How To Become A Cardiologist In Ghana

A cardiologist is a doctor who specializes in treating diseases of the cardiovascular system, mainly the heart and blood vessels. In order to become a cardiologist, a physician must attend four years of medical school and an additional six to eight years of internal medicine and specialized cardiology training.

Below is How To Become A Cardiologist In Ghana

General Admissions Requirements

The basic requirement for entry into residency training for all residency training programs is a “PASS” in the Ghana College of Physicians & Surgeons Primary Examination OR West Africa College of Physicians(Surgeons).

Training Requirements

Residency Training

Applicants to the residency programmes must have a recognized medical or dental qualification.

The applicant should be fully registered and would have completed a period of houseman-ship training and one-year district rotation as required by the Ministry of Health, Ghana.

All Faculties expect that their residents would have rotated through the major specialties of Internal Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, and Paediatrics before starting the residency training program.

Applicants will attend a selection interview.

The admission process will be Faculty based, and the criteria used may differ from Faculty to Faculty.

Guide To Become a Cardiologist in Ghana

What does a cardiologist do?

A cardiologist is a physician who specializes in preventing, diagnosing, and treating medical conditions related to the heart and blood vessels. Common conditions cardiologists diagnose and treat include high blood pressure (hypertension), Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD), Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD), Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), arrhythmia, valvular heart disease, aneurysms, and heart failure.

The responsibilities of a cardiologist may vary depending on their level of experience and their cardiac specialty, but typically include:

Completing medical interviews to assess new patients

Ordering diagnostic tests and labs

Analyzing results of diagnostic tests and labs

Diagnosing patients based on test and lab results

Creating a customized treatment plan for all patients

Prescribing medications and therapy as needed to treat conditions

Providing ongoing care and follow-up with patients on their treatment progress

Educating patients about the risk of heart disease and prevention techniques

Collaborating with a patient’s primary care physician and other specialists such as a cardiothoracic surgeon

Is studying a cardiologist hard?

Despite how simple it sounds, becoming a cardiologist is, in fact, not an easy task.

Prospective cardiologists must undertake a bachelor’s degree in a science or health-related field.

Once complete, a further four years of medical school, plus about six to eight more years of intensive training, is required.

Schools offering a Cardiologist In Ghana

National Cardiothoracic Centre

University of Ghana