Interventional Cardiology Fellowship

Program Overview

Loyola Medicine has one of the busiest and most highly regarded cardiac catheterization laboratories in the Midwest for the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease, structural heart disease, and peripheral arterial disease.

With over 1,000 coronary interventions performed per year, Loyola University Medical Center, part of Loyola Medicine, is one of the leading heart centers in Illinois.

Two-Year Clinical Training Program

Loyola Medicine offers a highly coveted Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Training Program. The Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program is a mandatory two-year training program focusing on coronary and peripheral arterial disease along with structural heart disease.

The program is designed for trainees who have completed a formal three-year general cardiology fellowship and is designed for candidates who are preparing for careers in academia or a non-academic clinical practice. The principle objective of the program is to provide advanced training with an emphasis on the technical and clinical skills needed for the treatment of coronary and peripheral artery disease along with structural heart disease.

The program consists of seven-full time interventional cardiologists, a full complement of technical staff, and a state of the art facility equipped with the newest and innovative equipment.

Interventional cardiology fellows work both at Loyola University Medical Center and Edwards Hines Jr. VA Hospital, which are within walking distance of each other. By working at two hospitals, fellows gain a wide variety of experiences in coronary artery, peripheral artery, and structural heart disease, including CoreValve and MitraClip.

At the completion of this program, the fellows will be board eligible for their Interventional Cardiology Boards. Over the past five years, the Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program at Loyola boasts a 100% board passage rate.

Specifics of Training

• Training will be provided in advanced coronary interventions, specifically complex stenting, coronary rotablation and chronic total occlusions.
• Peripheral procedures will consist of carotid stenting, peripheral angioplasty and stenting and AAA endografts.
• Other structural heart disease procedures may include: valvoplasty, percutaneous valve techniques such as aortic CoreValve, MitraClip, septal ablation for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, ASD and PFO closures.

Research Training, Exposure and Support

Clinical Research is encouraged and mandatory. Accepted candidates will be required to select a research project of their choice. Faculty members will be available to mentor and oversee research projects.

Educational Programs, Conferences and Seminars

Trainees are encouraged to attend and present at a national meeting each year (SCAI, TCT, ACC, or AHA). Throughout the years, there are conferences that the trainee is expected to attend: Interventional Cardiology Cath Conference, General Cardiology Cath Conference, State of the Heart (Cardiology Grand Rounds), etc.

Application Process

To apply for the Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program, you need to submit the documents listed below through ERAS:

• Application
• Official medical school transcripts. If originals are not in English, you must provide a certified English translation.
• A Dean’s letter (medical school)
• An official record of board scores (NBME, FLEX, USMLE I, II and III, LMCCC, VQE or FMGE)
• Three letters of recommendation from individuals familiar with your profession including one from your cardiology fellowship program director.
• A curriculum vitae
• A personal statement
• Valid ECFMG certificate (if you graduated from a medical school outside of the U.S. or Canada)
• Applicants must possess a valid permanent Visa or U.S. citizenship. Only J1 Visas will be considered. Loyola cannot sponsor H1B visas.
• All Fellowship candidates must possess a valid permanent Illinois medical license prior to the start of this program.

Only completed files will be considered. Visit the Electronic Residency Application Service website for more information.

Interviews will be scheduled upon review of the candidate's completed file. Only those respective candidates who have been selected for interview will receive further correspondence after application submission.

Contact Us

Amir Darki, MD
Associate Professor of Medicine
Program Director, Interventional Cardiology Fellowship

For additional information, please contact:

Kimberly Treckler

Loyola University Medical Center
2160 South First Avenue
Building 110 - Room 6217
Maywood, IL 60153

Phone: 708-216-5911
Fax: 708-216-8795
Email: ktreckler@lumc.edu