Mercer PA Program and Piedmont Heart Launch Residency in Advanced Cardiology

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ATLANTA – Mercer University's Physician Assistant program and Piedmont Heart have collaborated to create the Mercer-Piedmont Heart Physician Assistant Residency in Advanced Cardiology. The residency is one of the first advanced cardiology post-graduate PA residencies of its kind.

Residents will take part in the admission and consultation of cardiac patients to the intensive care units. The residency includes rounding on nights, weekdays, and weekends, and rotating through cardiac subspecialties including, but not limited to, general and interventional cardiology, electrophysiology, advanced heart failure, and cardiothoracic surgery.

“Residents of the program will acquire skills that will prepare them 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 that are conducted in the cardiac catheterization lab. The imaging techniques include, but are not limited to, echocardiography and cardiac MR/CT. There are also ongoing opportunities for residents to obtain Category I continuing medical education credit throughout the year.

“Educational advancements in the field of cardiac medicine are being made every day, and it is important we establish programs like this so that physician assistants can specialize and be better equipped to serve patients with advanced cases of heart disease,” said Jason Lucas, Ph.D., PA-C, co-director of the new advanced cardiology PA residency program.

“Anything we can do to empower and support physician assistants in their clinical efforts will not only prepare them for brighter futures but enhance the clinical care heart patients receive.”

A certificate from Mercer University and Piedmont Heart will be awarded after successful completion of the 12-month, post-graduate PA Residency in Advanced Cardiology.

About Mercer University

Founded in 1833, Mercer University is a dynamic and comprehensive center of undergraduate, graduate and professional education. The University enrolls more than 8,300 students in 12 schools and colleges – liberal arts, law, pharmacy, medicine, business, engineering, education, theology, music, nursing, health professions, and continuing and professional studies – on campuses in Macon, Atlanta and Savannah – and four regional academic centers across the state. The Mercer Health Sciences Center, launched July 1, 2012, includes the University's medical, nursing, health sciences and pharmacy schools. Mercer is affiliated with four teaching hospitals – Memorial University Medical Center in Savannah, the Medical Center of Central Georgia in Macon, and The Medical Center and St. Francis Hospital in Columbus. The University also has educational partnerships with Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Warner Robins and Piedmont Healthcare in Atlanta. It operates an academic press and a performing arts center in Macon and an engineering research center in Warner Robins. Mercer is the only private university in Georgia to field an NCAA Division I athletic program. www.mercer.edu