COVID-19: A Message From the Editor-in-Chief

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Dear Cardiology FITs,

This month's edition of the ACC On-Call for FITs Newsletter is like almost everything else you read at this time – COVID-19 themed.

What we hope to offer here, though, is your only source for COVID-19-related information that is specific to you in your role as a cardiovascular medicine trainee.

Members of the ACC FIT Leadership Council and I have been in contact with fellows, program directors and administrators across the country to gather first-hand information on how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting the experience and education of fellows.

Personally, I have been blown away by the incredible work that fellows and program directors are doing everywhere to ensure the continued safety and high-quality education for fellows, while also empowering FITs to step up where needed to combat this disease.

In this month's newsletter, you'll find some of those stories:

  • First-hand accounts from New York City fellows Aakriti Gupta, MD, MS, and Jignesh Patel, MD, who have seen what this disease can do on an epic – and sometimes very personal – scale
  • An interview conducted by Aaron Vigdor, MD, with several program directors on what specific steps they have taken to adapt their fellowship programs to the demands imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic
  • A primer on the role of the fellow in telehealth initiatives by Anudeep Dodeja, MD, including specific tips on how you can make telehealth work for your education; and
  • Detailed recountings by Ricky Hansra, MD, and Pranoti Hiremath, MD, of the steps their fellowship programs have taken to meet the challenges of the current era.

Now more than ever, I am amazed by the tenacity, talent and compassion that you all put to work to serve your patients and each other every day.

Keep up the good work, and as always, we want to hear from you – if there's a fellow, mentor or program that you want to recognize, or an experience you want to share, reach out to fellowsintraining@acc.org.

J.D. Serfas, MD
Editor-in-Chief, ACC On-Call for FITs Newsletter