LEAD: LAAO Program

• Attend the LEAD: LAAO kick-off call.
• Recommended: training in unconscious (or implicit) bias for all participants who have not completed similar training within the past two years.
• Device Leaders' institution - host a two-day exchange for each Access Leader. The first exchange should occur within 12 weeks of program acceptance, and the second exchange should occur five to six months later. Each exchange should include: 
  • Observership of two consecutive in-person lab days with the Device Leader, with three to five WATCHMAN LAAC implants scheduled per day (goal of eight cases over two days) with simultaneous training to include: pre-clinical evaluation; imaging assessment; procedural planning; device selection; atypical anatomy; training of clinical staff; procedure steps; inpatient care; medical therapy; post- implant imaging and follow up.
  • A planning dinner (LEAD: LAAO sponsored) attended by the Device Leader and Access Leader to discuss scheduled WATCHMAN LAAC cases and the Device Leader's treatment access initiative. 
  • Dinner for Access Leader, Device Leader, and relevant host institution staff (i.e., the hospital-based population health team, attendings, trainees, cath lab staff, or research staff). Up to eight people (LEAD: LAAO sponsored).
  • Breakfast educational event led by the Access leader. Up to 15 people (LEAD: LAAO sponsored).
  • (Optional) A Grand Rounds or similar format presentation by the Access Leader
• Creation of treatment access resources/outputs:
  • Presentation on a community-based partnership or treatment access-related topic by the Access leader that can be recorded and shared as a resource on SCAI's website. 
  • Device Leader to identify and complete a project or activity that addresses community-based outreach, treatment access, or health inequities with an observable, pre-defined output that can be shared on SCAI's website within nine to twelve months of fellowship initiation. This may include the results of the HAV-HELP partnership with Boston Scientific.
• Device Leader to complete a virtual review of Access Leader's planned initial cases in the 30 days following the exchange.
• Complete program evaluations via a baseline, 30-day, and six-month questionnaire, and a qualitative interview with program participants.

• Have performed at least 100 lifetime WATCHMAN LAAC implants.   
• Have a high monthly case volume that can support program’s educational components, i.e., able to schedule at least eight WATCHMAN LAAC implants over two consecutive lab days
• Be working under a hospital program that currently participates in the NCDR LAAO Registry

• Have completed at least 15 of the required 25 transseptal punctures through an intact septum at the time of application submission. Boston Scientific’s Access Solutions team can work with applicants to identify training opportunities to complete the minimum 25 transseptal punctures required to be a primary implanter by the time of the exchange
• Have a letter of support from the senior WATCHMAN LAAC implanter at their institution supporting applicant’s WATCHMAN LAAC training
• Willing to complete all Boston Scientific training program requirements in 12 weeks if selected for LEAD: LAAO program
• Meet program requirements in the National Coverage Determination for LAAO 
• Be able to maintain skills by performing >=25 TSPs and >12 LAAOs over each two-year period as per the SCAI/HRS Expert Consensus Statement on Transcatheter LAAO

Please include the following in your application. 

• Device Leader Application Form
• Statement of Intent including: 
  • A description of your personal LAAO experience and related skillsets, educator and/or thought leadership activities, and key features of the quality improvement programs at your institution.  
  • A demonstration of your early efforts to gain greater awareness of unmet needs in your local community (including meetings with local population health leadership, training, reviews of guidelines, or participation in educational seminars, or support for others at similar events). 
• Statement(s) of commitment from your hospital or department leadership to facilitate two visiting physicians/external observerships and support LEAD: LAAO educational activities that share and showcase the Access Leader’s knowledge and expertise at your institution during two separate Access Leaders’ visits.

Please include the following in your application. 

• Access Leader Application Form
• Statement of Intent including: 
  • Describe your current and/or prior work as a community-based outreach or treatment-access champion (include projects, committees, unique focus of previous work or research, past accomplishments or awards, and future goals as a leader in addressing health inequities).  
  • Data establishing your community's needs and describing your interest in addressing access using LAAO (include examples of personal skillsets or experiences that can address the need established for your community).  
  • Describe how you intend to expand LAAO access to underserved patients and communities using LAAO skills (include whether this will lead to greater access, and how). 
  • Explain how your personal or professional background or experience makes you ideally suited to this role, or how this program would personally benefit your career (you may include details of upbringing or personal barriers to advancement; past training or research experiences; location and focus of current hospital). 
  • Detail the leadership roles you have obtained and ongoing or completed projects in these roles in community organizations, local institutions, industry, and/or professional societies. 
• One letter of support from the senior WATCHMAN LAAC implanter at your institution demonstrating support for your WATCHMAN LAAC training and eventual authorization to perform WATCHMAN LAAC procedures at the institution.
• One letter of recommendation, affirming your commitment to expanding your skillsets and supporting your participation in LEAD: LAAO to improve treatment access to underserved patients in your local community.

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LEAD: LAAO will provide support for the following program components: 

• Access Leaders: $5,000 stipend (to acknowledge lost clinical time/use of paid time off or vacation allowance) + reimbursement for travel and accommodations for the two-day exchange at Device Leader’s host institution, per SCAI’s faculty travel policy 
• Educational activities in partnership with Device Leader’s host institution: 
  • Planning dinner for the two leaders
  • Leadership dinner for Access Leader, Device Leader, and host institution leadership (up to eight people) 
  • Breakfast educational event led by the Access Leader with invited fellows, cath lab staff, and/or research staff (up to 15 people)