A time of accelerated change in academic cardiovascular medicine: implications for academic divisions of cardiology and their training programs.
With the vast epidemic of vascular disease predicted to be the leading cause of death and disability by a growing margin over the next 30 years, academic medical centers with cardiology training programs have a special responsibility. Given the dramatic advances of biotechnology in producing highly effective but expensive strategies of prevention and treatment, cardiovascular specialists should assist their academic centers in envisioning the future to prepare trainees for a different environment. Cardiologists of the future must be able to adapt to a societal need for patient-oriented, team-based clinical care and rapidly evolving technology, while maintaining the fundamental skills and knowledge required for individual patient interaction. Academic programs should benchmark their activities to ensure responsible resource allocation so that cardiologists of the future will be trained in an environment stimulating excellence and creativity.
Califf
Robert M
RM
Duke Clinical Research Institute, the Duke Heart Center, Division of Cardiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina 27701, USA. calif001@mc.duke.edu
Ryan
Thomas
T
Douglas
Pamela
P
Goldschmidt-Clermont
Pascal J
PJ
D002309:Cardiology / Q000193:education*; D016507:Cardiology Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D010348:Patient Care Team; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care; D014481:United States