HCA Florida Healthcare/UCF Consortium announces first Cardiovascular Fellowship
The new program will accept three fellows per year for a total of nine accredited positions.
HCA Florida Healthcare and the University of Central Florida’s College of Medicine jointly announced today a new program to train more doctors in fighting cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death in the state.
Through the UCF/HCA Florida Healthcare Graduate Medical Education Consortium, the partners have launched their first Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship. The ACGME-accredited program will be located at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and is seeking applicants for the first cohort to begin training in July 2025. Physicians accepted into the program will spend three years learning the latest techniques to prevent, diagnose, and manage cardiovascular diseases.
“The addition of the cardiology graduate medical education program expands our partnership through the UCF College of Medicine/HCA Florida Healthcare Graduate Medical Education Consortium and continues to support the next generation of physicians in a range of much-needed specialties," said Alan Keesee, chief executive officer of HCA Florida Ocala Hospital. "The cardiologists of the future will be training right here in Marion County, learning at one of the nation's 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals™. Through a broad range of clinical experience and academic support services such as research and curriculum development, we hope to inspire our residents' passion to care for and improve human life."
Dr. Stephen Cico, associate dean for graduate medical education at UCF, added, “We are excited for this fellowship that will train doctors in the critical area of cardiovascular disease as we help address the state’s healthcare needs.”
With the new program, the UCF/HCA Florida Healthcare Graduate Medical Education Consortium has 40 residency programs and fellowships across the state, making it one of the fastest growing in Florida.
Leading the program at HCA Florida Ocala Hospital is Dr. Rakesh Prashad, a professor and clinical researcher at UCF who is board-certified in Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology, Endovascular Medicine, Nuclear Cardiology and Internal Medicine.
“We are committed to training the next generation of cardiologists who will lead the charge in improving cardiovascular health,” said Dr. Prashad. “Our team of board-certified faculty, state-of-the-art facilities, and a diverse patient population will ensure a comprehensive and rewarding educational experience for all fellows.”
HCA Florida Ocala Hospital and HCA Florida West Marion Hospital currently train 165 residents across eight specialties, including Anesthesiology, Emergency Medicine, Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Orthopedic Surgery, General Surgery, Surgical Critical Care Fellowship, and Transitional Year Residency. The new program will accept three fellows per year for a total of nine accredited positions.