Cardiology

Cardiology is generally stereotyped as the most high profile and practical skill based of the medical specialties. Despite this not entirely unfair image of cardiologists, the subject of cardiovascular medicine embraces a very wide range of clinical activities. Cardiovascular medicine enjoys an unrivalled evidence base of effective preventive and therapeutic options. The new imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance and CT scanning will certainly complement and probably challenge the invasive investigations performed in the cardiac catheter laboratory. The expert clinical management of patients with heart failure, cardiomyopathy or atrial fibrillation is as rewarding as the quasi-surgical skills demanded of the coronary or electrophysiological interventionalist.

If you are decisive, energetic, interested in effective therapies, and enjoy working in a team that includes specialist nurses, cardiac physiologists and cardiac surgeons, then cardiology may well be the Specialty for you. Cardiology is determined to evolve in a way which continues to make it attractive to the brightest medical graduates irrespective of gender. Despite out-dated perceptions, cardiology welcomes female doctors.

There is a wide variety of opportunities for research in Cardiology and the broader field of Cardiovascular Medicine. The new (2007) Curriculum is likely to facilitate opportunities for academic careers. The SAC and its academic sub-committee, will help to advise trainees wishing to develop their academic potential whilst obtaining a CCT in Cardiology.

Updated 20 Jan 2009

Due to regular revisions, arising from changes in the training environment and the requirements of the PMETB, the JRCPTB are currently running various curricula for trainees in each specialty.  All relevant curricula are listed at the bottom of this page under Documents.  Use the filter option on the right-hand side, together with the guidance notes below,  to help you select the correct document.  In summary:

• If you are a run-through (Specialty Registrar [StR]) trainee, you will follow the curricula tagged as ST3+

• If you are an ‘old style’ SpR, you are following the curricula tagged as SpR

• If you enrolled prior to 01/01/03, you will be following the original curricula which are no longer available for download, see note below

Competence Based Curricula and Assessment – StRs

PMETB has received the assessment system (blueprint and RITA/ARCP grid) for Cardiology and this has been conditionally approved.   The JRCPTB has responded to the PMETBs observations on the assessment system and now awaits the PMETB's final approval - expected in September or October 2007.   In the meantime assessors and trainees should use the system as set out.

The assessment blueprints show the possible methods that can be used to assess each of the competences in the curriculum. Trainees and trainers should refer to the blueprints for guidance on the appropriate assessment methods for each aspect of the curriculum, and so plan the training programme according to the criteria set by the RITA Decision Aid. It is not expected that all competences will be assessed by all methods, rather that there will be a sampling of competences within a variety of settings, both within formal and workplace-based assessment, from which overall competence acquisition has to be determined.

 Acute care common stem (Medicine) trainees will also follow the ACCS training manual.

Competence Based Curricula – SpR (for trainees enrolling after 1 Jan 2003)

Curricula (for trainees enrolling before 1 Jan 2003)