Rotations

Rotations are based on the major specialty areas of cardiothoracic surgery and are set up in blocks of three months. In all rotations, residents will cover:

– preoperative assessment through the history and physical examination

– assessment of the patient for suitability of operative treatment

– intraoperative steps that are essential for safe and effective operative treatment

– postoperative care that is safe, effective, and cost-effective in achieving the best possible patient outcome

The location for rotations is at the Stanford Hospital, Palo Alto Veterans Administration Health Care System, and Lucile Packard Children's Hospital.

Adult Cardiac Surgery

For this rotation, the continuum of care is related to the typical problems of adult cardiac surgery, including coronary artery disease, valvular disease, thoracic aortic pathology, heart and lung transplantation, mechanical assist devices, and other types of congenital and acquired cardiovascular disease.

Pediatric Cardiac Surgery

For this rotation, the continuum of care is related to the typical problems of pediatric cardiac surgery, including cyanotic lesions, defects of the septa, developmental defects, volume overload defects, obstructive defects, rhythm abnormalities, and pulmonary developmental problems.

Thoracic Surgery

For this rotation, the continuum of care is related to typical problems of thoracic surgery, including diseases of the chest wall, pleura, mediastinum, diaphragm, lungs, tracheobronchial tree, and esophagus.

Detailed 6-Year Rotation Plan and Optional Academic Enrichment Rotation


Blue/Green (Adult Cardiac Surgery at Stanford): aortic surgery, basic and complex adult cardiac surgery, and adult congenital surgery

Surgical Oncology (at Stanford): clinical management of patients with cancers in the abdomen (i.e., pancreatic, liver, colon, etc.)

General Surgery @ SCV (at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center): trauma and general surgery at a high-volume hospital

General Surgery @ VA (at Palo Alto Veteran’s Administration Hospital): common general surgery patients

Vascular Surgery @ VA (at Palo Alto Veteran’s Administration Hospital): open and endovascular surgery

Thoracic Surgery (at Stanford): common and complex general non-cardiac thoracic surgery

Acute Care Surgery (at Stanford): trauma and consult general surgery at Level 1 trauma center

Cardiac Care Unit (at Stanford): comprehensive critical care medicine for common and complex cardiology patients

Cardiac Anesthesia (at Stanford): cardiac anesthetic management intra- and post-operatively, including instruction in transesophageal echocardiography and cardiovascular pharmacology

CT Surgery @ VA (Cardiothoracic Surgery at Palo Alto Veteran’s Administration Hospital): common cardiac and non-cardiac thoracic surgery

Cardiac Surgery @ VA (at Palo Alto Veteran’s Administration Hospital): aortic surgery, basic and complex adult cardiac surgery, adult congenital surgery, and some thoracic cases

CT/MRI/ECHO (at Stanford): education in reading of cross-sectional (CT/MR) radiology imaging and echocardiography; echocardiography will be taught by cardiologist and cardiac anesthetists

Interventional Radiology (at Stanford): residents function as a interventional radiology fellow in diagnostic and interventional procedures, gaining wire skill sets necessary for percutaneous interventions

EP/Pacemakers (at Stanford): residents function as an electrophysiology fellow, instructed in diagnosis, medical, and interventional treatment of arrhythmias; residents will learn indications and insertion technique for pacemaker and AICD devices

Academic Enrichment: scholarly research in basic science investigation, clinical or clinical outcomes research, clinical rotations at other institutions, or advanced degrees in business, basic science, education, law, or public health.

Peds Cardiac @ LPCH (Pediatric Congenital Cardiac Surgery at Lucille Packard Children's Hospital): complex congenital cases

CT Surgery @ KSC (Cardiothoracic Surgery at Kaiser Santa Clara): aortic surgery, basic and complex adult cardiac surgery, adult congenital surgery, and limited thoracic cases

CT Surgery @ SCV (Cardiothoracic Surgery at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center): aortic surgery, basic and complex adult cardiac surgery, adult congenital surgery, and some thoracic cases

Interventional Cardiology (at Stanford): residents will function as a cardiology fellow, performing diagnostic catheterizations and interventions, gaining skill sets necessary for percutaneous interventions