We are delighted to invite applications for the Boston Scientific Interventional Fellowship, Vancouver Island 2010/2011.This successful and established programme, now in its sixth year, has been developed to provide UK based specialist registrars with an opportunity to gain experience in transradial intervention at an internationally prominent high volume transradial centre.

The successful candidate will have the opportunity to gain valuable clinical experience for a year in a key Canadian interventional centre; the Royal Jubilee Hospital in British Columbia, under the supervision of Dr Anthony Della Siega.

Please find enclosed further information relating to the fellowship hosting centre, training and research opportunities within the programme, and details of the application process.

Yours sincerely

Tim CouttsInterventional Cardiology Director

Boston Scientific

The Boston Scientific Interventional FellowshipVancouver Island 2010/2011

Dr. Jim NolanConsultant Cardiologist

University Hospital of North Staffordshire

Supported by an unrestricted Educational Grant from

This programme operates with the full support and endorsement of

Supervising Consultants: Dr Anthony Della Siega, Dr Jim Nolan

Royal Victoria Hospital, Vancouver, Canada This fellowship programme is linked to the Royal Jubilee Hospital, Victoria, British Columbia, under the supervision of Dr Anthony Della Siega, a leading Canadian and International Transradial Interventionalist. The hospital provides interventional cardiology services for a population of 750,000 across the island.

The cardiac laboratories carry out elective transradial interventional procedures during normal business hours, as well as providing a 24 hour, 365 day primary PCI service. There is a 22 bed short stay unit attached to the catheter laboratories, and the majority of angioplasty procedures are performed on a day case basis.

At present there are seven interventionalists performing 1700 PCI procedures. Transradial access is used for the majority of procedures.

Interventional fellowship programmeThe programme for the UK based interventional fellow will consist of four full lab days and one research day each week. The fellow can expect to complete at least 500 procedures, with a large proportion being performed as solo operator (depending on individual experience and progress). A full range of interventional devices are available for managing complex patients.

Multiple interventional research projects are underway including single and multi-centre projects. The interventional fellow will be expected to develop a research project leading to presentation and publication.

The Boston Scientific fellowship programme will provide salary support (related to the current basic salary of the successful applicant without on call supplement) for the 12 months of the programme.

A view from Imad Nadra, Current Boston Scientific Interventional Fellow

The Boston Scientific Interventional Fellowship Programme, Vancouver Island

This interventional fellowship will provide you with a unique opportunity to gain high volume transradial interventional training and develop a practical understanding of research methodology, whilst working in a fun and supportive environment and living in arguably one of the most beautiful parts of Canada.

The fellowship is based in Victoria, Vancouver Island, Canada, where you will be affiliated with both the Victoria Heart Institute Foundation as well as the Royal Jubilee Hospital. The hospital is the only cardiac centre on the Island with established cardiothoracic, EP (largest volume of A.fib ablations in Canada), imaging and interventional services (including 24/7 PPCI).

The case mix is varied and you will gain first operator experience and training in the treatment of coronary bifurcations, unprotected LMS disease, vein graft disease and the use of distal protection, rotational atherectomy and the eximer laser devices.

Although there is no TAVI programme running at present, don’t let this put you off, the unit has imminent plans to start this in the next 6-12 months, giving you a rare opportunity to experience setting up a TAVI service.

The development of a research project is strongly supported through your affiliation with the Victoria Heart Institute Foundation Clinical Trial Unit which brings the added support of 5 dedicated research nurses.

For those with families, the schools are fabulous and there is an island parent programme packed with lots of kid-friendly stuff to do.

Only 6 months into my fellowship, I already know this will be a year to treasure, it has been a wonderful life experience for me and my family.

I would be more than happy to receive questions by email. I wish you luck with your application.*

Imad.

imad.nadra@yahoo.co.uk*This statement is the responsibility of the author and does not represent the opinion of Boston Scientific.

Application processAccess to the fellowship will be limited to trainees in Year 5 or 6 of their Specialist Registrar training who intend to specialize in Interventional Cardiology. The fellowship will be allocated through a process of open competition. A panel of three independant senior interventional consultants will review all applications and award the fellowship based on the candidates career development and interventional experience. Where necessary, a short period of UK based transradial training can be provided for the successful applicant.

If you would like to register your interest in this opportunity, please submit a detailed Curriculum Vitae with letters of support from two supervisory consultants to Dr Jim Nolan by email (nolanjim@hotmail.com) no later than the 2nd July 2010.

Short-listed candidates will be invited to interview during mid July.

The successful candidate will be notified by the end of July and will be expected to take up their position in January 2011.

The fellowship bursary must be paid into a trust fund or institution and cannot be paid to an individual. The fund in question can either be at the candidate’s UK institution or at the receiving institution in Canada. The selected fellow is in no way considered to be an employee of Boston Scientific.