Anaesthesia Cardiothoracic Fellow

Our two Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia fellowship positions offer experience in most fields of anaesthesia, with a very strong emphasis on Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia including Heart and Lung transplantation and pulmonary endarterectomy.

Aims

Fellows will develop advanced skills in the following:

• Conduct of preoperative patient evaluation and interpretation of cardiovascular and pulmonary diagnostic tests.
• Management of cardiopulmonary bypass and pharmacological and mechanical haemodynamic support.
• Advanced peri-operative trans-oesophageal echocardiography.
• Research and audit

Structure

This is a twelve month appointment. The working week will comprise:

• Cardiac anaesthesia (also including echo) – minimum one and half days/week
• Research – half day per fortnight
• Trans-oesophageal echocardiography – half day/week
• Non-cardiac anaesthesia

The cardiac Fellow will also participate in weekly Trans-oesophageal echocardiography review meetings, cardiac educational meetings and the weekly Department teaching and Quality Assurance meetings.

Heart and Lung Transplantation

Fellows will obtain experience in all aspects of Heart and Lung transplantation. This includes the management of patients on mechanical circulatory support as well as management of the organ donor. (The Alfred currently performs 100 lung transplants and 20-30 heart transplants a year).

Transoesophageal Echocardiography

Fellows will acquire/develop expertise in this area and move toward the SCA/ASE exam in perioperative echo.

Education

All Fellows will be expected to occasionally supervise junior trainees in theatre and participate in various education programs for registrars, hospital residents, medical students, ambulance officers and nursing staff.

Research

The Fellow would be expected / encouraged to participate in a research project related to echo or other aspects of cardiothoracic anaesthetic practice. Potential topics would balance the Fellow’s interests with the research agenda of the Department. 

General Information

All Fellows participate in a 1/14 roster which includes allocation to Sandringham Hospital on average once/fortnight where they function as a junior consultant. While the majority of your allocations will be in Cardiothoracics, coverage of some service lists will be expected. Fellows average 86 rostered hrs/fortnight including on calls/ out of hours. Cardiac Fellows will be expected to be available for OOH emergency cardiothoracic cases in addition to their rostered hours, by arrangement with the Cardiothoracic Anaesthesia team.

The on-going education and training of all our trainees is an integral part of our department’s activities.  As well as high levels of clinical supervision and focused exam preparation programs, we have a weekly afternoon teaching session for all trainees including Fellows comprised of workshops, topical presentations by trainees and consultants, and a quality improvement session during which interesting and challenging cases are discussed in an open, constructive forum.

The ANZCA ‘Roles in Practice’ form a framework for selection. Successful career progress and strong professional references are essential. We recruit highly motivated trainees who will work enthusiastically and respectfully as part of the Alfred Health team. Having clear goals for the fellowship experience and their future career stands applicants in good stead. International applicants should be at (or near the end of) their specialty training program, including successful completion of relevant post graduate exams at the time of application.