Preventive Cardiology Fellowship

The Preventive Cardiology Fellowship, formerly the Lipid and Atherosclerosis Fellowship, is a Texas Medical Board–sponsored program that provides trainees (after internal medicine residency or during cardiology/endocrinology fellowship) a rich experience in clinical and research aspects of preventive cardiology, with a focus on lipid and lipoprotein abnormalities. This 1- or 2-year program accepts 1–2 trainees each year. Typically, fellows attend an average of 1–2 half-day clinics specializing in lipid and lipoprotein disorders per week supervised by staff clinicians. A conference series includes topics pertaining to preventive cardiology covered by faculty members as well as trainees. Trainees also participate in clinical trials and develop their own research projects.

Vijay Nambi, M.D., is program director, and Christie M. Ballantyne, M.D., is co-director.

Each fellow is under the direct supervision of Dr. Ballantyne, Dr. Nambi, and the clinical staff directing each clinical and research activity.

• Understanding the pathophysiology of lipid disorders and atherosclerosis
• Proficiency in treating difficult lipid disorders and clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis
• Proficiency in treatment strategies for primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerosis and vascular disease
• Experience in ongoing and original clinical/translational research in the areas of atherosclerosis, lipids, genetics, and obesity

• See lipid consults in the Lipid Metabolism and Atherosclerosis Clinic weekly, supervised by faculty
• Follow clinical research patients daily
• Attend the section's core lecture/journal club weekly
• Attend the month-long course "Fundamentals in Clinical Investigation" during the first month of training
• Participate in and design research studies in atherosclerosis, lipids, obesity, genetics, and cardiometabolic disease prevention
• Prepare manuscripts for publication in peer-reviewed journals
• Submit and present abstracts at national scientific meetings
• Recommended: Attend cardiology grand rounds and relevant endocrine and medicine grand rounds
• Recommended: Participate in endocrine and cardiology conferences held at Baylor College of Medicine and affiliated hospitals
• Recommended: Take the American Board of Clinical Lipidology certification examination

Each fellow is evaluated quarterly by each faculty attending. The areas evaluated are fundamental knowledge, clinical skills, presentation skills, and character/ethics. The evaluation forms are based on evaluation tools used in the general medicine and cardiology offices. Research quality is evaluated by Drs. Nambi and Ballantyne.