November 16, 2016 | Amanda Eilers, DO
Career Development

Each month, the Fellows in Training (FIT) Section newsletter, ACC On-Call, will highlight the achievements of one cardiology FIT. The Section would like to recognize Amanda Eilers, DO, a cardiothoracic surgery fellow at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) and an FIT member of the Surgeons' Section Leadership Council, as the 'star FIT' for the month of November. She describes her research interests, hobbies, career goals and involvement with the ACC in a short interview below.

What do you enjoy doing outside of cardiology?
I enjoy spending time with my husband, son, and dog; cooking; biking; and gardening.

How do you approach work-life balance?
Balance is the key word – some days I have little balance, and other days are certainly better. Having an extremely supportive husband and family have been pivotal to my work-life balance.

Who do you consider to be mentors?
I have been very lucky to train under all the staff at UTHSCSA and chair, John Calhoon, MD. Each and every one of the staff at UTHSCSA is committed to education, both inside and outside the operating room.

What are some of the developments in the field of cardiothoracic surgery you are most excited about?
Right now, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) continues to excite me. In just the last four to five years I have seen a tremendous amount of growth in TAVR technology and the deployment of this technology. I have also enjoyed collaborating with our cardiology collogues, and learning from them as well.

What are your roles as an FIT member of ACC's Surgeons' Section Leadership Council?
While on the Thoracic Surgery Resident Association Executive Committee from 2012 – 2016, we have worked diligently to share the benefits of ACC's FIT membership to all surgical trainees. In this short time almost 100 surgical trainees have joined the ACC.

What advice do you have to fellows in cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery to ensure there is outstanding, ongoing collaboration?
Multidisciplinary medical care is becoming more and more of the focus in health care. As such, we should all continue to strive for collaboration. Working as a team to provide the best patient care possible is extremely rewarding. Further, there is a great deal to learn from all providers who care for patients with cardiovascular disease.