Sentara, ODU establish fellowship in cardiovascular disease
Driven by a shared mission to protect the health of the community, Old Dominion University and Sentara Health have partnered to create a cardiovascular disease fellowship.
“The demand for skilled cardiologists has never been greater,” said Amin Yehya, MD, director of the cardiovascular fellowship located at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences Eastern Virginia Medical School at Old Dominion University.
“The U.S. faces an increasing burden of cardiovascular disease, driven by an aging population and rising rates of diabetes, hypertension and obesity,” Dr. Yehya said. “Locally, the Hampton Roads region mirrors these trends, with many communities in need of dedicated, well-trained cardiovascular specialists.”
The new fellowship represents years of work by representatives from the school and the hospital system. Initially, two fellows per year will train for three years within top-tier facilities such as Sentara Heart Hospital, home to nationally ranked cardiology and heart surgery services. The program is accredited to expand to four fellows per year, or 12 fellows in training at any one time.
“Launching this fellowship responds to both local healthcare needs and the national shortage of cardiology specialists,” Dr. Yehya said. “By training future cardiologists within the very environment where they are most needed, EVMS at ODU is helping to secure the health of the region for years to come.”
The new fellowship adds to the advanced training opportunities already offered through the Department of Medicine, said Rehan Qayyum, MD, professor and chair of Medicine.
“Establishing this fellowship underscores the Department of Medicine’s commitment to advancing academic medicine while addressing the pressing needs of our community,” Dr. Qayyum said. “By training future cardiologists here, we are investing in both the health of Hampton Roads and the future of cardiovascular care nationwide.”
The new fellowship provides an immersion into the full spectrum of cardiovascular care — from cutting-edge technologies to multidisciplinary patient management — along with clinical exposure to a vast array of cardiovascular conditions and procedures and mentorship with nationally recognized faculty.
Raymond Benza, MD, the George M. and Linda H. Kaufman Academic Chair of Cardiology at Sentara Health, is a professor of medicine operating the research wing of the fellowship. He is a renowned leader in the field of cardiology and clinical innovation.
"Dr. Benza brings a wealth of scientific educational experience to the program," said Michael Hooper, MD, senior vice president and chief medical and academic officer for Sentara Health. "Sentara's support of state-of-the-art academic programs like this further demonstrates our dedication to advancements in healthcare and service to the community."