Contact Us

Michelle Fernandez
(305) 585-1280 ext. 33-8412
[email protected]

Application Information

Eligibility:
We participate in the National Residency Matching Program. All of our categorical positions are filled through the NRMP. We do not offer out-of-match positions.

How to Apply:
Applications are accepted via the Electronic Residency Application System.

Deadline:
Applications are accepted from December to February. Interviews are conducted from February to April.

Call Schedule

No in-house calls – the fellow takes calls depending on the rotation and no in-house calls

Locations

Jackson Memorial Hospital

1611 N.W. 12th Avenue

Miami, FL 33136

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Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center

1201 N.W. 16th Street

Miami, FL 33125

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UHealth Tower

1400 N.W. 12th Avenue

Miami, FL 33136

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Program Requirements

Medical Licensing Examination:
All applicants must successfully complete Step 1, 2 and 3 of the United States Medical Licensing Examination prior to acceptance into the program.

Postgraduate Training:
There is postgraduate training required in the form of a successfully completed residency program that satisfies the requirements in cardiac surgery; surgery; thoracic surgery or vascular surgery.

All required clinical education must be completed in an ACGME-accredited residency program, an American Osteopathic Association-approved residency program, a program with ACGME International Advanced Specialty accreditation or a residency program accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada or the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Visas

The J1-Visa: Alien Physician Program, sponsored by the Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates, is the standard visa for residents/fellows who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents.

For specific program eligibility/qualifications or additional information, please contact:

Lourdes Boet
Hospital Services Supervisor
Physician Services Department

Jackson Health System
1611 N.W. 12 Ave. ACC West L101
Miami, FL 33136-1122
Phone: 305-355-1122
Fax: 305-355-1123
Email: [email protected]

Thoracic Surgery Fellowship

Mission & Vision

The educational mission of the University of Miami/Jackson Health System Thoracic Surgery Fellowship Program is to provide trainees with broad clinical experience, clinical judgement, factual knowledge and technical skills. This is achieved by progressive delegation of increasing responsibility in order to effectively and independently manage a broad spectrum of thoracic surgery and cardiovascular disorders. The program strives to foster the fellows’ development of critical and independent thinking and appropriate decision making.

Mission & Vision

The educational mission of the University of Miami/Jackson Health System Thoracic Surgery Fellowship Program is to provide trainees with broad clinical experience, clinical judgement, factual knowledge and technical skills. This is achieved by progressive delegation of increasing responsibility in order to effectively and independently manage a broad spectrum of thoracic surgery and cardiovascular disorders. The program strives to foster the fellows’ development of critical and independent thinking and appropriate decision making.

Program Director’s Welcome

Program Director’s Welcome

Welcome to the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship Program. We appreciate your interest in our program. Your training here will provide you with not only the opportunity to practice in a very unique academic setting, but also to care for an entire spectrum of disease processes. The cardiothoracic surgery fellowship encompasses four integrated institutions: Jackson Memorial Hospital/Holtz Children’s Hospital, UHealth Tower, and VA Medical Center. During your two-year fellowship, you will have the opportunity to spend time at each of these institutions. They all serve a special need and offer outstanding educational opportunities. The future of our specialty rests with you, representing the new generation of cardiothoracic surgeons. This is an exciting time in the specialty with many innovations, new procedures, and open opportunities for fellows in training.

My best wishes are with all of you, we look forward to meeting you!

Thank you,
Nestor Villamizar

Fast Facts

Accreditation

Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education

Number of Fellows per Year?

2

Duration of Fellowship?

2 years

Program Highlights

Internationally-recognized cardiac surgeon who helped pioneer minimally invasive approaches to cardiac surgery

Diversity of faculty, trainees & patients

3 top-notch, integrated institutions

Clinical Experience

Overview

Between 10 to 20 percent of the fellow’s time will be spent in outpatient clinic. Fellows will have the opportunity to evaluate pre and postoperative patients with attending physicians. The program will also provide hours of simulation with fellows having access to the Minimally Invasive Surgical Training & Education Center, located on the University of Miami Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine campus.

Additionally, fellows are encouraged to have one peer-reviewed publication accepted per year. A quality project is also required over the course of the two-year program. The quality project may also count as the publication if it is accepted for publication. Fellows are encouraged to identify a faculty member as a mentor and set up frequent meetings to review goals and expectations, as well as adequate progression during the training program.

Thoracic Surgery Rotation

Year 1 and Year 2

Fellows should expect to fulfill level 1 and 2 competencies for medical knowledge, patient care and technical skills of the ACGME Thoracic Surgery Milestones for Esophagus; Lung/Airway; Chest Wall/Mediastinum and Critical Care.

The following pathologies are very frequent and fellows should be competent in managing them upon completion of the first year:

  • Lung Cancer: Clinic presentation and diagnosis, staging and managing strategies according to stage, preoperative evaluation including contraindications for surgery and postoperative care including complications.
  • Pulmonary Nodules: Differential diagnosis and managing strategies according to clinical presentation.
  • Pleural Effusions: Differential diagnosis and managing strategies for benign and malignant pleural effusion according to clinical presentation.
  • Pneumothorax: Managing strategies for 1ary, 2ary and iatrogenic.
    • Fellows should expect to fulfill level 1, 2, 3 and 4 competencies for medical knowledge, patient care and technical skills of the ACGME Thoracic Surgery Milestones for Esophagus; Lung/Airway; Chest Wall/Mediastinum and Critical Care.

      Because the type and volume of cases is variable, residents are responsible to utilize journal club and interesting case presentations to demonstrate their competency in medical knowledge about pathology that they did not frequently encounter during their sixth-month rotation, but that is essential for a cardiothoracic surgeon to understand. Fellows are also responsible for keeping each other apprised of unusual cases occurring in other rotations, so that they can all learn from each person’s experience.

Congenital Cardiac Surgery Rotation

Year 1 and Year 2

Fellows should expect to fulfill level 1 and 2 competencies for medical knowledge of the ACGME Thoracic Surgery Milestones for Congenital Heart Disease.

Fellows will perform various procedures with children and adult congenital patients at conclusion of the first year with some assistance (attending surgeon as first assistant providing verbal instruction when needed).

Fellows should expect to fulfill level 1, 2, 3 and 4 competencies for medical knowledge of the ACGME Thoracic Surgery Milestones for Congenital Heart Disease.

Fellows will perform various procedures with infants, children and adult congenital patients at conclusion of the second year with minor assistance (attending surgeon as first assistant providing verbal instruction infrequently).

There will be full participation by fellows in 20 congenital heart surgery cases that have been signed off by the attending; fellows will attend a combination of 20 weekly cath conferences and/or sign out rounds; achieve level 3 or greater milestones by year one and level 4 or greater by year two and complete the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association congenital curriculum and quizzes and Joint Council on Thoracic Surgery Education congenital readings and quizzes.

Adult Cardiac and Transplant Rotation

Year 1 and Year 2

Fellows should expect to fulfill level 1 and 2 competencies for medical knowledge, patient care and technical skills of the ACGME Thoracic Surgery Milestones for lschemic Heart Disease; Cardiopulmonary Bypass; Myocardial Protection and Temporary Circulatory Support; Valvular Disease; Great Vessel Disease; End Stage Cardiopulmonary Disease and Critical Care.

Fellows will perform various procedures at the conclusion of the first year with some assistance (attending surgeon as first assistant providing verbal instruction when needed).

Fellows should expect to fulfill level 1, 2, 3 and 4 competencies for medical knowledge, patient care and technical skills of the ACGME Thoracic Surgery Milestones for lschemic Heart Disease; Cardiopulmonary Bypass; Myocardial Protection and Temporary Circulatory Support; Valvular Disease; Great Vessel Disease; End Stage Cardiopulmonary Disease and Critical Care.

Fellows will perform various procedures at the conclusion of the second year with minimal assistance (attending surgeon providing first assistance with rare verbal instruction).

Your Faculty

Nestor Villamizar, MD
Associate Professor, Surgery (Thoracic)
Program Director, Thoracic Surgery Fellowship Program

Domenico Calcaterra, MD
Associate Professor, Surgery (Cardiac)
Assistant Program Director, Thoracic Surgery Fellowship Program

Joseph Lamelas, MD
Chief, Cardiothoracic Division
Professor, Surgery (Adult Cardiac Surgery Specialty)

Dao Nguyen, MD
Chief, Thoracic Surgery Section
Professor, Surgery (Thoracic)

Diego Avella-Patino, MD
Associate Professor, Surgery (Thoracic)

Hari Mallidi, MD
Associate Professor, Surgery (Cardiac)

Leonardo Mulinari, MD
Associate Professor, Surgery (Cardiac)

Mauricio Pipkin, MD
Associate Professor, Surgery (Transplant and Cardiac)

Sandeep Sainathan, MD
Associate Professor, Surgery (Cardiac)

Tomas A. Salerno, MD
Professor, Surgery (Adult Cardiac Surgery Specialty)

Adjunct Clinical Faculty

Dido Franceschi, MD

Nipun Merchant, MD

Elizabeth Paulus, MD

*All surgical oncologists – high volume of esophageal cancer

Description

*All surgical oncologists – high volume of esophageal cancer

Alumni Placements Include:

Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Hendrick Health System
Kendall Regional Medical Center
Memorial Healthcare System
Riverside Medical Center
University of Florida Health – Department of Surgery

Alumni Placements Include:

Bruce W. Carter Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Hendrick Health System
Kendall Regional Medical Center
Memorial Healthcare System
Riverside Medical Center
University of Florida Health – Department of Surgery