Cardiovascular Prevention Research Fellowship in the Nolan Family Center for Cardiovascular Health

The Nolan Family Center for Cardiovascular Health at the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation® (MHIF) aims to change the paradigm from cardiovascular disease to cardiovascular health through efforts in research and education. As part of the educational aim for the center, a one-year fellowship in cardiovascular prevention has been created to provide a robust experience to an individual interested in the field of cardiovascular prevention. Dr. Ayman Haq is serving as the first-ever cardiovascular prevention fellow for 2020-2021.

The Nolan Family Center for Cardiovascular Health is uniquely positioned to help determine the optimal approach to cardiovascular prevention through research, education and leadership. MHIF is strongly positioned for success with the center through its partnership with 70+ Minneapolis Heart Institute® cardiologists, who see more than 50,000 individual patients at nearly 57,000 clinic visits each year at Abbott Northwestern Hospital, which is consistently awarded with national rankings in cardiology and heart surgery by US News & World Reports.

Key Objectives

The key objectives for the Cardiovascular Research Prevention Fellowship are for the fellow to gain, through research and clinical experience, a thorough knowledge base and expertise in:

Optimal methods of cardiovascular risk assessment, including coronary artery calcium scoring
The importance of nutrition, physical activity, and smoking cessation in cardiovascular prevention as well as optimal counseling methods to implement behavioral change
The diagnosis and treatment of complex lipid disorders, including familial hypercholesterolemia
The diagnosis and treatment of cardiometabolic disorders, including type 2 diabetes
The diagnosis and treatment of hypertension

Program Implementation

The curriculum for the program consists of:

A broad range of CVD prevention research opportunities with close mentoring, support from a biostatistician, and access to local and national databases.
Active participation in weekly cardiovascular prevention clinic at several different sites to allow exposure to urban, suburban, and rural populations.
Opportunities to present and discuss research findings at regional and national meetings.
Routine interaction with physician mentors in clinical and research settings to gain insight into patient care and areas of need for research.
Funding to support attendance the AHA’s annual 10-day Seminar in Cardiovascular Prevention

MHIF has multiple personnel dedicated to prevention research, and who will serve as resources for the Fellow. In addition to the program staff listed, staff members include study coordinators, data abstracters and a doctoral-level biostatistician.