The clinical departments of Medicine and Surgery provide both clinical and basic science fellowship support and promote graduate training as an integral part of the training of academic physicians. Graduate training is available through the collaborating graduate departments.
Members of the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine are active in a full range of clinical and basic research initiatives related to cardiovascular science. These studies range from clinical trials and resource utilization studies to investigation of physiological and cellular mechanisms of cardiac function related to anaesthesia. Several collaborative programs with scientists in other disciplines have been successful in demonstrating the benefits of a multi-disciplinary research program with a sharing of expertise. The Clinician-Scientist stream within the postgraduate anaesthesia training program allows residents an opportunity to explore cardiovascular research at the graduate level. Fellows and residents are supervised by scientists who are members of the collaborative program.
A large number of investigators in the field of cardiovascular sciences participate in programs of investigation which train students in techniques ranging from clinical epidemiology and trials, clinical physiology and imaging techniques, to the most basic techniques of cellular and molecular biology. The programs actively study disease processes including ischemic heart disease - stable/unstable syndromes, acute and post-myocardial infarction syndromes, cardiomyopathies (hypertrophic, idiopathic and myocarditis), congestive heart failure and congenital heart disease.
The Department of Surgery strongly supports the Cardiovascular Sciences Collaborative Specialization. The Department has established Cardiovascular Sciences as a priority research program for the Department. However, surgical investigators are encouraged to participate in multidisciplinary research groups in order to reach their maximal potential. Surgical trainees with an interest in developing a career in academic Cardiovascular Sciences are provided with the full support of the Department including full funding for their academic careers. They are encouraged to seek a degree during their full-time research training. These individuals are included in the Collaborative Specialization. The multidisciplinary groups prioritized by the Department of Surgery also encourage training of basic scientists who also may participate in the Collaborative Specialization.