Abdullah Sarkar, MD

The inaugural Cardiovascular Fellows Symposium, held last spring, was ACC Florida Chapter's first event designed specifically for fellows. The Symposium gathered 65 cardiology fellows and 22 local and national faculty to network, gain hands-on exposure to innovative technologies and learn about real-world topics such as contract negotiations and investments. It also featured lectures, workshops, hands-on simulations and a mini career fair.

As one of the Symposium directors, my personal goal was to equip cardiology fellows with tools to build a successful career. Howard S. Bush, MD, FACC, from Cleveland Clinic Florida started the day with a keynote address on "Patient-Doctor Communication," discussing why our communication and interpersonal skills are essential to optimal patient care. The following morning sessions included a moderated panel discussion on "Making the Most of Fellowship" and "Choosing a Subspecialty." Speakers from eight subspecialties shared the advantages and challenges of their respective fields. During the morning coffee break, attendees were able to interact with employer exhibitors and industry sponsors.

The next session, "Business of Medicine," covered topics such as private practice vs. academic medicine, pathways to become a clinician-scientist, career planning and avoiding malpractice. The following session focused on financial planning; specifically investment and securities, savings, retirement planning and taxes. During lunch, fellows had the opportunity to learn about industry-sponsored educational opportunities. They also learned about care delivery models, attended a virtual reality electrophysiology lab simulation as well as a hands-on session with anatomy dissection by Samuel J. Asirvatham, MBBS, FACC, from Mayo Clinic.

Post-event feedback was wonderful from both speakers and attendees. Francisco Ujueta, MD, chief fellow at Mount Sinai in Miami, thought "this event was much needed since there is a lack of activities that brings together fellows from the same region." Following its success, the Symposium is expected to become an annual event. Stay tuned for Cardiovascular Fellows Symposium 2024!

Event Organizers present a Lifetime Recognition Award to Keynote Speaker Howard S. Bush, MD, FACC.

Attendees look on as in-person and virtual speakers share the podium discussing "Making the Most of Fellowship."

Participants gather to commemorate a fructuous meeting.

This article was authored by Abdullah Sarkar, MD, a FIT at Cleveland Clinic Florida.
Twitter: @AbsarkarMD.