clinical cardiology conferences. Second year fellows would be expected to teach first-year fellows, residents and medical students.

Fellows would be expected to be role models for the first-year fellows and residents.

Third- year fellows would be expected to perfect their clinical judgment, procedural skills and be able to participate in evidence-based medicine. By the end of the training, fellows should be capable of practicing cardiovascular medicine competently and independently. Third- year fellows would be encouraged to submit full-length manuscripts for publication in scientific journals with guidance and help from faculty.

Third-year fellows would be expected to improve upon their clinical judgment and procedural skills acquired during the first two years of training. By the end of the third year, fellows should be able to expertly manage all patients, with cardiovascular diseases and should be able to function independently as a consultant cardiologist.