Address & Contact

Our Address

3001 Mercer University Dr. Atlanta, GA 30341

GPS

33.8738198, -84.2630939

Telephone
Email

-

Web

-

Mercer-Piedmont Heart Atlanta, GA 12 months 2 Students

 

Mercer-Piedmont Heart Physician Assistant Residency in Advanced Cardiology

About the Program

The Mercer-Piedmont Heart Physician Assistant Post-Graduate Residency in Advanced Cardiology is a collaborative effort between the Mercer University Physician Assistant Program and Piedmont Heart.

Residents will participate in the admission and consultation of cardiac patients to the intensive care units. Responsibilities will include rounding on nights, weekdays, and weekends. Residents will rotate through cardiac subspecialties including, but not limited to, general and interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, advanced heart failure, and cardiothoracic surgery. The residents will acquire skills necessary to contribute to the management of advanced cardiac disease pathophysiologies, such as cardiogenic shock, advanced coronary disease, cardiac arrhythmias, and valvular heart disease.

Additionally, residents will work with experts in advanced imaging techniques such as echocardiography, and cardiac MR/CT. There will be ongoing opportunities to obtain Category I CME throughout the year. Mercer-Piedmont Heart PA Residency is one of the first Advanced Cardiology post-graduate PA Residencies of its kind.

Mission Statement
To educate certified Physician Assistants in evaluating and managing critically ill patients requiring advanced cardiology therapies, through a multidisciplinary team approach.

Important Deadlines

  • Application is due by: April 1, 2015
  • Selection/Notification date:  May 2015
  • Program Dates:  July 2015 through June 2016

 

Program Description

Core Curriculum

DIDACTIC – 15%

  • Weekly didactic presentations
  • Weekly Clinical Application workshop
  • Grand Rounds and M&M lectures
  • Instruct at Mercer PA Program
  • Participate & present in quarterly Journal Club
  • Serve as a resource for CCU nursing education
  • Receive 1 week for attending CME conferences
CLINICAL – 85%

  • Admit and round on patients in Coronary Care Unit, along with providing consultations in neuro/medical, and surgical ICU’s.
  • Manage hemodynamics, ventilators , advanced heart failure, mechanical cardiac support, sepsis and multi-system organ failure
  • Participate in STEMI response team
  • Participate in OR and post-surgical cardiovascular care of LVAD, ECMO, and routine open heart surgical patients
  • Choose a Critical Care Service PA mentor
  • Place invasive catheter with ultrasound guidance
  • Obtain proficiency in cardiac related responsibilities for credentialing of additional advanced state privilege and licensing requirements
  • Follow patients in Extensivist Clinic
  • Participate in Cardiac Subspecialty rotations
  • Elective rotation(s) in cardiovascular services

 

12-Month Clinical Block Schedule

1 Week Orientation
2 Weeks Outpatient Cardiology Rotation  (Outpatient Cardiology Clinic Experience)
1 Week Cath Lab and ARU
4 Weeks General Cardiology Rotation (Acute Care Extender Program)
3 Weeks CCU Rotation – Initial Exposure to Hemodynamics
3 Weeks Electrophysiology Rotation
2 Weeks Cardiovascular Imaging (Echo/Stress Lab) Rotation
18 Weeks CCU Rotation
1 Week Cath Lab / Hybrid OR
6 Weeks ICU Red / Cardiac Surgery Rotation
2 Weeks Heart Failure  / Cardiovascular Imaging (CT-MRI) Rotation
6 Weeks Elective Rotations (3 weeks each)
1 Week CME Opportunity

 

Salary & Benefits

As a Mercer Piedmont Resident, a stipend of $50,000 as well as vacation and CME time will be available.  In addition, the resident will be eligible for the Piedmont full time employee benefit package.  Residents will be required to complete their benefit enrollment within thirty (30) days of hire.  If elected, coverage will begin on the first day of the month following thirty (30) days of employment.  For example, if your hire date is January 13th, then your coverage will be eligible March 1st.

Program Graduation
Certificate from Mercer University and Piedmont Heart will be awarded after successful completion of the 12 month post-graduate PA Residency in Advanced Cardiology. The residency program will be pursuing accreditation from ARC-PA.

Application Requirements

  • Graduate of accredited PA program
  • Certified in ACLS and BLS
  • Completed application including
    • Three letters of recommendation (if candidate has graduated in the last year, one must be from the Program Director/Clinical Coordinator)
    • Personal statement
    • Curriculum vitae
    • Letter of good standing from school reflecting statement regarding current academic and professional status and GPA AND/OR Official PA School transcripts
  • Current or Eligible for Georgia State License
  • Current or Eligible for NCCPA Physician Assistant Certification
  • Self-motivated with a strong interest in advanced cardiology

Applications must be submitted electronically to [email protected] by April 1, 2015.
Applicants will be notified of acceptance by May 2015.

Residency start date is July 2015.

 

Faculty Bios

 

Jason Lucas, PhD, PA-C

Jason Lucas, PhD, PA-C

Piedmont Heart Institute, Critical Care Service, Team Lead
Advanced Cardiology PA Residency, Co-Director


Jason Lucas completed his undergraduate degrees in Respiratory Therapy (1995) and Physician Assistant (2001) from The Medical College of Georgia, and his Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Cardiovascular Physiology in 2009 from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.   Jason worked in peripheral vascular and cardiovascular surgery as a Physician Assistant prior to completing his PhD.  His doctorate involved studying the cellular mechanisms involved in cardiac fibrosis.  Following completion of his thesis, he worked as a scientist in the medical device industry.  Jason joined the Critical Care Service at Piedmont Heart Institute in 2010.  He currently serves as the Critical Care Services Team Lead and Co-Director of the Advanced Cardiology Residency Program.

Jason was born and raised in the Atlanta area.  Jason is a road cycling enthusiast in his spare time and also enjoys spending time with his wife and two children.

Amynah Jiwani, MMSc, PA-C

Amynah Jiwani, MMSc, PA-C

Piedmont Heart Institute, Critical Care Service
Advanced Cardiology PA Residency, Co-Director


Amynah Jiwani completed her undergraduate degree in Chemistry and Philosophy from Emory University in 2003 and received her Masters of Medical Science from Emory’s School of Medicine’s Physician Assistant Program in 2006. Prior to her Masters, she volunteered at a PA run Heart Failure Clinic for a year as a clinical assistant and coordinator, working closely with PA and cardiologists. There she participated in patient care along with developing educational material and support infrastructure for HF patients in attempts to minimize re-hospitalizations and improve quality metrics. She has been practicing cardiovascular medicine since 2007 and has an interest in critical care and heart failure populations.

Amynah has lived in Atlanta since 1997 and enjoys being outdoors with family and friends. She especially enjoys hiking, biking and water sports. In her personal leisure time she loves to write.

Philip E. Tobin, D.H.Sc., MPAS, PA-C

Philip E. Tobin, DHSc, MPAS, PA-C

Chair, Physician Assistant Studies
Mercer University 


Phil Tobin began his medical career as a surgical technologist in the United States Air Force. After six years, he became a urology technician and was promoted to Sergeant In-Charge of a busy urology clinic. He was accepted into the Air Force Physician Assistant Program and received his Bachelor of Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1995. Dr. Tobin, who earned the rank of captain in the Air Force, completed his master’s degree in Physician Assistant Studies with an emphasis in family medicine from the University of Nebraska Medical Center in 1997.

Dr. Tobin has practiced medicine as a PA in many countries and in different specialties during his 22 years in the Air Force. His clinical practice experience includes family practice, emergency medicine, missions and other specialties. During his last five years in the Air Force, Dr. Tobin served as the Deputy Chief of the Bioeffects Research Branch studying the bioeffects of radio frequency. He retired from the Air Force in 2006 and transitioned to a faculty position at Harding University’s Physician Assistant program in Arkansas. There he developed the Skills and Physical Diagnosis lab curriculum. During his tenure at Harding University, Dr. Tobin also served as the Assistant Clinical Director and was Chairman of the Institutional Review Board. In April 2012, he became the Program Director for Mercer University’s Physician Assistant Program, which is housed in the College of Health Professions. He completed his Doctor of Health Sciences degree from NOVA University in June 2012.

William A. Blincoe, MD

William A. Blincoe, MD 

Chief Medical Officer of Piedmont Hospital Cardiovascular  Services & CV Integration


Dr. William A. Blincoe earned his undergraduate degree from Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. He received his medical degree from the University of Kansas and completed his residency in cardiology at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, Texas and the Emory University School of Medicine, where he also completed his cardiology fellowship.

Dr. Blincoe is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions. He is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology and specializes in cardiovascular disease, interventional cardiology and peripheral vascular disease.