Overview
ACGME-Accredited, 3-Year Program
The Thoracic Surgery residency program is an ACGME-accredited, three-year program designed to enhance knowledge of the anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology of cardiovascular, respiratory, and upper gastrointestinal diseases. At completion residents will be American Board of Thoracic Surgery eligible. Applications are accepted using Electronic Residency Application Services.
Please contact us for more information.
Clinical Experience
The majority of training occurs at VCU Medical Center in Richmond
VCU Medical Center has over 750 beds and over 30 operating rooms, and is a level one trauma center and a major referral center for the entire state of Virginia.
Residents spend two-four months of second year training at Children’s National Medical Center in Washington, D.C.. This exposure provides a complete immersion into the field of congenital heart surgery for our trainees and support is provided via housing and stipend by the Department of Surgery.
On the MCV Campus is VCU Massey Cancer Center listed among the top 4 percent of cancer centers in the country, and VCU Health Pauley Heart Center, an inpatient and outpatient heart center ranging from noninvasive cardiology to heart transplantation.
Working at VCU Health
Research
All residents are expected to complete one research project each year and submit it for presentation at a national meeting.
Research can vary from bench top research to quality and outcomes. The Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery participates in the national Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) database, the regional Virginia Cardiac Services Quality Initiative (VCSQI) and the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP). All registries are excellent sources for research on patient outcomes and quality.
Rotations
Training Overview PGY–6, 7, and 8
- General Thoracic & Foregut Surgery at VCU Medical Center (4 months)
- Cardiac Surgery ICU at VCU Medical Center (1 month)
- Adult Cardiac Surgery at VCU Medical Center (6 months)
- General Thoracic & Foregut Surgery at VCU Medical Center (4 months)
- Congenital Cardiac Surgery at the National Children’s Medical Center in Washington, D.C. (4 months)
- Adult Cardiac Surgery at VCU Medical Center (4 months)
PGY-8 Chief Resident
- Adult Cardiac Surgery/Transplant & Mechanical Circulatory Support/Aortic Surgery at VCU Medical Center (4-10 months)
- General Thoracic & Foregut Surgery at VCU Medical Center (2-8 months)
At the conclusion of their training, fellows are expected to function as independent surgeons in all aspects of preoperative assessments, surgical procedures and postoperative care in adult cardiac and general thoracic surgery.
Conferences
Thoracic surgery residency program at VCU ensures trainees have protected time to prepare, present and attend all educational conferences. Here are the few most important ones for your training.
Cardiothoracic surgery core curriculum: This weekly conference encompasses all aspects of CT surgery education, using a combination of didactic lectures and problem-based seminars with assigned faculty mentors.
Cardiology/cardiac surgery weekly conference: This conference is based on case management of cardiovascular problems.
Transplantation conference: Patients are reviewed before and after cardiac and pulmonary transplantation, and all management issues are discussed.
Pediatric cardiology/cardiac surgery conference (National Children’s Medical Center): Pediatric cardiologists and surgeons present patients and decisions regarding optimal management.
Thoracic Malignancy Multi D Conference: A weekly multidisciplinary conference that includes radiologists, thoracic surgeons, pulmonologists, oncologists, radiotherapists and pathologists to evaluate and discuss thoracic oncology cases and decide upon the best treatment plan for each patient.
Monthly quality assurance conference (M&M): Complications and deaths on the service are presented by the operating fellow and the staff responsible for the patient’s care. Faculty and fellowship staff review cases to identify areas of improvement.
Cardiac surgery workgroup weekly meeting: Surgical, ICU nursing and support staff discuss inpatients’ progress and areas to improve their hospital course.
Additional conferences include:
- Cardiothoracic surgery visiting professors
- Combined anesthesia and cardiovascular surgery journal club
- Research conferences
From the Program Director
Anthony D. Cassano, MD, MSHA
Professor
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Josue "Josh" Chery, MD
Assistant Professor
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Zachary Fitch, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Zachary Fitch, MD
Assistant Professor of Surgery
Department of Surgery
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
VCU School of Medicine
Email: zachary.fitch@vcuhealth.org
Address/Location:
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
1200 E Broad Street
Box 980645
Richmond, VA 23298-0645
Walker Julliard, MD
Assistant Professor
Z. A. Hashmi, MD
Assistant Professor
Vigneshwar Kasirajan, MD, FACS
Professor
Surgery Department Chair
Vigneshwar Kasirajan, MD, FACS
Professor
Surgery Department Chair
Department of Surgery
Brian Kogon, MD
Professor
Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Brian Kogon, MD
Professor
Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Department of Surgery
Email: brian.kogon@vcuhealth.org
Patricia Nicolato, DO
Associate Professor
Patricia Nicolato, DO
Associate Professor
Department of Surgery
Mohammed Quader, MD
Professor
Rachit Shah, MD, FACS
Professor
Teaching Faculty at DC Children's
Congenital Cardiac Surgery
Yves d'Udekem d'Acoz, MD, PhD
Division Chief, Cardiac Surgery
Co-Director, Children's National Heart Institute
Richard Jonas, MD
Emeritus Chief, Cardiac Surgery
Senior Investigator, Center for Neuroscience Research
Can Yerebakan, MD
Associate Chief, Cardiac Surgery
Director, Cardiovascular Surgery Fellowship Program
Office of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
VCU School of Medicine
Office of Diversity, Equity & InclusionLiving in RVA
Richmond, Virginia, combines the amenities of a major metropolitan area with the charm and convenience of a small, historic city.
As an urban academic medical center, the VCU School of Medicine rests in the heart of Richmond, Virginia (RVA to those who live here). We pride ourselves on being active members of our community, with a commitment to engaging and investing in Richmond as learners, researchers, healers and citizens.
Living in RVAProgram Alumni
2017—2020
2017: James Wade MD, General Thoracic Surgery
Northwestern-Feinberg School of Medicine, Central Dupage and Delnor Community Hospitals, Chicago, IL
2018: Luis Velazco Devia MD, Adult Cardiac Surgery
Cleveland Clinic, Florida
2019: Josue Chery MD, Adult Cardiac Surgery & Heart Transplantation
VCU Medical Center, Richmond, VA
2020: Katherine Klein MD, Adult Cardiac Surgery & Heart Transplantation
INOVA Fairfax, Fairfax, VA
2023: Harry Lee Warren, MD, Med Center Health, Adult Cardiothoracic Surgery
Bowling Green, KY
2024: Rahul Rajeev MD, Med Center Health, Adult Cardiothoracic Surgery
Bowling Green, KY
How to Apply
Applications are accepted using Electronic Residency Application Services
Contact Us
Rachit D. Shah, MD
Thoracic Surgery Residency Program Director
Section Chief, Thoracic Surgery
rachit.shah@vcuhealth.org
Christine Mahnken
Program Coordinator
christine.mahnken@vcuhealth.org
Office location:
West Hospital
Seventh Floor, South Wing
1200 W. Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23298
Mailing address:
Box 980068
Richmond, Virginia 23298-0068
Phone: (804) 828-4620
Fax: (804) 827-0527
Current Fellows
Leslie Burrell, MD
CT Fellow PGY-8
leslie.burrell@vcuhealth.org
Jay Patel, MD
CT Fellow PGY-7
jay.patel1@vcuhealth.org
Motaz Al Yafi
CT Fellow PGY-6
motaz.alyafi@vcuhealth.org
