Will our training programs meet the challenges of increasingly complex endovascular aortic surgery?
It has been more than 2 decades since endovascular therapies appeared for the treatment of vascular disease. With each new enhancement in a therapeutic approach has come the demand for training to assure competence in the clinical setting. In the early days when the technology was relatively simple, training within the specific specialty through established training programs (eg, residencies, fellowships) was effective. However, today's endovascular treatment of complex aortic disease, as well as other vascular pathologies, is presenting demands that the current system cannot meet. New technologies will demand multispecialty collaboration, so current training programs must be altered if we are to meet the demands in education for future aortic interventions. This personal perspective reviews the evolution of endovascular therapy and the impact of product development's changing landscape on training. A new training paradigm must concentrate on centers of excellence with maximum flexibility to meet the needs and demands of our young trainees. It is vital that this approach be global, disease-focused, and linked to developments in epigenomics.
Arizona Heart Foundation, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA. ediethrich@azheartfoundation.org
Edward B
EB
Diethrich
D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003479:Curriculum; D004059:Diffusion of Innovation; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends; D057510:Endovascular Procedures / Q000193:education* / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D033183:Interdisciplinary Communication; D010348:Patient Care Team; D014656:Vascular Surgical Procedures / Q000193:education* / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends