The Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship program at Wake Forest School of Medicine provides training for fellows interested in expanding their knowledge and expertise within the field.
EP Mentorship and Training
Below is a list of the labs and clinics fellows will be exposed to and the learning objectives of each lab/clinic.
Electrophysiology Lab
- Learn indications for invasive electrophysiologic testing
- Learn techniques of catheter placement and manipulation
- Learn techniques of intra-cardiac recording
- Learn techniques of programmed intra-cardiac stimulation as a method of arrhythmia induction and termination and to assess mechanisms of arrhythmias (resetting and entrainment)
- Learn strategies to map abnormal rhythms
- Learn methods of catheter ablation for treatment of rhythm disturbances
- Learn methods of tilt table testing for evaluation of syncope or orthostatic intolerance
- Learn methods of external cardioversion using direct current shocks
- Learn use of conscious sedation for prolonged studies
Pacemaker (PM)/Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator (ICD) Lab
- Learn indications for pacemaker or ICD implantation
- Learn surgical skills required for implantation of PM/ICD
- Learn lead placement skills
- Learn principles of pacemaker function including pacing and sensing threshold evaluation with emphasis on acute measurements
- Learn principles of pacemaker function including pacing and sensing threshold evaluation with emphasis on acute measurements
- Learn principles of cardioverter/defibrillator function including pacing and sensing threshold evaluation, defibrillation threshold testing, and anti-tachycardia pacing therapies
- Learn pacemaker/ICD troubleshooting
- Gain experience with lead extraction
- Learn conscious sedation techniques for PM/ICD implantation
PM/ICD Clinic
- Learn PM/ICD chronic evaluation and troubleshooting
- Learn methods of trans-telephonic follow-up of PMs
- Learn electrocardiography of pacemaker rhythms
Outpatient Arrhythmia Clinic
- Learn appropriate use of diagnostic tests including:
- Event recorders
- Holter Monitors
- Signal-averaged electrocardiogram
- Tilt Table Testing
- Invasive electrophysiologic testing
- MRI scan of the heart
- Gain exposure to a variety of arrhythmia patients in an ambulatory setting to assess response to therapy and to monitor for problems
Inpatient Consult Service
- Learn appropriate use of diagnostic tests including:
- Event recorders
- Holter Monitors
- Signal-averaged electrocardiogram
- Tilt Table Testing
- Invasive electrophysiologic testing
- MRI scan of the heart
- Gain exposure to variety of arrhythmia patients in an acute setting to initiate therapy, assess response to therapy and to monitor for problems
Research Experience
- Gain exposure to clinical research projects
- Review current literature in Journal conferences
- Participate in weekly Cardiology Research Conference