Residency & Fellowship Programs

Take a moment to experience some of the top-notch facilities and friendly faces of the U-M Frankel Cardiovascular Center through the eyes of Catherine (Katie) Wagner, MD, who is a current resident of the integrated thoracic surgery training program.

The traditional two-year thoracic surgery program, led by Shinichi Fukuhara, MD, is offered for those who have completed either a general or vascular surgery residency. It provides two years of cardiac and thoracic surgery training following general surgery.

The University of Michigan Congenital Cardiac Surgery Fellowship, led by Jennifer Romano, MD, is one of 13 programs in the country approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. The graduates are eligible for the American Board of Thoracic Surgery Congenital Cardiac Surgery certification process.

The fellowship is one year in duration and follows completion of either an integrated thoracic surgery residency or cardiothoracic surgery fellowship. The residency encompasses surgical training for congenital cardiac surgery along with the full spectrum of perioperative care.

The University of Michigan offers a one-year Advanced Aortic Fellowship led by Bo Yang, MD, PhD that follows completion of either an integrated thoracic surgery residency or independent cardiothoracic surgery fellowship. Our fellowship delivers specialized training in advanced aortic, aortic valve, TAVR, and endovascular surgery. If you are interested in our Advanced Aortic Fellowship, please feel free to submit an updated CV to our Program Administrator, Karen Bowring at kbowring@med.umich.edu.

The application deadline for the 2024 fellowship program is September 15, 2023. Please click here for additional information. 

When you decide to become a resident at the University of Michigan Department of Cardiac Surgery, you join a culture of education. Because of the expertise found in every discipline, Michigan is considered one of the very best places to train.

• Clinical Care: Trainees are exposed to a wealth of clinical pathology and are able to learn from premiere faculty recruited nationally and internationally who have deep expertise in all branches of cardiac surgery and thoracic surgery. Residents are active participants in operations and become proficient in every aspect of the surgical process, from diagnosis to techniques required for surgery, as well as follow up clinical care. 
• Surgical Facilities: Trainees practice at premiere facilities, rotating between the Veterans Hospital, C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, the Cardiovascular Center and the University Hospital. The Frankel Cardiovascular Center is a 350,000 square-foot facility that showcases our innovative approach to cardiovascular clinical care and research, including a 1,200-square-foot hybrid operating suite for multidisciplinary procedures and a cardiovascular research center.
• Research: Residents and fellows experience the full scope of working in an institution that performs cutting edge research in cardiac surgery and thoracic surgery. Trainees are directly involved in key studies, as well as clinical trials. Cardiac surgery residents routinely publish in prestigious academic journals and have presented at national and international meetings.
• Support: We have a pool of support dedicated to providing residents with the research skills they need to succeed at Michigan and beyond. A full-time biostatician is on staff and residents have access to a rich database. Residents and fellows have the opportunity to practice their presentations to a faculty audience before heading to a national stage. A monthly Research in Progress seminar series allows both residents and faculty to present their ideas to their peers for feedback as well.

The University of Michigan offers highly competitive salaries and tremendous benefits to our residents and fellows. An overview of salary, benefits and employment eligibility is available on the GME Office website.

Our residents leave the Department of Cardiac Surgery well prepared to make a difference in the world of cardiac medicine. Michigan Cardiac Surgery alumni form a network of some of the most prestigious, highly regarded cardiac surgeons anywhere, from Michigan Medicine to institutions across the world.

Vikram Sood, MD and Joe Phillips, MD discuss their experiences as residents and why they decided to train at Michigan Medicine.