Advanced Imaging Course

The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation conducts Educational Courses throughout the year for Health Professionals.

Coronary CT Angiography, a Visiting Clinician Course

Our CT Angiography course is a comprehensive course focused on reading and performing Coronary CT Angiography through a case-based mentored approach. The Minneapolis Heart Institute has one of the largest CTA experiences worldwide. Sheer volume of experience has helped these physicians hone the accuracy of their scan readings and has put them in demand as international CTA expert resources. They are intimately involved in setting the national standards for coronary CT lab accreditation and physician credentialing, and in developing an international board exam to ensure that reading physicians are appropriately trained to interpret coronary CT angiography.

To schedule a program, please contact Ashley Lyle at 612-863-6236 or get additional information about the course content, please contact Dr. John Lesser or Dr. Robert Schwartz at 612-863-3900.

» Download course information and registration form

What is Cardiovascular Computed Tomography?
From the ACCF COCATS Guidelines for Training in Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging (Computed Tomography), 2006: Computed tomography (CT) is one of the most rapidly evolving techniques for assessing cardiovascular anatomy. The complex nature of the imaging devices and anatomy as well as the rapidly advancing uses of these modalities requires the trainee to be introduced to this modality. Clinical application of CT encompasses non-contrast (coronary calcium evaluation), contrast (CT angiography and function), and hybrid studies (combining nuclear cardiac scanning with CT). Computed tomography, like invasive catheterization, provides information concerning cardiovascular anatomy and function (i.e., ejection fraction).

Course Format
The Computed Tomography Angiography Course is a comprehensive course focused on reading and performing CT coronary angiography through a mentored, case-based approach.

Target Audience
Physicians, fellows and technologists who specialize in cardiology and vascular medicine 

Educational Objectives
Upon completion of this program, participants should be able to:

1. Understand clinical applications of multislice computed tomography coronary angiography (MSCTA)
2. Describe methods of MSCTA imaging
3. Be able to perform MSCTA analysis

What to Expect
Our goal is to provide you with a comprehensive experience in reading and performing CT angiograms. The cost of the course is $1,100 per day for three to five days. Depending on length of commitment and effort, we will provide sufficient live and stored-dataset cases to meet Level II Training Criteria.

Cardiovascular CT Training and Certification
Certification Board of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography:

For information about CBCCT certification, visit http://www.cbcct.org/certification/index.cfm.

Society of Cardiovascular Computer Tomography:

For information about the Verification of Cardiovascular CT Experience Program, visit http://www.scct.org/credentialing/verification.cfm.

Mentored Case-Based Approach

• Data acquisition and reconstruction of witnessed coronary CT angiograms
• Review of previously acquired data with coronary angiogram correlation
• Left ventricular function analysis
• Review of non-coronary cardiac disease
• Review of peripheral vascular scans
• Multiple workstations: Vital Images Vitrea®; Siemens Leonardo; and TeraRecon
• Siemens Somatom Definition Adaptive Scanner

Accommodations
Sheraton Minneapolis Midtown Hotel at 2901 Chicago Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota 55407

The Sheraton Midtown features comfortable, convenient lodging for health care professionals who are visiting Abbott Northwestern Hospital. The three-star Sheraton Midtown is located two blocks from the hospital, is accessible to the hospital by skyway, and offers a variety of rooms and suites. For reservations at the hospital rate, visit the website or call toll-free 1-866- 716-8103 and mention promo code ABN.

About Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital
The Minneapolis Heart Institute® is recognized internationally as one of the world's leading providers of heart and vascular care. This state-of-the-art facility combines the finest in personalized patient care with sophisticated technology in a unique, family-oriented environment. The Institute's programs, a number of which are conducted in conjunction with Abbott Northwestern Hospital, address the full range of heart and vascular health needs: prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation.   

MHI’s Advanced Imaging Group
Bjorn Flygenring, MD, FACC
Thomas Knicklebine, MD, FACC
John R. Lesser, MD, FACC
Terrance F. Longe, MD, FACC
Robert S. Schwartz, MD, FACC

The Minneapolis Heart Institute has one of the largest CTA experiences worldwide. Sheer volume of experience has helped these physicians hone the accuracy of their scan readings and has put them in demand as international CTA expert resources, especially when establishing new CTA labs. They are intimately involved in setting the national standards for coronary CT lab accreditation and physician credentialing, and in developing an international board exam to ensure that reading physicians are appropriately trained to interpret coronary CT angiography. These five physicians frequently lecture and write on the effective use of CTA. They also serve as hardware and software consultants to help design future applications.

About Abbott Northwestern Hospital
Abbott Northwestern Hospital is the largest not-for-profit hospital in the Twin Cities area. Each year, the hospital provides comprehensive health care for more than 200,000 patients and their families from the Twin Cities area and throughout the Upper Midwest. More than 5,000 employees, 1,600 physicians and 550 volunteers work as a team for the benefit of each patient served. Abbott Northwestern Hospital is a part of Allina Hospitals & Clinics, a family of hospitals, clinics and care services in Minnesota and Western Wisconsin.