Research Accomplishments:
The Section of Cardiology is involved in a wide range of basic, translational and clinical research programs that span all of the cardiovascular sub-specialty areas. The overall goal of cardiovascular research is to advance knowledge of the mechanisms, diagnoses, and treatments of cardiovascular disease. The faculty conducts research in our basic science laboratories, clinical laboratories and the clinical facilities.

The Section has successfully obtained nearly $5 M total costs funding from both governmental (NIH) and non-governmental sources in FY 07. With the expansion of our clinical and basic science faculty, grant funding is expected to increase in the coming years.



The basic research programs address such areas as cardiac development, cardiac myocyte function, and genetic factors leading to cardiomyopathy, endothelial function, ion channels and receptors and lipid abnormalities. The clinical research programs compliment these areas by providing clinical research programs in congestive heart failure and transplantation, electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, cardiac imaging and preventative cardiology. These and other programs provide a unique collaborative environment between the various sub-specialties in cardiology. In addition, the Section works closely with other specialties within the Department of Medicine and other Departments in collaborative programs. These Departments include Cardiothoracic Surgery, Endocrinology, Pathology, and Molecular Medicine.

The Basic Science Training Program and Clinical Fellowship Program are integrated into the research efforts, and provide excellent environment to learn the skills necessary to become a successful clinical scientist. Bringing new and innovative ideas from the bench to the bedside is a primary goal of the Section of Cardiology cardiovascular research program.

Education and Training
In 1960, under the leadership of Dr. Harry Fozzard, the Section of Cardiology received its first Cardiovascular Sciences Training Grant from the National Institutes of Health. This training grant remains active today, under the direction of Elizabeth McNally, M. D., Ph. D., Director of Basic Science Research, making it one of the oldest and most successful NIH cardiovascular training grants in the country. Through the training grant post doctoral training is provided for 6-8 post doctoral fellows per year. Additionally, the Section graduates an average of four fellows per year in a three year ACGME accredited general cardiology training program and provide fourth year specialized clinical training in accredited electrophysiology and interventional cardiology fellowship programs.

Clinical Programs
The clinical programs in the Section of Cardiology are diverse. The section is comprised of a number of sub-specialty areas including interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, non-invasive imaging (echocardiography and nuclear imaging), congestive heart failure, and cardiac transplantation as well as preventative cardiology and general cardiology. While most of the faculty is sub-specialized, all clinical faculty participate in general cardiology in the outpatient setting and inpatient settings. This includes coverage for the general cardiology inpatient services as well the inpatient coronary care unit and consultative services. In FY 08 the Section of Cardiology ranked #20 among the best heart programs in the country and #1 in Illinois by US News and World Report.