Vascular Surgery

At A Glance

Program Type: Military Medical Center

Location: Bethesda, MD

Accredited: Yes, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education

Program Length: 2 years

Required Pre-Requisite Training: Completion of General Surgery Residency

Categorical Year in Specialty Required: No

Total Approved Complement: 2

Approved per Year (if applicable): 1

Dedicated Research Year Offered: No

Medical Student Rotation Availability: N/A

Additional Degree Concurrent with Training (e.g. MPH): No

Program Description

The National Capital Consortium (NCC) Vascular Fellowship Program is among the oldest in our Nation. It began in 1966 and is the only military vascular surgery fellowship in the United States. The Vascular Surgery Service at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is dedicated to providing excellent patient care, while training fellows in the art and science of surgery. All goals and objectives of this program must keep these basic tenants in mind. It is accepted that the educational process in surgery is never ending. Thus a major objective is to establish a pattern of investigation, compulsivity, reading, interpersonal behavior, teaching, learning and patient care skills which will be used throughout the surgeon's career. The program is a two-year fellowship training U.S. Military General Surgeons in clinical vascular surgery to include clinical and/or basic science research, noninvasive vascular laboratory testing, diagnostic arteriography, percutaneous catheter-based interventions, endovascular surgery and conventional open vascular surgery. The Fellowship includes rotations at Walter Reed, Inova Fairfax Health System and University of Virginia Medical Center.

Mission, Vision and Aims

Mission

Develop and train vascular surgeons to meet the need of the United States Department of Defense.

Vision

Develop and train technically excellent vascular surgeons that will provide premier vascular surgery to military members, their families and beneficiaries. These surgeons will become leaders with the military community to help shape future of military vascular surgery.

Aims

Train highly skilled surgeons
Ensure trainees are exposed to all areas of vascular surgery
Ensure trainees understand the needs of the military for vascular surgeons

Curriculum and Schedules

All academic days occur on Wednesday morning. At each location trainees will spend time participating in Morbidity and Mortality (M & M) conference and didactics along with case conferences

1st Year	2nd Year
3 months Vascular Surgery - Walter Reed 3 months Vascular Surgery - University of Virginia 6 months Vascular Surgery - INOVA	3 months Vascular Surgery - Walter Reed 3 months Vascular Surgery - University of Virginia 6 months Vascular Surgery - INOVA

Our program does not offer elective rotations.

May vary per location, but all home call. At Walter Reed and INOVA, one day off per week, at UVA, one weekend on call every three weeks and two weekends off.

Nearly the entire curriculum for arterial surgery is military relevant. We focus in didactics on a few specific areas that trainees may see in the deployed setting with limited resources. Specific examples include the use of shunts and non-fixed imaging to make vascular diagnosis.

None, but the first-year fellow is scheduled for the Moore Course and the second-year fellow for the Society of Vascular Surgery meeting.

Scholarly and Professional Development Opportunities

Fellows participate in different avenues of clinical research and quality improvement. The department has a basic science and translational lab located at USUHS that is open to fellows at their discretion. Over the two years of training fellows are expected to participate and have opportunities for clinical research at all three institutions. Historically each fellow will participate in 2-3 peer reviewed papers and 1-2 Book chapters. Additionally, each fellow identifies one area of quality improvement within Walter Reed to help the institution improve care.

Fellows participate in Morbidity and Mortality conference as well as meeting with the vascular team leadership to improve care in both Walter Reed and INOVA.

Participating Sites

Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
INOVA Health
University of Virginia Health

Applicant Information, Rotation and Interview Opportunities

Applicants should contact the PD of the vascular program and their service consultants to schedule interviews for fellowship.

The American Board of Surgery (ABS) has two exams to become board certified in Vascular Surgery. Both exams are offered annually: Vascular Surgery Qualifying Exam (VSQE)and Vascular Surgery Certifying Exam (VSCE). Upon successful completion of the VSQE, candidates will be admissible to the VSCE and will be contacted with registration information for the next exam. Additional information may be found on the ABS Website.

Teaching Opportunities

Fellows are expected to run the vascular service at all locations and teach general surgery residents at each location daily.

USUHS Teaching Courses

Well-Being

Division events within vascular surgery, journal clubs

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