James Colgate

I am 67 year old Cath lab tech.I would like to work in our industry another 3 years before I retire . I have been in Cath lab for 24 years now .I worked with the incomparable Dr.John Douglas at Emory University hospital for 12.5 years. Emory was where Andreas Gruentzig worked and  he and Dr. Douglas and others taught the world our job.I also did 7 years structural heart under Dr. Vasilis Babaliaros and Dr Peter Block .Emory did peripheral and congenital heart program heart transplant and an extensive heart failure program ,  we saw a lot of RHC and floated a lot of swans.I later went to Piedmont Eastside Medical Cennter by my home due to the insane Atlanta commute.A small hospital that did minimal angioplasty and diagnostic stuff.

RCIS,ACLS,CPR…………………

Emory cath lab

Piedmont cath lab

My actual college education is in Emergency medicine .I. was a Paramedic for 20 years before becoming a CVT in 2002 where Emory trained me on the job. In 2011 it became mandatory for technologist to be RCIS certified. CCI allowed any tech who had been in the cath lab full time for 7 years sit the exam.So Cardiovascular Credentialing Internationational provided the same study material the universities used and we studied it for 8 months took the exam and I passed in the upper 95% in all categories.