Interventional and Structural Cardiology (Clinical Elective)

2 units

This rotation provides medical students with immersive exposure to contemporary interventional and structural cardiology within the high-volume, quaternary-care environment of Barnes-Jewish Hospital and the Washington University School of Medicine. Students observe the full spectrum of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in the cardiac catheterization laboratories, including coronary angiography, percutaneous coronary intervention, intracoronary imaging, coronary physiology assessment, and structural heart interventions. In addition to cath lab exposure, students participate in outpatient interventional and structural cardiology clinics, gaining insight into pre-procedural evaluation, shared decision-making, longitudinal management of coronary and valvular disease, and post-procedural follow-up. During the outpatient phase of the rotation, students will be expected to see patients independently, obtain focused histories, perform targeted examinations, and draft clinical notes that contribute to the visit documentation and care plan. Students engage with interventional cardiology faculty, fellows, advanced practice providers, and the multidisciplinary structural heart team. Emphasis is placed on understanding indications, procedural steps, imaging interpretation, hemodynamic assessment, complication recognition, and the integration of interventional findings into both inpatient and outpatient care pathways.