The Echocardiography Service offers a 12- to 24-month fellowship. The Montreal Heart Institute's echocardiography laboratory is one of the most active of its kind in Canada and its staff are experts in the assessment of valve disease, adult congenital heart disease, genetic cardiomyopathy, stress echocardiography, 3D echocardiography and echocardiography in complex percutaneous procedures (ASD or VSD closures, reduction of periprosthetic leaks, septal ablation, percutaneous valve replacements, atrial appendage occlusions, etc.). The laboratory is equipped with 9 echocardiography systems, and each year staff conduct over 12,000 transthoracic echocardiograms, 1250 transesophageal echocardiograms, and 500 to 600 stress tests. Each fellow takes an active role in clinical activities. To facilitate learning, the laboratory also has a transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiographic simulator, and a simulation learning program is created for each candidate depending on his or her level of training. Fellows are highly encouraged to participate in research projects. A number of research opportunities are also possible (cardiomyopathy and genetics, heart failure, cardiac resynchronization, valve disease, adult congenital heart disease, etc.). Candidates who choose a 24-month fellowship may also do a combined ultrasound/MRI fellowship. By the end of the fellowship, all candidates will have greatly exceeded the requirements of the American College of Cardiology, the Canadian Society of Echocardiography and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society for the number of transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms performed. The Echocardiography Fellowship at the Montreal Heart Institute meets the certification requirements of the Area of Focused Competence (Diploma) Program in Echocardiography of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
During the fellowship, you will be conducting clinical exams and procedures on patients, which means you will have to obtain privileges as a fellow.
To obtain these privileges, you must meet the following conditions:
• Have a grant from a recognized agency, as positions are reserved solely for grant holders. This grant must be a minimum of C$40,000 per year. To obtain funding, candidates should apply for grants from recognized agencies. Different departments at the Montreal Heart Institute (MHI) offer scholarships; however, these scholarships are limited and awarded on a competitive basis.
• Have very good knowledge of French. The MHI is a Francophone hospital and all clinical activities are conducted in French. The patients are Francophone, progress notes are written in French, and all meetings are held in French.
• Pay the tuition fees charged by Université de Montréal.
• Hold a specialist's certificate that allows you to practise medicine in your country.
• Have a letter of recommendation from the dean of the faculty of medicine where you are taking or where you finished your specialty as well as a letter of recommendation from the dean of the faculty of medicine at Université de Montréal.
It is highly recommended that you submit your application at least 18 months in advance, as the process to become a fellow is quite long.
For more information about this process, please consult the Université de Montréal website.
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