Nuclear Cardiology - Educational Programs · Nuclear Education Online

The eligibility requirement for the Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology (CBNC) exam is undergoing significant changes beginning 2009. The new requirements states that in order for applicants to sit for the CBNC examination they must have obtained Level 2 training through an accredited residency or fellowship. Thus, the 2008 examination will be the final opportunity for those applying through the experience pathway to obtain CBNC certified. For more information, please refer to the article published by the ASNC: http://www.asnc.org/imageuploads/Newsletter0108.pdf. (page 6)

The American Society of Nuclear Cardiology has reported that the field of nuclear cardiology is facing a tremendous shortage of trained nuclear cardiologists to meet the increase in demand for nuclear medicine procedures in the aging population. Due to the shortage, in 2002 the Nuclear Radiation Commission (NRC) has reduced the number of nuclear training hours from 1000 hours to 700 hours. In an amendment published in 2005, the NRC specifies the minimum number of hours of classroom and laboratory training (CLT) to be 80 hours for 35.290 and 200 hours for 35.390.

There exist few cardiology training programs that are capable of providing nuclear training to these cardiologists which will sufficiently satisfy the NRC requirements. NEO will provide a distance nuclear education to cardiologists and other physicians. The NEO program is intended to satisfy the CLT requirements needed for a physician to be named as an authorized user on a radioactive materials human medical use license in any one of the NRC regulated states or Agreement States, as they adopt the NRC regulations. The NEO Cardiology education program offers both the 80 hour and the 200 hour nuclear education training course.

The NEO abstract entitled NUCLEAR EDUCATION ONLINE AUTHORIZED USER TRAINING FOR PHYSICANS was accepted for poster presentation at the Marvin R. Dunn Poster Session at the ACGME’s 2008 Annual Education Conference titled "Building Community, Improving Quality” on February 28 – March 2, 2008 in Grapevine, Texas.

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The Core Cardiology Training Symposium (COCATS) provides guidelines for training in nuclear cardiology, which divides the training into three levels. These levels include (1) General training for all cardiology fellows to become familiar with the field of nuclear cardiology, (2) Specialized training for those who wish to have special expertise in nuclear cardiology, and (3) Advanced training for those who want to engage in an academic direction in nuclear cardiology. Level 2 and Level 3 require the individual to qualify for NRC licensure requirements (700 hours of T&E which must include 80/200 hours of CLT). Furthermore, the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) supports the mandatory certification of physicians practicing nuclear cardiology by 2008. To be eligible to take the Certification of Nuclear Cardiology (CBNC), the applicant must have experience or training equivalent to that of at least level 2 training in nuclear cardiology. The program offered by NEO will also be acceptable for the radioisotope handling classroom and laboratory training requirement for physicians taking the CBNC.

Typically, to obtain this specialized education, students must attend 80 or 200 hours of classroom training available at only a limited number of programs in United States. The expense of such training, in terms of monetary and manpower can be excessive. Distance education offers students the opportunity of career training with a minimum disruption to their personal and professional lives. Furthermore, because much of the training is via the Internet, nuclear education can be provided to students throughout the country. NEO combines the web-based curriculum for the CLT with the experiential training at local sites to provide students with hands-on experience.

Completion of the NEO program documents the structured CLT nuclear education mandated by new regulations for physicians to be authorized users of radioactive materials (Federal Register notice of March 30, 2005). NEO provides the 80-hour and 200-hour courses of classroom and laboratory training through four modules:

Each module can be completed independently, offering maximum flexibility. For example, one module could be assigned during each nuclear medicine rotation in a residency program. The nuclear cardiology educational program is facilitated through the use of Web Course Tools (WebCT). WebCT provides students with a set of educational tools to facilitate learning, communication, and collaboration. It also provides instructors with an interface allowing signature design of the course presentation.

The student is responsible for their own learning process. Students have access to lecture notes, reading assignments, and exams. The online learning environment places more responsibility on the student and requires self-discipline, but it also provides rewards through increased interactivity and scheduling flexibility. Of course, hands-on experiential training is very important as well. This component will require practicing nuclear cardiologists as preceptors, to supervise and guide students through a highly structured clinical training program.

We are proud to have excellent core teaching faculty members. The NEO program is directed by John Pieper, Pharm.D., Dean of the University of New Mexico College of Pharmacy; and Stephanie Gardner, Pharm.D., Ed.D., Dean of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Faculty members include Nicki Hilliard , Pharm.D., BCNP; Dao Le, Pharm.D., BCNP; Jeff Norenberg, M.S., Pharm.D., BCNP; Martha Pickett, CNMT; ; Kristina Wittstrom, R.Ph., BCNP; and practicing nuclear cardiologist preceptors in the field.

We are also offering volume discounts for residency programs. If you have five or more students from one program, we offer a 15% discount per student; further volume discounts may be considered for larger programs. The program fee is due upon enrollment; however flexible payment schedules are available upon request.

Students completing the entire structured program will receive a certificate of completion. Furthermore, individuals/programs may enroll in individual course blocks for continuing education, or additional training. Finally, students will continue to have access to the educational material following program completion.

If you are interested in this program and would like additional information as it is available please email Dao Le at DLe@uams.edu or call 501-686-6361.