Sydney Local Health District is seeking a highly motivated Provisional Fellow to join the Structural Heart Program at RPA Hospital

What you will be doing:

The RPA Hospital Structural Heart Fellowship program has been designed to further increase the skills and knowledge of candidates in clinical and research aspects of Structural Heart Disease management. Fellowship training is centred around the clinical diagnosis, investigation and management of adult patients with valvular heart disease in liaison with allied specialties. Candidates can expect to develop a complete understanding of the indications and case selection for a full spectrum of transcatheter valve therapies and actively participate in patient screening, counsel, investigation and clinical inpatient and outpatient management as well as program audit activities. 

Opportunities will exist in a modular fashion for suitable candidates to explore additional experience in structural heart echocardiography, cross sectional imaging and limited structural heart interventions (to gain TAVI ACOR accreditation, if from an interventional or surgical background), although this is not an imaging or structural intervention focused Fellowship. Accommodation may be made to maintain pre-existing interventional or surgical skills where required. The program has an active and robust clinical trials and research arm and candidates will be required to engage in the programs research activities and undergraduate teaching opportunities. 

The objectives of the Structural Heart Fellowship are:

1. Training in the assessment and medical management of patients with structural heart disease, particularly valvular heart diseases such as aortic stenosis and mitral or tricuspid incompetence.
2. Obtain further skills in structural heart imaging including transthoracic echocardiography, transoesophageal echocardiography (including interventional TOE) and CT cross sectional imaging.
3. Obtain further understanding of clinical decision making and assessment with respect to transcatheter heart valve procedures including transcatheter aortic valve implantation and TEER procedures etc.
4. To gain more insight and experience into Structural Heart Disease clinical trials, research and publication.

The Department of Cardiology and the Structural Heart Program at RPAH

Candidates will work under the auspices of the Department of Cardiology of RPAH. This Department offers comprehensive cardiology service delivery across all subspecialities including interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, cardiac imaging (echocardiography, CT, MRI etc), genetic heart disease, adult congenital heart disease, heart failure and mechanical circulatory support etc.

Established in 2009, the Structural Heart Program at RPAH is centred around a highly interdisciplinary Heart Team with close collaboration between Cardiology, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Radiology, Geriatrics, Vascular surgery and other relevant sub-specialities. The program provides Heart Team assessment and management of often complex patients with Structural Heart Disease, particularly valvular heart disease. The Program includes a leading, high volume Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation (TAVI) service that is part of the NSW Health Statewide TAVI service. The program provides a comprehensive range of state-of-the-art transcatheter structural heart interventions including transcatheter mitral and tricuspid valve interventions.

The Structural Heart Program has a strong commitment to fundamental, translational and clinical research and is one of very few such Programs to be supported by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). The Program is closely involved in multiple significant clinical studies of novel approaches and device therapies for transcatheter treatment of valvular heart disease.

Where you will be working:

Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) is the principal teaching hospital of the University of Sydney. RPAH is also one of Australia's leading quaternary referral hospitals, providing an extensive range of diagnostic and treatment services. Its surgical specialities include cardiothoracic, obstetrics and gynaecology, surgical oncology, colorectal, hepatobiliary, vascular, neurosurgery, liver and kidney transplants.

What we can offer you:

• Supportive, collegiate and diverse work environment
• Ongoing professional development and career opportunities
• Salary packaging and fitness passport for eligible staff including utilizing SLHD gym facilities
• Wellbeing, advocacy, mentorship and support opportunities exclusively for medical staff through SLHDs multifaceted workplace program MDOK.

1. MBBS or equivalent, currently registered or eligible for registration with the Medical Board of Australia.
2. Demonstrated formal training in a cardiology or cardiac surgical program with competency in independent clinical assessment, investigation and treatment of common cardiac medical presentations.
3. Passion for, and understanding of the scope and role of a Structural Heart Programs place in cardiac service delivery in a complex acute tertiary hospital/health service setting.
4. Experience in clinical audit, research trials, clinical publication and/or undergraduate teaching within the cardiac medical field. A willingness to engage in clinical research as part of Fellowship program. An understanding of common audit and database tools including RedCap.
5. Demonstrated well developed communication and presentation skills, including patient, referrer and stakeholder engagement (verbal, written and interpersonal), as well as computer skills relevant to the area of practice.
6. Strong organisational and clinical management skills, including the and ability to work both independently and as part of a team.
7. Experience in one or more of echocardiography interpretation, cross sectional cardiac imaging and/or interventional cardiology is desirable.
8. The position has a role in supporting the development, implementation and evaluation of processes and systems to support clinical governance strategies aimed at improving the safety and quality of healthcare within SLHD and candidates should reflect this criteria.

Need more information?
1) Click here for the Position Description
2) Find out more about applying for this position
For role related queries or questions contact Brian Plunkett on Brian.Plunkett@health.nsw.gov.au

Applications Close: 06, August 2024