MU Department of Medicine 2011-2013 Annual Report Feb. 2014 | Page 15

2011-2013

Department of Medicine

15

Overview of clinical programs + Services
The past few years have been exciting for the Division of

clinic provides a comprehensive assessment of patients with this

Cardiovascular Medicine. Among many advances, the MU

common and important heart rhythm disorder. In addition to Dr.

Heart Valve Clinic was established in 2012. Arun Kumar,

Sullivan, the Electrophysiology Team at MU includes BJ Rodeman,

MD (Cardiovascular Medicine) and Ajit K. Tharakan, MD

APRN, Richard J. Weachter, MD, and Greg C. Flaker, MD, who serves

(Cardiothoracic Surgery) are the Medical Co-Directors of this

as Director. On another front, our non-invasive imaging program

Clinic, and Jessica Holt, RN, is the Valve Clinic Coordinator. This

continued to expand. In addition to outstanding programs

clinic provides a venue for patients with valvular heart disease

in echocardiography and nuclear cardiac imaging, University

to be evaluated simultaneously by a cardiologist and a cardiac

Hospital provides state-of-the-art cardiac CT and cardiac MRI

surgeon, which is of great value in deciding the best treatment

programs. MU is one of the few centers nationally that performs

strategy. A major focus of the clinic is the evaluation of patients

cardiac stress testing with MRI imaging, which provides high-

with aortic stenosis , including patients who may be candidates

fidelity assessment for coronary artery disease without the use

for transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). The Division

of ionizing radiation. Our interventional cardiologists continued

of Cardiovascular Medicine also expanded its treatment options

their tradition of providing outstanding care for patients with

for patients with cardiac rhythm disorders by recruiting Renee

acute myocardial infarction, making MU the hub of care in central

M. Sullivan, MD. Dr. Sullivan is a cardiac electrophysiologist with

Missouri for patients with ST segment elevation myocardial

expertise in advanced catheter ablation techniques, including

infarction (STEMI), which is optimally treated by emergent cardiac

catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation. In 2012, Dr. Sullivan

catheterization and coronary stent placement.

created the Atrial Fibrillation Clinic at University Hospital. This

Overview of Education
The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine provides graduate and

education, both in the University Hospital Cardiology Clinic and

continuing medical education in cardiovascular disease to a wide

on the University Hospital Cardiology Consultation and CICU/

variety of medical professionals.

Cardiology Ward Services. These educational opportunities

The University of Missouri-Columbia Fellowship Program in
Cardiovascular Disease, now in its 45th year, is fully accredited by
the ACGME for 12 positions. In recent years, the fellowship has
consisted of 11 clinical fellows and 1 fellow pursuing a dedicated

are open to UMC students and to students from other medical
and osteopathic schools. In addition, several faculty members
participate in Problem-Based Learning (PBL) modules for firstand second-year medical students.

year in research. During the course of their fellowship our fellows

The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine provides core curriculum

receive education and training in inpatient cardiology (CICU,

conferences for fellows. Other conferences include a weekly case

cardiology ward, cardiology consultation), outpatient cardiology,

conference, a monthly fellows’ conference, a monthly morbidity

cardiac catheterization, cardiac electrophysiology and pacing,

and mortality conference, a monthly journal club, and a monthly

electrocardiography and stress testing, echocardiography, nuclear

research conference. In addition, Cardiovascular Medicine Grand

cardiology, advanced cardiac imaging (cardiac CT and MRI),

Rounds is presented weekly 9 months per year. Often featuring

vascular medicine, preventive cardiology, cardiac rehabilitation,

a guest speaker from another institution, this conference focuses

adult congenital heart disease, advanced heart failure and

on “what’s new in cardiovascular disease”.

research. Our fellows’ pass rate for the Board Examination in
Cardiovascular Disease over the past 10 years is 100%.

Community CME endeavors include our Annual Update in
Cardiovascular Disease. Now in its 11th year, this symposium

The Division of Cardiovascular Medicine participates avidly in

appeals to a wide variety of medical professionals. Several

the education of medicine and family and community medicine

faculty members have provided educational forums for the lay

residents via rotations on the University Hospital CICU/

public on various cardiovascular topics.

Cardiology Ward Service and University Hospital Cardiology
Consultation Service. The division also provides observerships in
echocardiography to anesthesiology residents.
Division faculty members are also involved in medical student

Finally, several of our faculty members have presented invited
lectures at national and international meetings and at other
universities, including Drs. Aggarwal, Alpert, Dellsperger, Fay, and
Flaker.