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. The Cardiovascular Prevention Research Fellowship will begin July 1, 2021, and the fellow will spend approximately 80 percent of his or her time conducting prevention research, with 20 percent time in clinical practice.
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.
Faculty
Fellowship Faculty
Michael D. Miedema, MD, MPH
Program Chair, Nolan Family Center for Cardiovascular Health
Courtney Jordan Baechler, MD, MS
Director, Emerging Science Centers
Thomas Knickelbine, MD
Director of Lipid Research
Susan White, RDN
Clinical Program Lead, Cardiovascular Health
Gretchen Benson, RDN
Program Director, Nolan Family Center for Cardiovascular Health
View the full Nolan Family Center for Cardiovascular Health team here.
Key Dates
Applications due: December 31, 2020
Interviews: January 4-15, 2021
Candidate selected: January 18, 2021
Position start date: July 1, 2021
Eligibility Information and Application
Please email Pam LaVone to apply: Pamela.LaVone@allina.com
For any questions about the fellowship, please contact Dr. Michael Miedema or Gretchen Benson.

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