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The 5-Year Anniversary of the Fellows-in-Training and Early Career Page: Reflections on a JourneyFree Access

Fellows-in-Training & Early Career Page

JACC, 73 (2) 243–245
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Introduction

As we celebrate the 5-year anniversary of the Journal’s Fellows-in-Training (FIT)/Early Career (EC) Page, it is an opportune moment to reflect on our original mission. We extend our deepest gratitude to our Journal’s Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Valentin Fuster, who “has create[d] a prominent forum to discuss the challenges and opportunities associated with being at an early stage of one’s career” (1). The unique format among cardiovascular journals also invites thoughtful responses from senior cardiovascular faculty, thereby generating “intergenerational dialogue” among experienced clinicians and FITs/ECs (1). Over the years, the FIT/EC Page has closely examined a vast compendium of topics, running the gamut from educational and research endeavors, mentorship and nonclinical competencies, challenges and opportunities during the transition to early clinical practice, the growth and development of rapidly evolving subspecialties, personal reflections and social considerations, to advocacy and policy initiatives, and more. The purpose of this article is to review salient details of the submission process, highlight the page’s accomplishments of the past year, and share our vision for the promising year ahead.

Articles published in the Journal’s FIT/EC Page should focus on topics that are specifically germane to the fellows-in-training and early career cardiologist community and demographic. The content should be substantive and may engage in controversial topics often not addressed in other scientific forums. However, submissions must be formal in their presentation and must include references, where appropriate. The FIT/EC page is not a blog. We continue to encourage specificity when choosing a topic on which to write, as opposed to engaging in generalizations or a broad review of the literature. We ask prospective authors to perform a detailed review of previous papers published in the FIT/EC page to avoid overlapping content or addressing issues that have already been exhausted. For those seeking additional clarity, we invite authors to submit an outline with their proposed topic for detailed feedback prior to a full submission. Finally, from a logistical perspective, please be mindful of the 3-author limit and note that all authors must be within 7 years of completion of their final year of fellowship training. The articles must not exceed a maximum of 1,500 words. Figures and tables may accompany the article, but online or supplemental material is not permitted. Please submit your manuscripts, with accompanying cover letter, directly to [email protected].

We are pleased to report that 2018 has been another successful year for the FIT/EC Page of the Journal. We identified a strong thematic focus on education during the year, including commentaries proposing innovative training pathways, such as a hybrid model for advanced structural heart disease training programs (2), education pilot programs in combined internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship (3), and training in critical care cardiology (4). These articles continue to shape the national discourse on fellowship training requirements. In addition, teamwork and the indispensable value it provides in both the clinical and educational setting were also well-represented in several commentaries, such as the role of the multidisciplinary heart team in clinical decision making (5), building collaborations in cardiology and radiology (6), and FIT “hands-on” education through group texting apps (7) and clinical trial engagement (8).

The new year marks an opportunity to build on our past success. This year, rather than issuing a call for papers on specific themes, we are issuing a call for submissions from specific groups of our community, namely, early career professionals and international members. Early career cardiologists, both domestic and abroad, continue to grapple with a myriad of challenges. The transition from FIT to independent clinical practitioner remains among the most daunting steps in one’s professional journey. Developing expertise in clinical decision making, leading a clinical team of trainees, and knowing when and from whom to seek help may be difficult. Building a mentorship network that includes both mentors and sponsors, clarifying which opportunities to accept or decline, and carving a niche are frequently cited as challenges. Furthermore, transitioning from mentee to mentor may be exciting yet fraught with formidable risks. Last but certainly not least, balancing work-life responsibilities continues to be a perennial challenge for ECs, as time remains both the most precious and often scarcest resource. Those who have successfully navigated these challenges in the first few years of their career often face a plethora of others. For instance, navigating the complex, often byzantine landscape of academic promotion may be a Herculean undertaking without the requisite mentorship and guidance. Others may struggle with decisions on whether to embrace new leadership or administrative opportunities or whether to sacrifice clinical or research endeavors that may offer continued professional growth and development. We also seek submissions from international FITs and EC cardiologists, as this group represents a growing portion of the ACC’s membership and offers unique perspectives that remain relevant to the broader JACC audience.

In summary, we appreciate the thoughtful contributions from our FIT/EC Page authors in 2018. We welcome your best work in 2019 and beyond. Thank you again to our readers, authors, and editors for their dedication to enriching and elevating the voice of the cardiology FIT and EC professional community.

  • 1. Yadav P.K. and Kaul P. : "Fellows-in-Training & Early Career Page—the first anniversary: a vision, a motivation, an opportunity". J Am Coll Cardiol 2015; 66: 88.

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  • 2. Hafiz A.M. and Poulin M.F. : "A hybrid model for advanced structural heart disease training programs: the attending-fellow-in-training model". J Am Coll Cardiol 2018; 71: 802.

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  • 3. Asad Z.U.A. and Tunnell C. : "ABIM/ACC competency-based education pilot in internal medicine-cardiology: a fellow's perspective". J Am Coll Cardiol 2018; 72: 1422.

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  • 4. Geller B.J., Fleitman J. and Sinha S.S. : "Critical care cardiology: implementing a training paradigm". J Am Coll Cardiol 2018; 72: 1171.

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  • 5. Han J.J. and Brown C.R. : "The heart team: a powerful paradigm for the future training of cardiovascular surgeons". J Am Coll Cardiol 2018; 71: 2702.

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  • 6. Parwani P., Lopez-Mattei J. and Choi A.D. : "Building bridges in cardiology and radiology: why collaboration is the future of cardiovascular imaging". J Am Coll Cardiol 2018; 72: 2534.

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  • 7. Kochar A., Rymer J. and Samad Z. : "Disrupting fellow education through group texting: WhatsApp in fellow education?". J Am Coll Cardiol 2018; 71: 3366.

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  • 8. Goyal P., Alpert C. and Orkaby A.R. : "Time to get going on involving FITs in clinical trials". J Am Coll Cardiol 2018; 72: 2802.

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Footnotes

The authors have reported that they have no relationships relevant to the contents of this paper to disclose.