Subspecialty Careers: Interventional Cardiology
The Discipline
From the Latin word intervenire, "to come between," Interventional Cardiology is the branch of Cardiology responsible for catheter-based interventions in the management of ischemic heart disease, congenital heart disease, and acquired valvular disease.
Procedures
Important procedural skills include coronary artery catheterization, angioplasty, intra-coronary thombolysis, valvuloplasty, coronary artery stent placement, and intra-aortic balloon counterpulsation.
Training
Interventional Cardiology fellowship training requires 12 months of accredited training beyond three years of general cardiology training.
Training Positions
For the 2014-2015 academic year, there are 142 Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME)-accredited training programs in Interventional Cardiology with 313 active positions.
Certification
The American Board of Internal Medicine offers certification in Interventional Cardiology.