Start Your Fellowship Here
Program Goal: To provide the trainees with a broad in-depth experience in the management of vascular diseases in the setting of University of Iowa Health Care and the Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center.
The Division of Vascular Surgery offers a two year Vascular Surgery Fellowship program to accommodate the evolving needs for training in endovascular surgery and the noninvasive vascular laboratory. Our fellowship has been approved by the ACGME since its inception. Our program graduates one trainee per year.
Curriculum
The Vascular Surgery Fellows split their time between vascular surgery rotations at both UI Health Care and the Iowa City Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center.
While on rotation at both UI Health Care and the Iowa City Veterans Affairs (VA) Medical Center, the fellows will be exposed to all aspects of vascular surgery including open and endovascular procedures. In addition the fellows will be actively involved in the preoperative, intra-operative and postoperative patient care. The fellows will also participate in both the outpatient clinic and vascular lab, where they will be exposed to the issues related to follow and management of early and late complications of vascular interventions.
Further, as the fellows advance in training, they will have acquired the clinical judgment and technical skills necessary to serve as a teaching assistant to the residents on the vascular services.
Clinical Procedures
A sampling of the procedures and operations that the fellows will be exposed to include:
- Carotid body tumor excision
- Carotid endarterectomy
- Endovascular aortic and iliac aneurysm repair
- Excision and replacement of infected bypass grafts
- Exposure of the abdominal aorta through trans-and retroperitoneal exposure
- Lower extremity bypass
- Thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair
- Redo abdominal aortic surgery
- Redo carotid endarterectomy
- Renal and mesenteric artery bypass
Research
Research is an important part of the daily activities of all academic surgeons. The continuing commitment to productive scholarship, embodied by research, as much as a commitment to communicative scholarship, exemplified by teaching, distinguishes the academic surgeon from their colleague in nonacademic practice.
The obvious benefit of research to our patients and to the community is improved care. Less obvious, but equally important, benefits are the atmosphere of open and rigorous inquiry, the constant questioning and the intellectual stimulation which the research programs provide to their participants - faculty, fellows, residents, and medical students.
There are numerous opportunities to become involved in basic science and/or clinical research, which leads to the development of many projects that are presented at regional and national meetings. Please use the following link for information concerning research within the Department of Surgery.
Conferences
Vascular Surgery Journal Club
Four articles are chosen by faculty. The articles are then presented by the vascular fellows and senior residents. This is followed by a discussion with the trainees and faculty.
This conference is held on the first Monday of the month.
Surgical Audit Conference
The content of this conference focuses on cases selected to present and an appropriate literature review in order to improve patient care and reduce complications. Presenters selected work with faculty members in the development of presentations.
This conference is held on Tuesdays at 7 a.m.
VA Vascular Surgery Case Conference
Mid Level residents and the VA fellow present the cases for the upcoming week. Following a discussion of the relevant clinic indications, the current in-house patients are reviewed.
This is conference is held on Tuesdays at 8 a.m.
Vein Conference
During the first half of the conference a resident presents a topic pertinent to venous disease. Following this, interesting or pertinent vein cases are presented for discussion.
This is a bi-weekly conference held on Tuesdays at 3 p.m.
Surgery Grand Rounds
As surgical science and practice progresses rapidly, a need exists to continuously keep abreast of advances in surgical education, practice, and research. Utilizing visiting experts and local faculty members, development in these areas are formally presented and discussed.
This conference is held from September through June on Tuesdays at 4:30 p.m.
UI Health Care and Vascular Surgery Conference
The conference is led by the fellows who present complex vascular cases. This is followed by discussion that is aimed to engage medical students, junior and senior residents, as well as the fellows and staff.
This conference is held on Tuesdays at 4 p.m.