Articles

My Experience with the ACC Internal Medicine Cardiology Program

About the Author – Kylie Cleavanger, MD, MPH is a third year internal medicine resident and soon to-be Cardiovascular Disease fellow at Washington University, St Louis. 

WHAT IT IS: The American College of Cardiology (ACC) offers a range of Internal Medicine Cardiology Programs designed to provide medical interns and residents with valuable opportunities to grow professionally, learn, network, and connect within the cardiology community. These programs have a particular focus supporting underrepresented groups in cardiology and they feature panel discussions, sessions to prepare for fellowship applications, mentorship, networking opportunities, and ways to engage at the ACC national conference. 

MY EXPERIENCE: As an intern, I heard from a senior resident how instrumental the ACC program had been in her career development and fellowship application process. Inspired by her experience, I applied as a second-year resident and was thrilled to be accepted. The program kicked off with a virtual launch day featuring a variety of ACC leaders who shared insights and helped prepare us for our time in the program. Through program events, I connected with several women cardiologists who are leaders in their fields, and I later had the opportunity to meet them at the national ACC conference and attend their educational sessions in addition to meeting my assigned mentor. The program provided additional support by covering the conference registration fee and access to a dedicated booth for additional learning and networking opportunities within the cohort. Throughout the year, I also attended several program director panels that offered invaluable guidance for fellowship applications and interviews, even offering mock interviews. The combination of mentorship and these targeted sessions made me feel supported, confident, and well-prepared for application season. Given the exceptional learning and career development opportunities, I chose to continue in the program after my first year.

HOW YOU CAN GET INVOLVED: To learn more about the ACC Internal Medicine Cardiology Programs and all they have to offer, visit the ACC website here. Applications are typically due in the fall and have historically required a personal statement and letter of recommendation. There are also mentoring opportunities for those out of training.