LEED: LAAO

• Attend the LEED: LAAO Fellowship kick-off call, which will take place in early February 2025
• Complete unconscious (or implicit) bias training - recommended for all participants who have not completed training within the past two years.
• LAAO Leaders' institution - host a two-day exchange for each DEI Leader. The first exchange should occur by May 31, 2025, 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 LAAO Leader for DEI Leader, with three to five WATCHMAN LAAC implants scheduled per day (goal 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 attended by the DEI and LAAO Leaders to discuss scheduled WATCHMAN LAAC cases and the LAAO Leader's health disparities project proposal.
  • Medical Grand Rounds (or equivalent) presentation by the DEI Leader 
  • Leadership dinner for DEI Leader, LAAO Leader, and host DEI (e.g., chief diversity officer or population health leader), hospital (e.g., CMO, CEO), and SHD leaders (e.g., cath lab director, chief of cardiology). Up to eight people.
  • Breakfast educational event led by the DEI leader with invited fellows, cath lab staff and/or research staff. Up to 15 people.
• Creation of DEI resources/outputs:
  • Grand Rounds presentation on a DEI or health equity-related topic by the DEI Leader that can be recorded and shared as a DEI resource on SCAI's website. 
  • LAAO Leader to identify and complete a project or activity that addresses health inequities/disparities with an observable, pre-defined output that can be shared on SCAI's website within nine to twelve months of fellowship initiation.
• LAAO Leader to complete a virtual review of DEI 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 confirmed with Boston Scientific that they are eligible for the WATCHMAN LAAC training program and be willing to complete all Boston Scientific training program requirements in 12 weeks if selected for LEED: 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. Applications will be evaluated using these criteria. 

• DEI Leader Application Form
• Statement of Intent: 
  • Describe your work as a DEI champion and prior work in DEI (include projects, committees, unique focus of previous work or research, past accomplishments or awards, and future goals in DEI leadership).
  • Data establishing your community's needs and describing your interest in addressing disparities 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 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.
  • Describe key features of the quality improvement program at your institution.
• At least two letters of support, at least one of which must demonstrate support for new or additional LAAO programs and expanding access to underserved communities.

Please include the following in your application. Applications will be evaluated using these criteria. 

• LAAO Leader Application Form
• Statement of commitment from your hospital for visiting physicians/external observers. 
• Statement of support from the DEI leadership at your hospital (e.g., chief diversity officer, director of health equity/population health/community outreach) to partnering in the LEED: LAAO program and committing their support to educational activities that share and showcase the DEI Leader's knowledge and expertise at your institution during two separate DEI Leaders' visits. 
• 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 early pre-engagement meetings with local DEI leadership, training, reviews of guidelines or participation in educational seminars, or support for others at DEI events).
• Letter of recommendation from a peer or learner regarding your teaching skill sets and demonstrating how your activities support inclusion and belonging in the workplace. (Optional)

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

• DEI Leaders: $5,000 stipend + reimbursement for travel and accommodations for the two-day exchange at LAAO Leader’s host institution, per SCAI’s faculty travel policy 
• Educational activities in partnership with LAAO Leader’s host institution: 
  • Planning dinner for LAAO Leader and DEI Leader 
  • Leadership dinner for DEI Leader, LAAO Leader, and host institution leadership (up to eight people) 
  • Breakfast educational event led by the DEI Leader with invited fellows, cath lab staff, and/or research staff (up to 15 people)