Postgraduate program
Postgraduate program:
1. KSU Adult Cardiac Surgery Fellowship.
Fellowship Description and Guidelines:
Cardiology surgery is the crown jewel of all surgical specialties. We say this because it is the last specialty that man has realized, and because it is difficult for many. They tried to perform surgery on a pulsating heart but faced many difficulties and many of them despair. Those interested in cardiac surgery later realized that the burden lies in finding a mechanism that functions as the heart and lungs in order to operate on the heart. Later on May 6, 1953, Dr. John Keipen was able to perform an operation to repair an atrial defect by using artificial lungs and heart device. Thus initiating the modern approach to heart surgery.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has witnessed a leap in health services rarely found anywhere else. Many students were sent to study medicine abroad. In the mid-sixties, the first medical school in the Kingdom was opened and then different regions of the Kingdom followed example. With the beginning of the seventies, a large number of students returned after being specialized in various medical fields. At the beginning of the eighties, training in medical specialties have started by establishing the Joint Council, which included major hospitals in Riyadh, to train doctors for British fellowships. In 1995, the Saudi Commission for Medical Specialties was established. With the presence of distinguished medical cadre in Saudi Arabia, training programs similar to those in America and Canada were established to improve the level of health care. Health care now in the Kingdom is comparable to the health care offered in America and Europe. The Kingdom has made great strides in the development of devices and surgical procedures in treatment of heart failure.
KSU Cardiology Department with the cooperation with King Fahad Cardiac Center designed cardiology program and presented it to the Saudi Commission in the Surgery Scientific Council’s session. The program was accepted and distributed to the concerned centers to study and approve it to be inclusive to all Riyadh known centers. The approval was granted from those centers and the program was put into action with success.
Training program:
The Saudi Cardiac Surgery Program is a new program that began in 2011. The program receives 40 applicants per year for training, but it accepts ten doctors every two years. Cardiology surgery differs from other specialties, so it should be taken into account the Kingdom’s need of cardiac surgeons.
The program has two paths:
The first path: The applicant is accepted immediately after internship in the training program for 7 years.
The second path: The applicant must be accepted after receiving a full training in General Surgery in a recognized program after which he/she will spend four years in the training of Cardiac Surgery.
The first 3 years in the program are Basic Surgical. It also includes courses in Basic Cardiology such as Radiology, Cardiac Catheterization and Cardiac Intensive Care.
The next four years are: fellows in their senior years learn the surgical work of all types with a focus on heart surgery for adults. The program includes shifts in the hospital. Each trainee takes 6 to 7 shifts per month, as well as weekly clinics for follow-up of patients and operations. There is the academic activity during the training period.
Doctor-patient relationship:
Cardiac surgery varies from all types of surgery because of its importance. What distinguishes it from others is the patient's confidence in the surgeon that starts from the first visit. When the patient feels reassured and trusts the surgeon. The surgeon starts explaining everything in simple language what the patient needs to know and answer inquiries and questions with open heart.
Job opportunities after training and obtaining fellowship certificate:
Job opportunities are good in the Kingdom and the program ensures that the number of fellows does not exceed the number of available jobs.
Available sub-specialty fellowships:
- Advanced Fellowship in Adult Cardiology Surgery:
- Aortic Surgery Fellowship
- Heart Failure Surgery Fellowship
- Heart Valve Surgery Fellowship
- Cardiac Interventional Surgery Fellowship
- Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship
Life as a heart surgeon:
It is known that the specialty of heart surgery is very stressful, it requires a great deal of commitment and dedication. In order to manage multiple tasks, it is important to prioritize them to achieve balance and succeed at work. Cardiac surgery is actually a collective team effort that cannot be achieved individually.
2. KSU Adult Cardiovascular Diseases Fellowship:
Adult Cardiology Unit at King Fahad Cardiac Center provides fellowship in Adult Cardiovascular Diseases. The Department of Cardiology at King Fahad Cardiac Center is a pioneer in the fellowship program which made it to the top in the in the assessment. Trained physicians deal with a large number of patients with a wide variety of cardiovascular diseases. They undergo intensive training in all aspects of cardiac diseases. They must work in monthly shifts in the Cardiac Care Unit, General Cardiology Ward, Advisory services, Echocardiography Laboratory, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, stress / nuclear cardiology laboratory, and electrophysiology. Scientific lectures and courses are held on a daily basis. In addition to organizing conferences to enhance the teaching and academic environment of the training program, including cardiac electrophysiology, Echocardiography, cardiac catheterization/hemodynamics, and stress/nuclear cardiology tests. Trained physicians have the opportunity to pursue clinical research and contribute to publish abstracts and research papers. The trainee receives the KSU Adult Cardiovascular Diseases Fellowship certificate after completing a training period for 3 years and passing the final written and clinical examination, under the supervision of the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, such as the Arab Council of internal medicine, MRCPUK, or the American Board, provided that training in Internal Medicine is obtained from reference hospitals.
How to apply:
The academic program begins on March 1st of each academic year. Admission is open from February 1st to May 1st of each year. The interviews take place between May 1st and June 1st each year. 3-5 trainees are accepted each year.
Requirements:
CV, a copy of the Bachelor Degree in Medicine and Surgery, the certificate of Saudi Fellowship Certificate in Internal Medicine or equivalent with the attached details, a copy of the certificate of professional classification by the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties, copies of all previous and current experience certificates, three recommendations from the consultants who have worked with preferably in the last 6 months, initial Sabbatical Leave letter from the workplace. In the event of acceptance, applicant should bring the final Sabbatical Leave letter to complete the whole training period, as well as a copy of the ID (national ID / passport / Resident ID)
