Cardiovascular Health and Pregnancy Preceptorship
Preceptorship Director: Jeff Chapa, MD
Program Objective:
The goal of this program is to provide a focused and concentrated training experience under the
direction of highly qualified specialists and to advance the knowledge and understanding of
cardiovascular health in relation to pregnancy.
Program Description/Curriculum
The need for collaboration between obstetrician-gynecologists and specialists in cardiovascular
medicine has never been greater. Cardiovascular disease has become the leading cause of
maternal mortality in the United States. This is in part due to improvements in treating other
causes of maternal mortality, such as hemorrhage and infection. Additionally, improvements in
medical and surgical care have led to more women with significant cardiovascular disease
surviving to childbearing age and having a higher quality of life, to the point where pregnancy
and starting a family is a consideration. Also, we are increasingly becoming aware that
pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia are significant risk
factors for cardiovascular disease in women later in life. As the #1 Heart Center in the United
States for the past two decades, Cleveland Clinic, and its integrated healthcare delivery system,
is uniquely positioned to deal with these issues.
A Preceptorship Program allows for both individual training opportunities as well as for the
dissemination of medical knowledge and information around the world. Cleveland Clinic
Obstetrics & Gynecology Staff will establish this program in conjunction with the leadership of
the Heart & Vascular Institute to ensure coverage of all critical points. This preceptorship will
offer exposure to our collaborative approach to dealing with complex medical problems.
Participants will receive a “Certificate of Participation” upon successful completion of the
program.
To launch the program, we plan to establish a two-week program; one week with an observed
rotation with the OB/GYN team in Maternal Fetal Medicine and the other week with Cardiology.
Example Medical Observances:
 Fetal Care Center Meetings
 Cardio-obstetrics Clinic
 Maternal-Fetal Medicine Clinic
 Labor & Delivery
 Adult Congenital Heart Disease
 Preventative Cardiology
 Women’s Cardiology
 Critical Evaluation of Pertinent Literature
 Case Reviews