Specializing in Heart Disease: Cardiology fellowship

Written By: Sharon Cretsinger

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States.  Every year, various kinds of heart ailments account for more than 25% of all fatal illnesses, accidents and other events.  The most common sub-type of heart disease out of all known cases is coronary artery disease.  It is caused by a build-up of plaque in the arteries (large blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart).  Over time, this accumulation causes atherosclerosis, or a decrease, or even a complete blockage, of blood flow.  The prevalence of this kind of heart disease has created a steady need for doctors who specialize in caring for the patients who subsequently suffer from it.  There are many opportunities in the Eastern part of the US to study for this kind of medical career, for example in a cardiovascular fellowship Washington DC.

Cardiology Fellowship DC: General Information

Individuals undertaking a cardiology fellowship are already highly trained physicians who will know some both general and specific information about the features of heart disease.  Here are a few general knowledge facts about heart disease that are part of the curriculum of a cardiology fellowship Washington DC.  Knowledge of this information helps the new physician practice in a way that is both medically and culturally sound:

• It is known that deaths from heart disease are not consistent across ethnicities.  Non-Hispanic Blacks and Whites have higher death rates from heart events than other groups like Native Americans, Asians, and Pacific Islanders.
• Where the Cardiologist practices will have some bearing on the rate and type of heart disease within the local population.  Certain areas in the South and Midwest regions of the US have much higher incidences than Northern and Western areas.
• Certain lifestyle factors make some individuals predisposed to arterial and other kinds of heart disease.  Some of these include a history of Diabetes, being overweight or obese, consuming a poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle, and excessive use of alcohol or other drugs.

The Benefit of a Family Medicine Residency

Written By: Rachael Kaine

Starting out a Medical Career With a Family Medicine Residency

As the final step before being legally permitted to practice medicine on your own, a family medicine residency is the perfect choice for those who want to help people of all ages with their medical conditions, overall health, and in making great decisions for themselves over the course of their lives. Family medicine allows for people to become comfortable seeing and following the advice of their medical professionals due to an intimate and complete knowledge of health history, which is what makes choosing this line of medical expertise so important. Even though you’ll continue to learn and grow as a medical professional long after your family medicine residency Baltimore has been completed, this core knowledge will give you a chance to build your reputation with the people who look to you for care and advice.

The Importance of Family Medicine Residency Programs

As long as people continue to have children, there will be a need for family medicine practitioners. The most basic difference between an internist and a family medicine practitioner is the age group of the clients that they practice on. Internists generally work with adult patients while those who have completed a family medicine residency Baltimore program work with people of all ages from children and adolescents to adults and the elderly. This wide age range for patients helps medical professionals learn their histories and proclivities, which can help to figure out what is happening when a patient becomes ill, develops a condition, or needs specialized care. Rather than trying to get health records together from many different care providers, a family medicine doctor will be able to not only forward or use all of these records as needed, but they can provide further insight into specific conditions when the need arises.

Competing a family medicine residency may be the last step needed to becoming a licensed health care professional, but it is nowhere near the final step of a medical career - rather, it’s only the beginning. An individual that sees the same professional or even the same team of professionals is more likely to become comfortable and keep on a schedule - this can reduce the likelihood of needing care for emergencies or health anomalies; regular visits and examinations can even help to catch changes in health before they become severe. Unlike other specialty areas of medicine, family medicine is needed in every single city and state in the nation, not just in densely populated areas or city centers.

Emergency Medicine Residency: A Typical Day

Written By: Sharon Cretsinger

In the United States, emergency medicine is its own field and specialty. This is unlike some European countries that follow a different model for treating acute patients. In these models, the same emergency services are provided by anesthesiologists and general surgeons.  Physicians in the US who wish to practice emergency medicine are required to undertake an emergency medicine residency in order to become qualified.  The EM residency Washington DC normally begins after the completion of a qualified medical school program of study.

Emergency Medicine Residency Washington DC:  What to Expect

Individuals who might be wondering what to expect in the course of a typical day in this kind of residency program will quickly learn that there is really no such thing as a "typical day" in emergency medicine.  In these times, issues with health coverage and the lack thereof have caused emergency rooms to be packed to capacity or even overflowing in large metropolitan areas.  The number of private practice physicians who are no longer accepting many insurance programs, particularly those that are government subsidized, are also contributing to the growing number of individuals who are seen daily for emergency care.

Physicians in an emergency medicine residency program Washington DC can expect to see a large number of patients every day.  These cases may range from broken bones and even more serious traumatic injuries to mild cases of common infectious diseases.  Many of the patients having minor ailments are in the ER because they do not have access to a primary care physician in the community.  In these instances, the specialty of emergency medicine overlaps considerably with that of urgent care.  The emergency medicine resident, under the supervision of a licensed physician, is expected to ultimately make a disposition for each of the cases having the outcome of either treatment and discharge or hospitalization.

Because of the volume of patients seen and the variety of case types presented, it is necessary for a physician considering an emergency medicine residency program DC to be willing to see a large number of patients daily and develop a diverse skill sent in many practice areas.

Choosing the Right General Surgery Residency

Written By: Rachael Kaine

To become a skilled and in demand surgeon, you must first complete a general surgery residency. This will prepare you with the skills and training needed to move forward in a career that will allow you to help patients on a daily basis and make a difference within the community. Before this can happen, you’ll need to find, apply to and match with a residency program from one of the many well respected residency programs offered within the United States. Some steps that can help you to make this selection process much simpler are listed below.

General Surgery Residency Common Questions

Do I want to learn in an urban or rural location? This question remains relevant for your intended career after studying a well, as the location in which you learn can determine what type of location will be the best fit for you as a professional. Though the skills necessary are the same for both locations, you’ll come into contact with a wider patient variety and a larger number of clients in an urban area than in a rural one, and training will often reflect this.

Does my academic record have bearing on what programs I can apply to? The short answer is that no, this doesn’t impact the programs that you can apply to, but your academic history could impact the schools and programs that will accept you, especially if you’ve scored low marks or have come from a location that isn’t nationally ranked high. While your grades and your past will make a large decision about whether or not you get into a program of your choice, a lot of it has to do with your overall personality and ambitions, too.

More Unusual General Surgery Residency Questions

Will a fellowship be sought after completing a general surgery residency Washington DC? If this is the case, and you’ll be looking for a more focused surgery specialty, you should choose a program that offers one - or that is affiliated with locations that do. The amount of people that choose to complete fellowships before going into practice is increasing, as is the number of people applying for them… so things can get a little competitive.

How committed are you? When trying to select and narrow down choices for a residency, you should consider your level of commitment and desire to complete this type of program. This includes taking your own needs, your family’s needs and your capabilities into consideration before moving forward with your plans for residency. The majority of your time during this phase of your life will be spent working with a great deal of the remainder spent sleeping or studying… it’s a lot to handle for many people.

Preparing for an Internal Medicine Residency

Written By: Allison Zahorcak

If you're a third-year medical student with a specialty career in mind, you're likely looking forward to applying for your internal medicine residency. Though the path ahead is challenging, you know it's well-worth the work. As early as possible, you need to begin preparing your medical resume for the application process.  In addition to the ERAS, you will need to ask for recommendation letters and begin preparing your personal statement. The key to easing the stress that is coupled with finding a residency is to prepare for the process. Work closely with your administrative office and advisers.  The biggest mistake medical students make when preparing for residence is not taking the time to prepare. Medical schools across the country understand the importance of this career step and have a slew of procedures, assistance, and benchmarks laid out to ease this process.

Don't make it more stressful than it needs to be!  Use the resources you can and look for more if you need additional help.

What to Look for in an Internal Medicine Residency Program Baltimore

Like most things in life, not all programs are created equal.  This is especially true for those who already have a specialty in mind.  If you have your heart set on gastroenterology, it's important that your applications and pursuits reflect that desire.  Again, this comes back to work with your adviser during the ERAS application and resume building phases. But more than that... it's important to research the options and interviews that become available to you.  On one hand, you may be offered the perfect position but fail to meet standards during the interview process.  On the other hand, you may find that the facility you've been invited to doesn't meet your standards.  That's why it's very important to do your research (which you should be used to as a medical student).

No matter what specialty you have in mind, it's important to examine the standards and curriculum of the programs you're invited to interview for.  Your residency is a defining time in your life and the education you receive should be on a university level.

 

 

 

What Is a Cardiology Fellowship?

Written By: Allison Zahorcak

A cardiology fellowship trains student doctors to become cardiologists. Cardiologists protect and serve one of the body's most important organs: the heart. From disease prevention and diagnosis to working with patients to maintain their health with abnormalities and other permanent heart conditions, these passionate physicians undergo intensive training in order to prepare them for life as a cardiologist.

Training is often comprised of various modules and trials that educate student doctors in the various methods of prevention and treatment needed to address the complexity of the heart. During this time, students will study and shadow other doctors as well as spend time working directly with doctors and patients across many different departments in order to get an accurate perspective for the field of cardiology.  This training typically takes three years or more, depending on the course of study.  Students must apply to programs and undergo interviews in order to be placed within a cardiology program.  Talk to your medical school about the application process if you're interested in looking for fellowships in cardiology.

Who Should Apply for a Cardiology Fellowship DC?

If the cardiovascular system fascinates you, a cardiology fellowship Washington DC could be an amazing fit. Generally speaking, these programs last for about three years to become a general cardiologist.  If you wish to further your career to include general surgery or other specialties, you can expect to have a few more years of fellowship under your belt once you begin your cardiovascular disease fellowship Georgetown

Cardiology is an amazingly rewarding career. Not only do you get the opportunity to work with patients and better their heart health, you are able to save hundreds of lives by addresses cardiovascular issues before they begin to threaten patients. With heart disease on the rise, this field of medicine couldn't be more vital. In fact, cardiology has always been one of the first fields of medicine to stretch the limits of care and look for new and innovative ways to conquer heart failure and other life-threatening conditions.

To learn more about cardiovascular studies or to find a program in your area, visit ttp://www.medstarhealth.org/.