Medical College of Wisconsin Adult Congenital Heart Disease Fellowship

Thank you for your interest in our fellowship program. I believe our program is special in that it combines a world-class, comprehensive cardiac program with a small group feel.

Here’s just a few things you can expect from our ACHD fellowship program:

A comprehensive and in-depth training in congenital heart disease from a variety of experts
Fellows in our program are exposed to the full continuum of ACHD care, seeing patients in the historic Herma Heart Institute at Children’s Wisconsin, as well as at Froedtert Hospital, a large tertiary referral center. This allows fellows to benefit from expertise in pediatrics and internal medicine. With our program, your curriculum will be tailored to complement your background, ensuring you have equal training in and exposure to both pediatric cardiology and adult congenital cardiology. While cardiologists provide the bulk of education, our fellows also learn a great deal from our cardiac surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, sonographers, cath lab techs, and many more.

A tailored approach, customized to your unique clinical interests
During your fellowship, you will be exposed to a wide variety of pathology, from simple bicuspid aortic valves to single ventricles and Eisenmenger’s syndrome. Our fellows are encouraged to tailor the fellowship toward their career interests within adult congenital heart disease. Past fellows have found niches in connective tissue disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, advanced imaging and exercise physiology. Fellows can also participate in our heart disease in pregnancy program, which includes a joint cardiology and MFM clinic, as well as regular case conferences.

An opportunity to present research on national and international stages
In addition to clinical experience, fellows have the opportunity to participate in research and present their findings at national and international conferences. The combined resources of the Herma Heart Institute and Medical College of Wisconsin provide our fellows with support in IRB submission, research design, biostatistics and scientific writing. And, through our involvement with the Adult Alliance for Research in Congenital Cardiology and the Pediatric Heart Network, fellows can participate in a wide range of large multicenter to single center studies.

An urban setting, rich with cultural and social pursuits
Our fellowship experience is set against the backdrop of a vibrant, accessible and dynamic city. Milwaukee as a city is a special place – rich with history and unique neighborhoods. Whether you are interested in top-tier sports teams, award-winning restaurants, an active arts and theatre district, or the beauty of the lakefront of Lake Michigan, there is something for everyone here. As a person with no ties to the area, the laid back and friendly Midwestern vibe was especially welcoming when I first arrived. Individuals here will treat you as if they have known you forever, and the attitude inside the hospital reflects this culture, making it a great place to work.

A strong team full of lifelong friendships and camaraderie
I’m extremely fortunate to work closely with a strong team. Our program is made up of adult congenital cardiologists, ACHD nurses, nurse practitioners, a program coordinator and a social worker. Not only do we work well together in the hospital, but we also enjoy each other’s company outside of work. In the past, our close-knit group has competed in and won the Medical College of Wisconsin softball league championship, and we also compete against each other in our annual chili cook-off.

It is because of our team-based approach that fellows here often develop lifelong friendships with their mentors and colleagues. This makes every graduation from the program somewhat bittersweet for me as fellows move on to use their skills and talents at other premier institutions. But, of course, I am then reinvigorated when I see a former fellow at an ACHD conference, succeeding in our field.

Thank you again for your time, and I hope you are able to visit us in Milwaukee. Please don’t hesitate to reach out with any questions.

 
Scott Cohen MD, MPH
Associate Professor
Director, Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program
sbcohen@mcw.edu

Inpatient

• Patients are admitted to both Children’s Wisconsin and Froedtert Hospital, based on considerations of comorbidities and adult congenital heart disease complexity.
• 3 Congenital Surgeons
• > 200 hospital admissions per year
• > 70 surgeries/interventions per year.
• Care for ACHD patients during medical and post-operative admissions
• Care for ACHD patients during pregnancy
• Coordination of multidisciplinary care with multiple subspecialties

Outpatient

• Daily ACHD clinic during ACHD rotations
• Over 2,500 clinic visits per year
• Multidisciplinary Heart Disease in Pregnancy Program
• Marfan and Related Connective Tissue Disorders Program
• Fontan Survivorship and Advanced Therapies Program
• ACHD Nurse-Directed Transition Program for adolescent pediatric cardiology patients. We include virtual reality in our education of patients and families about specific types of congenital heart disease.
• Experts in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy and Lysosomal Storage Disease
• Opportunities to attend outreach ACHD clinics that serve patients throughout Wisconsin, Northern Illinois, Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Imaging

• 10,000 congenital heart echocardiograms annually at Children’s Wisconsin
• Perform preoperative and postoperative transesophageal echocardiograms in the OR
• Participate in structural and interventional transesophageal echocardiograms
• Dual ACHD and Level III CMR faculty
• Over 500 CMR annually at Children’s Wisconsin

24 months of ACGME-accredited ACHD training

Core set of ACHD curriculum and tailored pathways tailored to the individual trainee’s background and training. Fellows with a pediatric cardiology background follow the pediatric pathway and adult trained fellows follow the internal medicine pathway. 

ACHD Curriculum Pathways (PDF)
ABIM Adult Congenital Heart Disease Policies

Elective opportunities in cardiac MR, cardiac CT, pulmonary hypertension, cardiac anesthesiology, cardiac catheterization, exercise physiology, and more.

Fellows are invited to attend categorical educational sessions offered by pediatric and adult cardiology programs. Highlights include a joint pediatric and adult cardiology MRI imaging conference, multidisciplinary Heart Disease in Pregnancy conference, multidisciplinary Fontan conference, adult complex case review (combined structural cath and surgical conference), pediatric cardiology echo review, monthly ACHD Core Curriculum, and adult cardiology grand rounds.

ACHD Fellow - Conference Calendar (PDF)
ACHD Webinar

All fellows are expected to finish a core research project during their two year fellowship. These projects allow the fellows to develop a niche within adult congenital heart disease and further our field. The faculty are involved in local projects as well as multicenter research through the AARCC and the Pediatric Heart Network.

Past fellows have presented their research at national and international conferences, including the American College of Cardiology, the International Society of Adult Congenital Heart Disease, the American Heart Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance, and the American Society of Echocardiography. The WAtCH Program has been awarded highly competitive research grants and published nearly 50 adult congenital heart disease articles in the last decade.

We prioritize quality improvement as part of our dedication to safe and effective care. The Herma Heart Institute supports multiple QI projects for outpatient and inpatient care.

Our core ACHD faculty have been awarded for their teaching and mentoring, recognized with numerous awards for Best Doctor and Expert Clinician among other honors.

Scott Cohen, MD, MPH
Adult Congenital Heart Disease Medical Director, Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin
Adult Congenital Heart Disease Fellowship Program Director, Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin
- Brown University, Internal Medicine Pediatric Residency, 2003-2007
- Brown University, Adult Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship, 2007-2010
- Brown University, Preventative Cardiology, 2010-2011
- Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin ACHD Fellowship, 2011-2012
Interests: Pulmonary hypertension secondary to congenital heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, echocardiography, adult cardiology, pregnancy

Peter Bartz, MD
Clinical Vice President of Ambulatory Services, Children’s Wisconsin
Section Chief and Medical Director, Herma Heart Institute, Children’s Wisconsin
Professor of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, Medical College of Wisconsin
- Western Michigan University, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Residency, 1999-2003
- Mayo Clinic, Pediatric Cardiology Disease Fellowship, 2003-2006
Interests: Pediatric cardiology, adult congenital heart disease, echocardiography

Matthew Buelow, MD
Medical Director for Regional Services – Northeast, Children’s Specialty Group
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin
- Medical College of Wisconsin, Internal Medicine Pediatric Residency, 2009-2013
- Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship, 2013-2016
Interests: Pediatric cardiology, adult congenital heart disease, echocardiography

Jennifer Gerardin, MD
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics
- Michigan State University/Grand Rapids Medical Education and Research Center Internal Medicine Pediatric Residency, 2006-2010
- University of Minnesota Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship, 2012-2015
- Emory University ACHD Fellowship, 2015-2017
- Emory University, Level III trained CMR and Level II trained Cardiac CT, 2015-2017
Interests: Pediatric cardiology, adult congenital heart disease, lysosomal storage disease, cardiac MR and cardiac CT

Salil Ginde, MD, MPH
Marfan and Related Connective Tissue Disorders Director
Fontan Survivorship and Advanced Therapies Program Co-Director
Associate Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics
- University of Chicago Medical Center Internal Medicine Pediatric Residency, 2005-2009
- Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship, 2009-2012
- Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin ACHD Fellowship, 2012-2013
Interests: Pediatric cardiology, adult congenital heart disease, echocardiography, connective tissue disease, long term complications of single ventricle patients

Bradley R. Johnson, MD
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin
- Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Residency, 2015-2019
- Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals, Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship 2019-2022
- Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals/Children’s Wisconsin ACHD Fellowship 2022-2024

In addition to the core ACHD faculty, WAtCH Program fellows learn from an extensive multidisciplinary team which involves pediatric and adult cardiology programs, interventional cardiology electrophysiology, cardiac imaging, heart failure/transplant, pulmonary hypertension, cardiac intensive care, cardiothoracic surgery, cardiac anesthesia, OBGYN/MFM, genetic counselors, and more.

Herma Heart Institute Faculty
Adult Cardiovascular Division Faculty

Catherine Weinberg, MD
St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center, Internal Medicine Residency, 2004-2007
St. Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital Center, Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship, 2007-2010
Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin ACHD Fellowship, 2010-2011
Current Position: Dr. Weinberg is the Program Director of the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program and High Risk Cardiovascular Obstetrics at Lenox Hill Hospital, Northwell Health. Hempstead, New York.

Scott Cohen, MD, MPH
Brown University, Internal Medicine Pediatric Residency, 2003-2007
Brown University, Adult Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship, 2007-2010
Brown University, Preventative Cardiology, 2010-2011
Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin ACHD Fellowship, 2011-2012
Current Position: Dr. Cohen is the Medical Director of the ACHD Program  at the Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin. He is also the Director of the ACHD Fellowship and the Co-Director of the Heart Disease in Pregnancy Program. Practices in adult cardiology and ACHD cardiology.

Salil Ginde, MD, MPH
University of Chicago Medical Center Internal Medicine Pediatric Residency, 2005-2009
Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship, 2009-2012
Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin ACHD Fellowship, 2012-2013
Current Position: Associate Medical Director of the ACHD Program and Medical Director of the Marfan and Related Connective Tissue Disorders Program at the Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin. He is also Co-Director of the Fontan Survivorship and Advanced Therapies Program at Children’s Wisconsin. Practices pediatric and ACHD cardiology.

Jonathan Cramer, MD
University of Louisville, Internal Medicine Pediatric Residency, 2006-2010
Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship, 2010-2013
Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin ACHD Fellowship, 2013-2014
Current Position: Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program Director at University of Omaha. Practices pediatric and ACHD cardiology.

Daniel Cox, DO
Maine Medical Center, Internal Medicine Pediatric Residency, 2008-2011
Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship, 2011-2014
Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin ACHD Fellowship, 2014-2015
Current Position: Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program Director at University of Utah. Practices pediatric and ACHD cardiology.

Roni Jacobsen, MD
Phoenix Children’s Hospital/Maricopa Medical Center
Internal Medicine Pediatrics Residency, 2008-2012
Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship, 2012-2015
Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin ACHD Fellowship, 2015-2017
Current Position: Pediatric and ACHD Faculty at University of Colorado/Children’s Hospital of Colorado

Eve Chongthammakun, MD
Cleveland Clinic Foundation Internal Medicine Residency, 2012-2015
Jackson Memorial Hospital/University of Miami, Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship, 2015-2018
Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin ACHD Fellowship, 2018-2020
Current Position: Practices ACHD, adult cardiology, and Cardiac MR at Centra Health, Lynchburg, Virginia

James Kimber, MD
Lehigh Valley Health Network, Internal Medicine Residency, 2014-2017
Lehigh Valley Health Network, Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship, 2017-2020
Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin ACHD Fellowship, 2019-2021
Current Position: Practices ACHD, adult cardiology, and Cardiac MR/echocardiography at Penn State Health

Bradley R. Johnson, MD
Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Residency, 2015-2019
Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals, Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship 2019-2022
Medical College of Wisconsin Affiliated Hospitals/Children’s Wisconsin ACHD Fellowship 2022-2024
Current Position: Practices ACHD and adult cardiology at Medical College of Wisconsin/Children’s Wisconsin

Milwaukee is one of the best-kept secrets and a prime location for the Medical College of Wisconsin’s main campus. A one-of-a-kind city with a vibrant and diverse culture, this charming, yet metropolitan, must-see is just 90 minutes north of Chicago and nestled on the coast of Lake Michigan. Whether you’re catching a show at Summerfest, the world’s largest music festival, immersing yourself in the old world charm of the Historic Third Ward, or taking in the sights and sounds of one of the may cafes, beer gardens, or restaurants that line the city’s riverbank and shoreline, Milwaukee never disappoints. Find out why Medical College of Wisconsin’s students, faculty, and employees take pride in calling Milwaukee home.

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Please use ERAS to apply for the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Fellowship program at Medical College of Wisconsin / Children’s Wisconsin. Applications must include:

• CV
• Personal statement
• Three (3) letters of recommendation
• USMLE transcript (+ COMLEX transcript, for DO applicants)

ERAS has a place for each of these required documents to be uploaded. We participate in the NRMP match.

Apply on ERAS