Subspecialty Careers: Interventional Cardiology

Subspecialty Careers: Interventional Cardiology

The Discipline

From the Latin word intervenire, "to come between," Interventional Cardiology is the branch of Cardiology responsible for catheter-based interventions in the management of ischemic heart disease, congenital heart disease, and acquired valvular disease.

Procedures

Important procedural skills include coronary artery catheterization, angioplasty, intra-coronary thombolysis, valvuloplasty, coronary artery stent placement, and intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation.

Training

Interventional Cardiology fellowship training requires 12 months of accredited training beyond three years of general cardiology training.

Training Positions

For the 2012-2013 academic year, there are 141 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited training programs in Interventional Cardiology with 316 active positions.

Certification

The American Board of Internal Medicine offers certification in Interventional Cardiology.

Major Professional Society

• The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions

Major Publication

• Journal of Interventional Cardiology

Back to December 2012 Issue of IMpact

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