Program Leadership Welcome

Thank you for your interest in our fellowship. At AtlantiCare, we are deeply committed to training the next generation of cardiologists who are clinically excellent, intellectually curious, and compassionate in their care of patients. Our program is designed to provide a rigorous, well rounded clinical experience while fostering professional growth, wellness, and lifelong learning.

Our Program received initial ACGME accreditation for a total of nine Fellows in February 2024, our inaugural class of three fellows started in July 2025.  AtlantiCare's cardiovascular fellowship is based at our Mainland Campus which houses our state-of-the-art cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology laboratories, as well as our cardiothoracic surgery program, structural heart disease and advanced heart failure programs and cardiothoracic intensive care unit which is staffed with 24/7 intensivists. Fellows will have the opportunity to build their own ambulatory referral patient panels at our AtlantiCare office sites. In addition, fellows will have the opportunity to act as teachers/mentors/advisors to our established Internal Medicine, Family Medicine, Psychiatry and Pharmacy residents.

Fellows at AtlantiCare benefit from comprehensive exposure to both inpatient and outpatient cardiology across a diverse patient population. Under the guidance of dedicated faculty, fellows develop strong foundations in clinical cardiology while gaining hands on experience with advanced diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. AtlantiCare's faculty is staffed with experienced board-certified cardiologists who will be working closely with our fellows during their various rotation experiences to help mentor them through each of their competencies and milestone stages so that they may develop into capable, compassionate, and confident cardiologists. Rotations are designed to meet all ACGME required elements, including level 2 COCATS echocardiography and nuclear cardiology. Our curriculum emphasizes evidence-based medicine, multidisciplinary collaboration, and progressive autonomy tailored to each fellow’s level of training. 

Education is at the core of our mission. Fellows participate in structured didactics, case-based conferences, journal clubs, and quality improvement initiatives that encourage critical thinking and scholarly engagement. We strongly support fellow involvement in research, teaching, and leadership activities, preparing our graduates not only for successful board certification but also for confident careers in academic medicine, private practice, or subspecialty training.

Equally important is our commitment to mentorship and community. We take pride in cultivating an inclusive and supportive environment where fellows are known, valued, and supported as individuals. Our faculty are approachable and invested in fellows’ success, both professionally and personally, and we strive to maintain a culture that prioritizes respect, teamwork, and well being. AtlantiCare’s mission is to make a difference in health and healing, one person at a time, through caring and trusting relationships. Our vision is to build healthy communities together through safety, teamwork, integrity, respect, service and inclusion.

We are proud of our fellows, whose achievements reflect the strength of our program and the values we uphold. We invite you to explore our fellowship further and consider joining a program where education, patient care, and professional development are seamlessly integrated.

Thank you for your interest in the AtlantiCare Cardiology Fellowship Program.
 

Devender Akula, MD, FACC, FHRS
Program Director, Cardiovascular Fellowship