Echocardiography

The echocardiography laboratory in St. Francis Medical Center and John Dempsey hospital, combined, performs approximately >15,000 studies with state of the art equipment. St Francis Hospital and Medical Center is the home to an accredited school of adult cardiac ultrasound. Fellows train with skilled sonographers who are highly respected in their field; they also read with imaging attendings who provide careful supervision.

Fellows spend 2 months of their first year and 1.5 months of their second year participating in the echocardiography rotation at UConn Health. They scan and independently pre-read studies. We assign an attending who provides detailed critique of the fellows’ interpretation every day. Fellows receive ample individual attention tailored to their needs.

Fellows spend 0.5 months of their second year and 2 months of their third years participating in the echocardiography rotation at St Francis Medical Center. They spend a greater amount of dedicated time performing transesophageal and stress echocardiograms (exercise and dobutamine). They gain a greater measure of independence in a high volume laboratory with exposure to complex studies (TAVR…etc.).

We schedule didactic lectures and case-based conferences throughout the year. Fellows are also encouraged to participate in research projects in both echocardiographic laboratories.

We are proud of the training offered in our program. Most of our fellows pass the National Board of Echocardiography Exam by the end of their second year (as supposed to the end of their third year). Fellows can easily meet the requirement set forth in COCATS level-2 echocardiography training by the end of their fellowship. Those who are interested can attain COCATS level- 3 training by spending several electives months during their third year in the echocardiography laboratory. Advanced echo training to achieve level III training emphasizes higher level of performance/interpretation skills in 2D transesophageal echocardiography, the use of 3D transesophageal echo acquisition and analysis of 3D data in echo lab, interventional procedures (TAVR, Watchman) and intraoperative echocardiography.

Advance Cardiac Imaging

We provide COCATS level-1 training in cardiac MRI through case based, interactive lecture series given throughout the year. Most of our fellow take advantage of their travel fund (~$2000 given to each fellow each year) to participate in Cardiac CT courses to obtain COCATS level 2 training.