Adult Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program
The Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program at the University of Calgary is a two-year training program accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada as an Area of Focused Competence (AFC). Established in 1983, the program is based out of Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
Foothills Interventional Cardiology Service (FICS)
The Foothills Interventional Cardiology Service (FICS) is a high-volume program, performing more than 7,000 procedures annually, including over 2,000 percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs). As the only primary PCI program in Southern Alberta, FICS serves a population of more than two million people.
The program provides comprehensive interventional services, including:
- Acute coronary interventions (including 24/7 STEMI program)
- Complex & high-risk PCI
- Chronic total occlusions
- Intravascular imaging (IVUS & OCT)
- Intracoronary physiologic & hemodynamic assessments
- Endomyocardial biopsy
- CardioMems
- Structural heart interventions (TAVI, ASD/PFO, percutaneous mitral valve interventions, left atrial appendage occlusion)
- Advanced percutaneous mechanical circulatory support
Fellows gain extensive experience through:
- Rotations in all FICS services
- On-call schedule for STEMI & emergency cases
- Interventional cardiology clinics & inpatient ward services
- Weekly interventional cardiology and multidisciplinary heart team rounds
- Teaching opportunities for junior trainees & cardiology residents
Fellows are expected to engage in research, with opportunities for:
- Travel funding for courses & conferences (especially when presenting research)
- Research mentorship through a partnership with Interventional Cardiology & the Brain In Motion program at UCalgary
Graduates of this two-year training program will earn a Fellowship Certification from the University of Calgary and be eligible to apply for the AFC Diplomat Certification in Interventional Cardiology from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Graduates will receive:
- Biannual evaluations by faculty
- Regular academic advising to track progress
- Completion of Royal College milestones to achieve AFC designation
The curriculum follows Royal College AFC guidelines, delivered longitudinally over 24 months, ensuring trainees gain expertise in:
- Transcatheter coronary artery diagnostic techniques
- Interventional management of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), hemodynamic instability, and acute coronary syndrome (ACS)/stable coronary artery disease (CAD)
- Interventional approach to multi-vessel CAD
- Catheter-based management of CAD with complex morphology
- Identification and management of patients with complex conditions needing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)
Who Can Apply?
Canadian & International trainees are welcome to apply.
Candidates must be Royal College certified or eligible for Royal College Cardiology exams (or an equivalent credential).
International applicants must demonstrate training equivalency.
Training Equivalency Requirements
Minimum clinical training must include:
- 8+ months of clinical cardiology (at least 4 months in CCU)
- 3+ months of cardiac catheterization
- 4+ months of echocardiography
- 1+ month of electrophysiology
- 1+ month of nuclear cardiology/exercise stress testing
English Language Proficiency
International candidates must meet the University of Calgary PGME language requirements, as per the College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta (CPSA) guidelines.
Learn more about English proficiency requirements: English Language Proficiency - College of Physicians & Surgeons of Alberta | CPSA
Applications are being accepted for the term starting July 1 of every year.
Domestic/Canadian-Trained Applicants
- Deadline: January 31, 2025
- Assessment & Interviews: February 2025
- Offer Response Deadline: Two weeks after receiving the letter of offer
International Applicants
- Deadline: August 31, 2025
- Assessment & Interviews: September 2025
- Offer Response Deadline: Two weeks after receiving the letter of offer
Please note: Only complete applications will be considered.
Complete Application Includes
- Letter of Intent/Cover Letter
- Current Curriculum Vitae (CV)
- Three reference letters from physicians (sent directly to the program administrator). Each letter must be written on letterhead and sent from an organizational, institutional, hospital, or university email address. Letters sent from personal email accounts (such as Gmail, Yahoo, etc.) will not be accepted.
- One reference letter from an allied health member (e.g., Charge Nurse from Cardiac Care Unit)
- Proof of Medical Degree, Internal Medicine Certification, and proof of enrollment in an adult cardiology residency program (or achievement of cardiology certification)
Submission
Applications should be addressed to the Training Committee for Adult Interventional Cardiology and submitted to Samantha Hardy (Program Administrator).
- Canadian/Domestic Applicants:
Applicants are applying for a funded position within the program. An annual salary (paid monthly) is provided. - International Applicants:
International applicants are welcome to apply. Funding may be available in certain cases, particularly for applicants from low-income countries, as determined by PGME. Applicants with their own funding or sponsorship will be highly considered.
The University of Calgary's Faculty offers a wide range of expertise within Interventional Cardiology. Trainees will have the opportunity to work closely with all faculty members to gain valuable experience. Below is a list of our faculty members and their roles:
- Dr. Ayaaz K. Sachedina – Program Director
- Dr. Bryan Har – Assistant Program Director; Cath Lab Director
- Dr. Rajesh Keshvara – AFC Training Committee
- Dr. Juan Russo – AFC Training Committee
- Dr. Nishant Sharma – AFC Training Committee
- Dr. Anna Bizios
- Dr. Michael Curtis
- Dr. Ronak Kanani
- Dr. Dean Traboulsi
Current Fellows
Dr. Jordan Gibson
Fellowship tenure: July 1, 2024-June 30, 2026
Originally from Nova Scotia, Dr. Jordan Gibson completed his medical degree at the University of British Columbia before moving to Calgary for his Internal Medicine and Cardiology residencies. Passionate about advancing patient care through research, he is pursuing a Master of Public Health at Harvard University.
Dr. Marwah Allwaim
Fellowship tenure: July 1, 2024-June 30, 2026
Originally from Saudi Arabia, Dr. Marwah Allwaim completed her internal medicine residency at King Fahad Specialist Hospital before receiving cardiology training at King Saud University Medical City in January 2024. She completed elective training in the catheterization lab at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Dammam. Dr. Allwaim plans to specialize in structural cardiology.