Cardiovascular Medicine
Noninvasive Imaging
The clinical echocardiography laboratories offer a full range of diagnostic echocardiography services including standard transthoracic 2-dimensional echocardiography, Doppler and color flow imaging, transesophageal echocardiography, dyssynchrony evaluation, pacemaker optimization, and stress echocardiography. The clinical laboratory also supports transesophageal monitoring of patients during surgery, intraoperative evaluation of cardiac surgical procedures (valve repair and replacement, repair of thoracic aortic dissection, etc.), monitoring of catheter position during transseptal catheterization for mitral valvuloplasty and radiofrequency ablation of left sided pathways. Over 7000 studies are performed at Shands Hospital and over 4400 at the VAMC each year. Over 1100 additional 2-D and Doppler studies are performed in the clinical echocardiography laboratory at Cardiology West, the Division’s off campus practice location. The Shands echo laboratory is also involved in a variety of clinical investigative projects including a multi-center study evaluating ischemic heart disease in women, echocardiographic evaluation of efficacy of new heart failure therapies, and assessment of weight training on left ventricular function. In addition, the laboratory provides support for projects performed by other members of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. Fellows are assigned to the Shands Hospital and VA laboratories to gain expertise in the performance and interpretation of echocardiographic procedures. Level 2 and 3 training is available to interested fellows in training.
The echocardiography research laboratory (ERL) is an extramurally funded facility with a major interest in the development of computerized methods to automate and improve quantitation in echocardiography. Much of the research involves computer-image processing, but ongoing basic and clinical projects validating the developed methods are also coordinated through the ERL. Studies exploring computer methods for quantitation of ultrasound contrast agents are also active. Fellow involvement in the ERL or development of clinical research projects using the tools and facilities of the ERL is encouraged.
http://www.asecho.org/ (American Society of Echocardiography)
http://www.echoboards.org/ (National Board of Echocardiography)
Faculty
- Edward A. Geiser,M.D.
- Karen K. Hamilton, M.D.
- Marian C. Limacher, M.D.
- Carsten M. Schmalfuss, M.D.
- Richard S. Schofield, M.D.
Cardiac MR/CT
We have recently enhanced our ongoing collaboration with the Department of Radiology in the area of cardiac MR and CT. Cardiology trainees rotating on this service participate in image acquisition and processing daily and read jointly with both radiology and cardiology attendings. There are additional online training materials and archived cases which are used by visiting physicians participating in an ongoing CT training program. This program is designed for both cardiologists and radiologists who wish to gain further expertise in this technique and is available to the cardiology fellows during their rotation. It is anticipated that at least level one training in cardiac CT can be obtained by interested fellows.
http://scct.org/ The Society for Cardiovascular Computed Tomography
http://www.scmr.org Society for Cardiac Magnetic Resonance
http://scmr.org/caseoftheweek/index.cfm SCMR Case of the Week
Faculty
- Gary R. Cooper, M.D.
- James A. Hill, M.D.
- Steven M. Kraft, M.D.
- Carsten M. Schmalfuss, M.D.
ECGs, Treadmill Testing and Holter/Event Monitoring
The non-invasive laboratories for Shands Hospital and the VAMC perform a large volume of electrocardiograms, treadmill stress tests and ambulatory monitoring studies each month. Fellows and nurses supervise the treadmill studies at Shands and participate in the daily interpretation of all studies. At the VAMC, internal medicine residents supervise the performing of treadmill tests and the consult fellow interprets all studies with the consult attending cardiologist.
Faculty
- Juan M Aranda, Jr. M.D.
- Karen Hamilton, M.D.
- James A. Hill, M.D.
- Marian Limacher, M.D.
- Daniel F. Pauly, M.D., Ph.D.