Cardiology is a medical specialty dealing with disorders of the heart (specifically the human heart). The field includes diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease and electrophysiology. Physicians who specialize in this field of medicine are called cardiologists.

Cardiologists should not be confused with cardiac surgeons, cardiothoracic and cardiovascular, who are surgeons who perform cardiac surgery via sternotomy - open operative procedures on the heart and great vessels.

To become a cardiologist in Malaysia, after those miserable 4-5 years of being House Officers (HO) and Medical Officers (MO), one will pursue further studies under several cardiologists at a particular university hospital. Locals go for UM, UKM, USM etc, overseas opt for MRCP in the UK or American Cardiology Fellowship or its similar Australian counterpart. The course usually takes 3-4 years. During this period of specialization you are called registrar or fellow.

After graduating the cardiology course, passing necessary exams, you’ll have to work at a hospital. Your title is now a senior registrar (read: SR). 5 years of HOMO and 4 years specialization.

Well, that is only senior registrar. They’re specialists, but they are not consultants. To become a consultant, you have to pass certain exams to upgrade oneself to become consultant. SR usually works for several years before eligible for examination to become a consultant.