UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT SAN FRANCISCO
DIVISION OF CARDIOLOGY
FELLOWSHIP TRAINING PROGRAM

Affiliated Hospitals:

Moffitt-Long Hospital
San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center
Veterans Affairs Medical Center

APPLICATIONS - Please contact ERAS, Electronic Residency Application Service to apply to the program beginning in July 2011. The ERAS website is https://www.erasfellowshipdocuments.org/, phone is (215) 966-3940.
We do not accept paper applications.

Deadline for completed applications -- January 15, 2010

We require the following supporting documents to be submitted via the ERAS program:
Application
Personal statement
Three letters of recommendation, including one from your current program director
Medical school transcripts, USMLE transcripts, and Dean's letter are not required. Photos are optional.

The University does not sponsor H-1B visas for clinical fellowship training.

TO ALL APPLICANTS FOR 2011 FELLOWSHIPS IN CARDIOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN FRANCISCO

The adult Cardiology Fellowship Training Program of the University of California, San Francisco is fully integrated among its three core hospitals: Moffitt/Long Hospital, Veterans Affairs Hospital, and San Francisco General Hospital. UCSF participates in the Subspecialty Fellows Matching Program. The program consists of 4 years including a minimum of 24 months of clinical training. The sequence of training will be 2 clinical years followed by 2 or more research years. The research years are funded by various research fellowships (i.e., NIH training grants, the NIH-funded Program of Excellence in Molecular Biology of the Cardiovascular Research Institute, individual NIH Fellowships, Heart Association Fellowships, Pharmaceutical Fellowships, etc.). This funding is obtained by selecting a preceptor and project and submitting the appropriate proposals. Clinical training is funded by Hospital/Departmental resources.

The current stipend for Cardiology Fellows in the clinical portion of their training is approximately $52,670.00 for the first year and $54,704.00 for the second year. We expect that there will be cost of living increases between now and the start date of July, 2011.

Michael Crawford, M.D.
Director, Fellowship Training Program
505 Parnassus Avenue, S-1134
San Francisco, California 94143-0124
(415) 502-8584
(415) 476-4137 [FAX]

Ethan Weiss, M.D.
Assistant Program Director for Research
UCSF Medical Center
505 Parnassus Avenue, M-1177A
San Francisco, California 94143-0124
(415) 514-0819
(415) 476-0424 [FAX]

Joel Karliner, M.D.
Assistant Program Director for the Veterans Affairs Hospital
4150 Clement Street
San Francisco, CA 94121
(415) 758-4810; (415) 750-6950 [FAX]

Priscilla Hsue, M.D.
Assistant Program Director for San Francisco General Hospital
1001 Potrero Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94110
(415) 206-8257 (415) 206-5100[FAX]

APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND TIMETABLE

Please contact ERAS, Electronic Residency Application Service to apply to the program beginning in July 2009.  The ERAS website is https://www.erasfellowshipdocuments.org/, phone is (215) 966-3940. We do not accept paper applications.

ERAS Fellowships Document Office
P.O. Box 13687
Philadelphia, PA. 19101-0687
https://www.erasfellowshipdocuments.org/
(215) 966-3940

We participate in the National Resident Matching Program for this fellowship. Please contact the NRMP for information on how to sign up for their services:

National Resident Matching Program
2501 M Street, NW, Suite 1
Washington, DC 20037-1307
www.nrmp.org
(202) 828-0676

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES OF
UCSF/MOFFITT-LONG FACULTY

Cardiology Division, UCSF Medical Center
(Moffitt-Long Hospital)
University of California, San Francisco

Members of the Division
Michael Crawford, M.D.,
Director of Fellowship Training Program
Nitish Badhwar, M.D.
Michael Blum, M.D.
Elias Botvinick, M.D.
Andrew Boyle, M.D.
Shaun R. Coughlin, M.D., Ph.D.
Michael Dae, M.D., M.B.A.
Teresa De Marco, M.D.
Kirsten Fleischmann, M.D., M.P.H.
Elyse Foster, M.D.
Gordon Fung, M.D.
Stanton A. Glantz, Ph.D.
William Grossman , M.D.
Byron Lee, M.D.
Randall J. Lee, M.D., Ph.D.
Gregory M. Marcus, M.D.
Dana McGlothlin, M.D.
Jeffrey Olgin, M.D., Chief of Cardiology
Thomas Ports, M.D.
Rajni Rao, M.D.
Rita F. Redberg, M.D., M.Sc.
Melvin Scheinman, M.D.
Nelson B. Schiller, M.D.
Robin Shaw, M.D.
Matthew L. Springer, Ph.D.
Anne Thorson, M.D.
Zian H. Tseng, M.D.
Ethan Weiss, M.D.
Yerem Yeghiazarians, M.D.

Dr. Michael Crawford is Professor of Medicine and he holds the Lucie Stern Chair in Cardiology. He is Director of the Fellowship Training Program. He is co-lead editor of the textbook Cardiology, and the editor of Current Diagnosis and Treatment in Cardiology and Cardiology Clinics. His current research interests are the influence of cardiac disease management on outcomes and the pathophysiology of valvular heart disease. He has also carried out research on the response of left ventricular function to exercise, pharmacologic agents and disease; the clinical application of echocardiography; and the contemporary value of the cardiovascular physical examination. Dr. Crawford’s passion is for research that directly impacts patient care.

Dr. Nitish Badhwar is Assistant Professor of Medicine. In addition to his clinical interest in mapping and ablation of supraventricular (including atrial fibrillation) and ventricular arrhythmias, he has done research on catheter ablation of focal atrial tachycardias using a new 3D nonfluoroscopic mapping system. He has worked with Dr. Scheinman to describe the electrophysiologic characteristics of atrial tachycardia arising from the coronary sinus musculature. He is interested in clinical and technical aspects of catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation. He is also involved in device implantation including ICD and biventricular pacing for heart failure. He is doing a study looking at different markers of dyssynchrony as well as assessing optimal pacing sites in patients with heart failure requiring biventricular pacing. He is a NASPExAM Testamur (competency exam on pacing and defibrillation administered by North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology).

Dr. Michael Blum is a cardiologist who specializes in the care of patients with congestive heart failure, valvular heart disease and preventative cardiology. He is dedicated to the early detection of heart disease and prevention through a heart-healthy lifestyle that includes diet, exercise and stress reduction. In addition, Blum applies his expertise in technology to health care as the medical director of Information Technology at UCSF Medical Center. He has a special research interest in clinical decision support technology and its impact on the quality and cost of patient care.

Dr. Elias Botvinick is Professor of Medicine (Cardiology) and Radiology (Nuclear Medicine) and Co-Director of the Adult Cardiac Noninvasive Laboratory. He is trained in, and actively practices, both specialties and supports the interface between Cardiology and Nuclear Medicine at UCSF, the field known as Nuclear Cardiology. Recently, he has formulated and begun an intensive teaching program in Nuclear Cardiology for Cardiology Trainees, the Nuclear Cardiology Tutorial. This will supplement the time already devoted to this area as part of the structured Fellowship Program. His major interests are in the area of imaging techniques, including contrast echocardiography and MR, particularly their use with stress testing. He is particularly interested in applying these methods to coronary risk stratification, silent ischemia detection in both men and women, and the evaluation of myocardial innervation, and understanding the relationship between electrical excitation and myocardial contraction. Another area of interest is the evaluation of ventricular conduction and synchrony with noninvasive imaging methods. Research is active in the technical aspects of imaging and stress testing methods in order to make them the best available anywhere and to offer them to our UCSF patients.

During a recent professional leave he has worked extensively in PET and CT, both cardiac and extra-cardiac and their fusion. Applied to the heart, PET perfusion studies are now done clinically and in late 2006, PET will be combined with CT coronary angiography on a 64 slice CT /PET instrument. Focus will be placed on implementing such evaluation with quantitative PET perfusion evaluation.An extensive expansion of imaging equipment and capabilities at the UCSF China Basin Imaging Laboratory will add excitement to the program and bring stress testing and an important Cardiology involvement to that site. This will be a forerunner to later development and growth in our new Cardiology Clinic and UCSF Hospitals at the new Mission Bay Campus.

Dr. Andrew Boyle is Assistant Professor of Medicine and an Interventional Cardiologist. His clinical interests are general cardiology and interventional cardiology. His research involves basic science investigations into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of left ventricular remodeling following myocardial infarction, as well as clinical projects testing new technologies in the cardiac catheterization lab.

Dr. Shaun R. Coughlin is Professor of Medicine and Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, Distinguished Professor of Cardiovascular Biology and Medicine, and Director of the Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI). His laboratory discovered and characterized protease-activated receptors, thereby providing a molecular mechanism for how thrombin and other proteases can regulate the behavior of platelets and other cells.  This work provided the rationale for the development of thrombin receptor antagonists now in phase 3 trials for ACS and secondary prevention of MI.  The lab is now probing the role of protease-activated receptors in thrombosis in detail and is exploring their roles in inflammation and in the development of the heart, blood vessels and nervous system. The laboratory also studies the cell biology and physiology of sphingosine-1-phosphate and its receptors -- another plasma-sensing system -- in regulating blood vessel formation and permeability, as well as the general mechanisms by which G protein-coupled receptors function in embryonic development, hematopoiesis, and other important processes.

Dr. Michael Dae is Professor of Medicine and Radiology and is a member of the Nuclear Cardiology section. He is interested in the assessment of myocardial perfusion, metabolism, and function in various pathophysiologic states including ischemia and infarction, hypertrophy, and post natal maturation.

Dr. Teresa De Marco is Professor of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, Director of the Heart Failure and Pulmonary Hypertension Program, and Medical Director of Cardiac Transplantation. Her major research interests include pharmaco-therapy of acute/ chronic heart failure and pulmonary hypertension, and studies of coronary and peripheral vascular dynamics. She is active in device therapy for heart failure.

Dr. Kirsten Fleischmann, Associate Professor of Medicine, is particularly interested in "outcomes" research which assesses treatments and strategies to identify those that provide the greatest benefit for patient outcomes. Other research areas include chest pain and acute coronary syndromes, as well as effective utilization of noninvasive tests.

Dr. Elyse Foster, Professor of Medicine, is the Director of Echocardiography and the Director of the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Service. Her research interests are centered on the clinical applications of quantitative Doppler echocardiography and stress echocardiography in heart failure, valvular disease and congenital heart disease. The new technologies that are under investigation include echocardiography with new intravenous contrast agents and three-dimensional echocardiography. The laboratory also serves as a "core" quantitative site for several multicenter studies investigating the role of biventricular pacing in heart failure and for the investigation of new devices, such as those for percutaneous mitral valve repair.  In collaboration with Dr. Nelson Schiller and members of the pediatric cardiology division, Dr. Foster directs the Adult Congenital Heart Disease service. This busy service operates a weekly clinic and holds a monthly clinical conference.

Dr. Stanton A. Glantz is Professor of Medicine, Director of the Center for Tobacco Control Research and Education,  co-director of the Cancer Center Tobacco Control Program, and American Legacy Foundation Distinguished Professor of Tobacco Control.  Dr. Glantz conducts research on the health effects of secondhand smoke (with emphasis on heart disease), the effectiveness of tobacco control strategies and how the tobacco industry uses the political process to prevent meaningful tobacco control. He also conducts aggressive public education campaigns designed to reduce smoking in the movies and promote smoke free workplaces and public places, including restaurants and bars. Dr. Glantz’s research and campaigns are focused on reducing the 5 million deaths worldwide that tobacco and the tobacco industry cause each year

Dr. William Grossman is the Meyer Friedman Distinguished Professor of Medicine at UCSF and was Chief of Cardiology from 1977 to 2007. Currently, he is Director of the newly-formed Center for Prevention of Heart and Vascular Disease at UCSF. He is editor of the widely-used textbook "Grossman's Cardiac Catheterization, Angiography and Intervention", now in its 7th edition. His research has focused on diastolic dysfunction and its role in congestive heart failure. He has also carried out research on ventricular hypertrophy, myocardial contractile function, balloon valvuloplasty, and acute coronary syndromes. He established a Mouse Hemodynamic Research Laboratory at UCSF for the phenotypic characterization of transgenic mice with altered cardiac proteins/structure. Dr. Grossman is working with Drs. Hua Su, YW Kan, and Yerem Yeghiazarians on potential clinical applications of angiogenesis and stem cell therapies

Dr. Byron Lee Assistant Professor of Medicine, is active in a wide range of treatment modalities for patients with arrhythmias including radiofrequency ablation, device implantation, and lead extraction. Dr. Lee does clinical trials, cost-effective analysis, and outcomes research. His current research focuses on sudden cardiac death, atrial fibrillation, and biventricular pacing for heart failure.

Dr. Randall J. Lee, Dr Lee’s research program consists of a translational program integrating the disciplines of cell biology, bioengineering and cardiology. A tissue engineering approach has been used to investigate the potential of myocardial reconstruction/regeneration for the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias and vascular regeneration. His laboratory has pioneered an in situ tissue engineering approach using biopolymers alone or biopolymers combined with cells and growth factors which has the potential to induce angiogenesis, increase cell survival and prevent the deleterious effects associated with a myocardial infarction. His laboratory has developed a new technology for targeting stem cells to injured tissue as a means to repair injured organs and correct cardiac conduction abnormalities. Additionally, clinical studies investigating mechanisms of atrial arrhythmias are being performed.

Dr. Gregory M. Marcus is Assistant Professor of Medicine. His clinical activities center on the treatment of arrythmias, including mapping and catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardias, and ventricular arrhythmias. He also performs implantation of pacemakers, biventricular devices, and defibrillators. His previous research focused on the cardiac physical exam. While maintaining a focus on the clinical presentation of cardiovascular disease with an emphasis on arrhythmias, his current primary research involves an examination into the etiologies of atrial arrhythmias, specifically analyzing serologic markers and genetic determinants important to the atrial substrate in atrial fibrillation.

Dr. Jeffrey Olgin is Professor of Medicine and Chief of Cardiology. His basic laboratory studies mechanisms of fibrillation and substrates for arrhythmias. His basic electrophysiology laboratory studies the mechanisms and substrates for arrhythmias and has focused on fibrillation. This is done from a multi-disciplinary approach that incorporates cell and organ physiology, genetics, molecular biology, signal processing and computer modeling to understand the complex interactions that promote fibrillation. Dr. Olgin’s clinical research focuses on novel approaches to the diagnosis and treatment of atrial arrhythmias, including new approaches for ablation of atrial fibrillation, genetics of atrial fibrillation and risk of sudden cardiac death and influence of mediators of inflammation on atrial fibrillation. He is PI of a multi-center, randomized clinical trial (VEST PREDICTS) to study sudden death post-MI.

Dr. Thomas A. Ports, Professor of Medicine, is the Director of Interventional Cardiology and the Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program. His major interests are in catheter-based intervention in coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease. His research interests include alcohol septal reduction for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, rotational and 3D angiography.

Dr. Rita F. Redberg is Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology and Director of Cardiovascular Women's Services. Her research interests are in preventive cardiology and health services and outcomes research; such as optimal diagnostic testing pathways for coronary artery disease and in evaluation of cardiac technologies, such as cardiac computed tomography angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention. Dr. Redberg is a member of the California Technology Assessment Forum and the Center for Medical Technology Policy.   Dr. Redberg was the Principal Investigator for an R01 which studied the effects of exercise on heart disease in women and has numerous publications in this field. She also chairs the Choose to Move Science Advisory Group for the American Heart Association and chairs the American College of Cardiology’s Writing Group on Primary Prevention Performance Measures. She spent a year working in the US Senate as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow.

Dr. Melvin Scheinman is Professor of Medicine and founder of UCSF's Electrophysiology Section. He has a major interest in the mechanisms of arrhythmias and the electrophysiologic effects of anti-arrhythmic drugs. He has developed innovative catheter ablative techniques for patients with cardiac arrhythmias. He is involved in clinical studies relating to atypical forms of flutter and the Long QT syndromes. Dr. Scheinman has organized a genetic arrhythmia clinic.

Dr. Nelson B. Schiller, after completing a cardiology fellowship at UCSF, joined its faculty in 1973 and is now Professor of Medicine, Radiology and Anesthesiology and holder of the John J Sampson-Lucie Stern Endowed Chair in Cardiology. In 1972 he founded the Echocardiography Laboratory and served as its director for 25 years; he continues to have an active role in this laboratory as a senior attending and fellowship mentor. Since the opening of the laboratory, Dr. Schiller has trained over 100 cardiologists as research/clinicians in echocardiography. His clinical interests encompass the many applications of cardiac ultrasound techniques as well as an active practice in general cardiology(Moffitt/Long Hospital Faculty Practice and In-patient service attending). In 1985, Dr. Schiller founded  the Adult Congenital Heart Disease Service and directed it through its first decade; he continues to have an active role as an attending.  In 1980, in collaboration with Cardiovascular Anesthesia, Dr. Schiller performed the first intraoperative transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE). TEE has since become the standard of care for intraoperative monitoring of high risk cardiac surgery and the repair of valvular and congenital heart diseases. He is currently director of echocardiography research at the San Francisco Veteran's Hospital and, for the last 26 years a member of the Cardiovascular Research Institute. For ten years (1993-2003), Dr. Schiller served as an Associate Editor of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and currently serves in the same capacity for the Journal of Cardiac Failure and Up to Date. He also serves on several national cardiovasculasr boards and committees. His research interests center around the noninvasive quantitation of left ventricular and left atrial function, valvular diseases, pericardial diseases, and congenital heart diseases  and interventional echocardiography and Doppler. Current active research projects include outcomes in coronary artery disease of quantitative and stress echocardiography (SFVAH Heart and Soul Study—coPI with Dr. Mary Whooley); contrast myocardial perfusion echocardiography in the diagnosis of CAD (SFVAH ); parametric imaging and cardiac incoordination(SFVAH); digitized phonocardiography and LV function (SFVAH); hybrid dynamic stress testing (SFVAH); left atrial function and failure (SFVAH and Moffitt/Long Hospitals);   noninvasive pulmonary vascular resistance determination in pulmonary hypertension(Moffitt/Long); determinants of outcome in adult congenital heart disease(Moffitt/Long).

Dr. Robin Shaw is Assistant Professor of Medicine. He is interested in cellular electrophysiology, with a particular focus on the mechanisms of cardiac cell-to-cell communication, in which heart cells talk to each other by specialized ion channels known as gap junctions. These gap junctions permit the flow of ions from one heart cell to the next, and these changes in the surface expression of gap junctions have been implicated in broad range of serious arrhythmias including ischemia inducted ventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation. Poor gap junction expression may also be an underlying mechanism of arrhythmias that have been associated with stem cell therapy for the heart. Dr. Shaw is investigating the cell biology of gap junction expression and the relationship between patterns of expression and cardiac arrhythmogenesis.

Dr. Matthew L. Springer, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, is one of two non-clinicians on the faculty of the Division of Cardiology.  The close juxtaposition of his basic research background with the clinical cardiologists in the Division has resulted in an active translational research program.  Dr. Springer's research interests include cell therapy and gene therapy approaches to studying cardiovascular disease, with the goals of exploring potential treatments and understanding underlying mechanisms involved in angiogenesis, vascular function, and treatments for myocardial infarction.  The laboratory is studying differential responses of cardiac and skeletal muscle to angiogenic gene therapy in mice, focusing on effects of VEGF and pleiotrophin on the vasculature and on the localized protein profile in the tissue. Further interests center in the therapeutic effects of bone marrow cell implantation into the heart after myocardial infarction, using an ultrasound-guided injection approach that they have developed in collaboration with the Yeghiazarians lab, with a special emphasis on the therapeutic implications of the age and cardiac disease status of the cell donor. Similarly, the lab is studying the effects of age and disease on circulating endothelial progenitor cells, with a focus on the roles of endothelial nitric oxide synthase and nitric oxide in the function of these cells. Lastly, they have developed a rat model of endothelium-dependent flow-mediated vasodilation, and are using it to examine mechanisms underlying vascular reactivity and how they are affected by cigarette smoke exposure and dietary flavanols.

Please visit http://cardiolab.ucsf.edu/molcardiolab/ for more information about these research projects.


Dr. Zian H. Tseng is Assistant Professor of Medicine. He has a broad range of clinical interests that include mapping and ablation of supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias as well as the use of catheter ablation to treat atrial fibrillation. Dr. Tseng implants devices, including implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) and biventricular devices, to treat heart failure and is involved with developing new device treatments. His research activities span his interests in clinical cardiac electrophysiology and basic science. His most active area of current research is in the identification of genetic risk factors for sudden cardiac death in the setting of coronary artery disease

Dr. Ethan J. Weiss is Assistant Professor of Medicine. His research interests include understanding the molecular and cellular biology of hemostasis and thrombosis. He uses mouse forward genetic approaches to identify genes and pathways important in cardiovascular biology and disease. He is also investigating sex differences in blood clotting with a special interest in the effect of sex hormones on coagulation proteins and inhibitors.

Dr. Yerem Yeghiazarians is Assistant Professor of Medicine. In addition to his clinical practice of general and interventional cardiology, Dr Yeghiazarians is the Director of the UCSF Translational Cardiac Stem Cell Program, Director of the Peripheral Interventional Cardiology Program and Co-Director of the Adult Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. The goal of the Stem Cell program is to bring recent advances in stem cell biology in the basic sciences and animal experiments to the patients with heart disease

RESEARCH ACTIVITIES OF
UCSF/SFGH CARDIOLOGY FACULTY

Cardiology Division
San Francisco General Hospital Medical Center

Members of the Faculty

Neal Benowitz
Ann Bolger, M.D.
Husam Farah, M.D.
Peter Ganz, M.D.
Nora Goldschlager, M.D.
Mary Gray, M.D.
Priscilla Hsue, M.D.
John MacGregor, M.D., Ph.D.

Dr. Neal Benowitz is Professor of Medicine and Biopharmaceutical Sciences and Chief, Division of Clinical Pharmacology at San Francisco General Hospital. Dr Benowitz’s research has focused on the human pharmacology of nicotine and tobacco, including how tobacco use causes cardiovascular disease.  He is director of the Flight Attendants Medical Research Institute Bland Lane Center of Excellence on Secondhand Smoke at UCSF, a center that studies the pathophysiology and prevention of secondhand smoke-induced disease. He is also studying the pharmacogenetics of nicotine addiction treatment. He has a general clinical interest in cardiovascular clinical pharmacology and toxicology.

Dr. Ann Bolger is the William Watt Kerr Professor of Clinical Medicine and the Director of Echocardiography at San Francisco General Hospital. Her major research interest is in cardiovascular flow visualization with three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging. She is also interested in endocarditis and surgical approaches to valvular disease.

Dr. Peter Ganz is the Maurice Eliaser Jr. Distinguished Professor of Medicine and the Chief, Division of Cardiology at the San Francisco General Hospital. Dr. Ganz has been active in translational vascular research. His interests have focused on key aspects of human atherosclerosis including endothelial function. His laboratory pioneered methodological approaches that facilitated testing of coronary and peripheral vascular endothelial function in humans. This led to an appreciation of the pathobiology of nitric oxide and endothelin-1 in health and their disturbances in diseases. It also permitted evaluation of new therapies to improve vascular health. Dr. Ganz has also contributed to a better understanding of vascular and systemic inflammation and atherosclerotic plaque vulnerability.

Dr. Nora Goldschlager is Professor of Clinical Medicine. She is Clinical Cardiologist of the Cardiology Division, and Director of the Coronary Care Unit, the Pacemaker Clinic, and ECG Laboratory. She has a major interest in arrhythmias and cardiac pacing systems and in their selection, evaluation of appropriate function and programming, and long-term outpatient follow-up.

Dr Priscilla Hsue is an Assistant Professor of Medicine. She is interested in the effects of cocaine on the cardiovascular system and has established a clinical study of crack cocaine patients who have presented with aortic dissection. In addition, she has a major interest in the role of HIV and HIV medications on cholesterol and atherosclerosis and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in patients with HIV infection. She has established a cohort of HIV-infected individuals and is studying the effects of HIV infection and HIV medications on lipids, inflammatory parameters, and atherosclerotic risk.  She is also studying HIV-associated pulmonary hypertension.  At San Francisco General Hospital, she has established a subspecialty HIV Cardiology Clinic .

Dr. Mary Gray is an Associate Professor of Medicine in Residence. Her laboratory focuses on the cellular signaling pathways involved in cardiac ischemia-reperfusion injury and heart failure. They were one of the first groups to identify the importance of protein kinase C (PKC) activation for the beneficial effects of preconditioning. They investigate mechanisms by which PKC activation regulates mitochondrial function and cellular energetics. Current models used include Langendorff-perfused mouse and rat hearts, in vivo mouse myocardial infarction, and cultured mouse and rat cardiac myocytes. Research opportunities for fellows are available, particularly for those interested in the effects of chronic ethanol and tobacco exposure.

Dr. John S. MacGregor, Professor of Medicine, is a senior member of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory and has a long-standing interest in interventional cardiology.

Cardiology Section
Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center

Members of the Section
Barry M. Massie, M.D., Chief
Anthony Baker, Ph.D.
Tony Chou,M.D.
Joel S. Karliner, M.D.
Edmund Keung, M.D.
Chris Lau, Ph.D.
Fady Malik, M.D.
Kendrick Shunk, M.D., Ph. D.
Paul Simpson, M.D.
John R. Teerlink, M.D.
Paul Varosy, M.D.
Judith Wisneski, M.D.

Dr. Barry M. Massie, Professor of Medicine and Chief of the Cardiology Division at the San Francisco VAMC, leads a several research programs in the area of heart failure pathophysiology and treatment, clinical trials, and health services and outcomes research. He has recently received funding for a 5 year study analyzing the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of implantable cardio-defibrillators, utilizing a national VA database established by Dr. Edmund Keung. He is a PI of two multinational heart failure trials and a steering committee member of 5 other trials.  Dr. Massie is Editor-In-Chief of the Journal of Cardiac Failure and serves on a number of national guideline and policy-making committees.

Dr. Anthony J. Baker is an Associate Professor and Established Investigator of the American Heart Association.  The overall goal of his research is to determine the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in myocardial contractile dysfunction and heart failure.   These studies combine genetically modified models of cardiac disease with physiological measurements of cardiac function using cardiac myocytes, cardiac muscle strips, and intact perfused hearts.  Two related projects are currently underway. 1) Gi Signaling in Cardiomyopathy.  This project tests the hypothesis that increased signaling by Gi protein-coupled receptors leads to impaired excitation-contraction coupling.  2) Alpha-1-adrenergic receptor regulation of myocardial function.   Beta-adrenergic receptor responses have been well studied, however, alpha-1-adrenergic receptor responses remain unclear.   Therefore, the goal of this project is to determine the function of alpha-1-adrenergic receptors in the heart.

Dr. Tony Chou is Associate Clinical Professor of Medicine, former Director of the cath lab at UCSF Hospitals and Clinics and active member of the Adult Cardiac Cath Labs and the Interventional Cardiology Service. He works primarily as a venture capitalist for The Vertical Group. His research interests include new device technologies. 

Dr. Joel S. Karliner is Professor of Medicine. The focus of the Karliner laboratory is to study mechanisms of cardioprotection during hypoxia/re-oxygenation, ischemia/reperfusion, and myocardial infarction in normal and genetically altered mice. Models used are primary cultures of cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts, an isovolumically beating mouse heart (Langendorff) preparation, and mitochondria derived from both types of preparations. They concentrate on the role of lysolipids, especially sphingosine-l-phosphate (S1P) and its signaling mechanisms in cardioprotection. Acute studies involving S1P lyase and long-term studies in a mouse model of atherosclerosis and myocardial infarction using a synthetic S1P receptor agonist that can be given orally are underway. How isozymes of protein kinase C affect cardiac cells has been a particular area of interest. Another related area is cardiac remodeling and the molecular regulation of the gene for matrix metalloproteinase 2 (gel A) in the heart. Collaborators on these studies are Dr. Gary Cecchini (mitochondria), Dr. Edward Goetzl (lysophospholipids), Dr. David Lovett (matrix metalloproteinases), Dr. Anthony Baker (calcium handling), and Dr. Daria Mochly-Rosen at Stanford (protein kinase C isozymes), and Dr. Julie Saba at Oakland Children’s Hospital (S1P lyase). An additional area of interest is the study of vincristine as a cardioprotective agent, with a focus on preventing doxorubicin toxicity.

Dr. Edmund Keung, Associate Professor of Medicine, is clinically involved in brady and tachy device follow-up and is responsible for electrophysiological testing and device implantation. His major research interest is in cellular electrophysiology and device remote monitoring. He is currently employing the patch clamp techniques to study ionic channels in myocardial cells under pathophysiologic conditions. Clinically, he is working to advance device remote monitoring technology.

Dr. Chris Lau is a Professor of Medicine whose research interests focus on the molecular genetics of heart diseases and the construction and characterization of, and designing therapeutic strategies for animal models of cardiomyopathies using recombinant DNA technology and transgenic mouse approaches. 

Dr. Fady Malik is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology and a member of the Interventional Cardiology Services at UCSF and the SFVA. He has a long standing interest in the mechanism of the contractile proteins that comprise the sarcomere. His current research revolves around the discovery of small molecules that modulate the activity of cardiac, skeletal, and smooth muscle and their potential application in a variety of therapeutic indications.  He currently holds the position of Vice President, Muscle Biology and Therapeutics and Medical Director, CV Clinical Research and Development at Cytokinetics, Inc.

Dr. Kendrick Shunk is Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology and Director of Interventional Cardiology and Catheterization Laboratory Research at San Francisco VA Medical Center. His primary research interests are in atherosclerotic plaque imaging and Interventional Cardiology clinical trials. He is a previous Samuel A. Levine Young Clinical Investigator (AHA), and developed a novel technique for assessment of the aorta and its atherosclerotic plaques by Transesophageal Magnetic Resonance Imaging. A related research goal and interest is integration, co-registration and co-display of multi-modality image information for assessing and treating cardiovascular disease in real time. Dr. Shunk is involved in various multi-center clinical trials of devices/strategies in the cardiac cath lab including a multi-center VA study for which he maintains the core angiography laboratory.  He is also actively involved in the ACC-NCDR Research and Publications committee and supports projects that take advantage of that resource. 

Dr. Paul Simpson is Professor of Medicine. His long-range goal is to develop new drugs to treat congestive heart failure, ischemic myocardial injury, and cardiomyopathy. The approach has been to identify a molecular switch that stimulates adaptive growth of the heart. This contrasts with the prevailing approach to drug discovery in heart failure, which seeks to block maladaptive signaling.  The work has focused on catecholamines and alpha-1-adrenergic receptors, and new experiments show that these receptors mediate adaptive signaling in man and mouse.  Current projects aim to translate this new perspective into drug discovery.  This goal requires better understanding of the fundamental biology of the alpha-1-receptor subtypes, as well as more knowledge about alpha-1-signaling in human myocytes.  The lab uses a diverse array of techniques in cellular and molecular biology and physiology. Models include cultured myocytes, knockout and transgenic mice, and human samples.

Dr. John R. Teerlink, Associate Professor of Medicine, studies the pathogenesis and therapy of acute and chronic heart failure through multiple clinical research projects. He has recently served as co-principal investigator for a multicenter international acute heart failure trial with the endothelin receptor antagonist, tezosentan (VERITAS), and on the Steering Committee for REVIVE II, a trial of the calcium sensitizer, levosimendan, in acute heart failure.  He is active in multiple novel acute and chronic heart failure development programs, such as the cardiac myosin activator (CK-1827452), relaxin, adenosine antagonist (rolofylline), natriuretic peptides, ultrafiltation, and opiate receptor-like-1 antagonist (ORL-1). In addition, he is the principal investigator of a two-site study of diuretic therapy in patients admitted with acute decompensated heart failure. He serves on Steering and Endpoint committees for other international trials, and has recently served as a member of the Cardiovascular and Renal Drug Advisory Committee of the FDA. As the Director of the Heart Failure Clinic at the SFVAMC, he is a local investigator in a number of multicenter heart failure trials and part of a very active clinical research program in heart failure with Dr. Barry M. Massie.

Dr. Judith Wisneski, Professor of Medicine, recently completed five years as a Clinical Investigator of the Department of Veterans Affairs Research Service. Her major investigative interest is in myocardial metabolism. She is specifically interested in the effects of free fatty acids as a fundamental regulatory mechanism of lactate production and glucose utilization, and carries out studies both in humans and in animals.

BASIC SCIENCE TRAINING

Opportunities
For
Basic Training
In the
Molecular and Cellular
Biology
Of
Cardiovascular Disease

In addition to research training with the Cardiology Faculty listed below, UCSF's Cardiovascular Research Institute (CVRI) offers extensive training opportunities in basic science and its application to cardiovascular biology and disease. Training plans for individual fellows range from traditional postdoctoral fellowships to programs that include both formal graduate coursework and bench research for M.D.s who seek to broaden or deepen their background.

UCSF's Cardiology Division and the CVRI jointly offer a Training Program in Molecular and Cellular Biology of Cardiovascular Disease. Fellows may apply to the CVRI program after completing their two years of clinical training. Many training opportunities and alternative funding sources are available.

For additional information about CVRI faculty and training programs, see their website http://cvri.ucsf.edu. If you are chosen to interview with the fellowship program and would like to meet with a specific potential mentor listed with CVRI on your interview day, please contact Norisa Berardi at nberard@itsa.ucsf.edu or (415) 502-1115. For additional information about CVRI training programs, please contact please contact Marguerite Santy at santym@cvri.ucsf.edu or (415) 476-1884

HOW TO GET HERE AND WHERE TO STAY

From the San Francisco International Airport - The San Francisco International Airport (SFO) is 15 miles south of downtown San Francisco. From SFO you can take a taxi, a shuttle van, BART, or the Airporter Bus into the City. Travel time is 30 - 40 minutes. Allow an additional 15 - 30 minutes for connections and traffic.

TAXI - costs $50

Super Shuttle vans -They take 3 - 4 passengers and go door-to-door, costs $17 per person. 800-258-3826

BART - Bay Area Rapid Transport - Take the train to Civic Center Station (the cost is $5.35 one way) and transfer to the N Judah Streetcar (which cost $1.50) to get to UCSF. 650-992-2278.

SFO Airporter Bus -Airporter Bus - goes to Union Square and downtown San Francisco hotels, costs $10 per person. Transfer to the underground train N Judah or take the 6 Parnassus to get to UCSF. 866-235-5247

N Judah Streetcar and 6 Parnassus Bus stops directly in front of the UC Medical Center.
For more information, call MUNI (San Francisco Municipal Railway) at 415-673-MUNI

The following buses and trains link to the N Judah or the 6 Parnassus:
From the South Bay/Peninsula: SamTrans 1-800-660-4BUS: CalTrain 1-800-660-4287
From the North Bay/Marin & Sonoma Counties: Golden Gate Transit 415-455-2000 From the East Bay: BART 650-992-2278 : AC Transit 415-817-1717

UC Parking:
There is a parking lot on Parnassus Avenue, across from Moffitt Hospital.

SUGGESTED LODGING

The following accommodations are either within walking distance of UCSF or close to the Laurel Heights - UCSF shuttle. Some give discounts to UCSF, so let them know you are interviewing with us when you call. For more listings access the housing options website at www.housing.ucsf.edu/cho. It is the responsibility of applicants to make arrangements for transportation and accommodations during the interview process.

Laurel Inn

444 Presidio Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94115
415-567-8467; 415-928-1866 (fax)
District: Presidio Heights
Key: 49 units with private bath and 18 units with modern kitchenettes; walking distance to Mt. Zion Hospital and Laurel Heights; complimentary continental breakfast and parking; Cable TV, voicemail, VCRs and CD players. Non-smoking and smoking rooms available. Access to near-by fitness club.
Hospital Rates: $188-$215 and parking is $15 per night plus tax; all major credit cards accepted; UCSF affiliates discount.
Remarks: Pleasant neighborhood with shops and restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. Near parks, excellent public transportation, spacious cheerful rooms, friendly staff. UCSF shuttle stop nearby at Laurel Heights.
Website:http://www.thelaurelinn.com

Moffatt House

1401 7th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94122
415-661-6210
District: Inner Sunset/UCSF
Key: 4 units; 2 units with private bath and 2 units with shared bath; walking distance to UCSF; continental breakfast included, free Wi-Fi and internet; children welcome, television and phone in room.
Hospital Rates: $73 - $128 and locked garage is $10 daily; VISA, MC & American Express accepted.
Email:MoffattBB@sbcglobal.net
Website:http://www.moffatthouse.com

The Monte Cristo

600 Presidio Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94115
415-931-1875; 415-931-6005 (fax)
District: Presidio Heights
Key: 14 units; 11 units with private bath and 3 units with shared bath; walking distance to Mt. Zion Hospital; continental breakfast included; children welcome; 4 units with telephones; televisions in every room.
Hospital Rates: $119 - $159; all major credit cards accepted; UCSF affiliates 10% discount for 5 nights or more and 10% discount if booked on line using code UCSF10.
Remarks: Located two blocks to shops and restaurants on Sacramento Street. Each room elegantly furnished with authentic period pieces. Public telephone available and UCSF shuttle stop nearby. Convenient transportation to downtown San Francisco and Union Square.
Website:http://www.montecristosf.com

Stanyan Park Hotel

750 Stanyan Street, San Francisco, CA, 94117
415-751-1000; 415-668-5454 (fax)
District: Haight-Ashbury
Key: 30 rooms with private bath and 6 large suites with kitchens; wheelchair accessible; non-smoking hotel; walking distance to UCSF; continental breakfast included; telephone and cable television in rooms.
Hospital Rates: $120-275 and $15 a day for parking; all major credit cards accepted
Remarks: The Stanyan Park Hotel is a very affordable, elegant, thoroughly restored Victorian Hotel that will take you back to a bygone era of style, grace and comfort. UCSF shuttle stop nearby at Kezar parking lot.
Email:info@stanyanpark.com
Website: http://www.stanyanpark.com