APOLLO Summary on Pulmonary Vascular Disease Fellowship Training.

Abstract

Pulmonary vascular disease (PVD), and in particular, pulmonary hypertension (PH), is a highly specialized area of medicine comprised of complex diagnostics, classification systems, risk assessment tools, and therapeutics, the correct application of which has been shown to impact patient outcomes. The PVD scientific and patient community recognizes the importance of standardization of care patterns and has thus implemented a clinical accreditation process for PH care centers across the United States. However, a similar standardization system is lacking in PVD sub-specialty provider training. Non-Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) PVD advanced fellowships exist nationally, but do not provide a unified approach to trainee education. Therefore, first, a survey of all Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA)-accredited center directors across the U.S. was performed to gauge interest in a standardized educational initiative in the field of PVD. Second, a NAtional Consortium on PulmOnary VascuLar Disease FeLOwship Training (APOLLO) was founded to establish a common curriculum and set of training requirements across U.S. PVD programs. A particular emphasis was placed on the training requirements for provider competency in PH, because 1) reliable access to PH patients could be supported by all consortium institutions and 2) the consortium members felt that national PH training curriculums lacked standardization and detail. This article provides the results of the national survey, a guideline summary of the fellowship curriculum and training requirements, and a discussion of the impact of the consortium on PVD training and on the PVD subspecialty as a potential emerging formal discipline in internal medicine.