Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship

Roanoke is a city of 100,000 and metropolitan area of over 300,000 that lies in southwest Virginia between the Appalachian mountains to the West and the Blue Ridge Mountains to the East. It is a scenically beautiful part of Virginia with mountain views all around and ample opportunities for cultural and recreational activity. It is nicknamed the Star City for the neon illuminated free standing star constructed in 1949 and overlooks the city from the top of Mill Mountain. Roanoke is the economic and cultural center of southwest Virginia. The downtown has many ethnic restaurants including in the historic City Market building; a weekly farmers' market; several museums including the Taubman Museum of Art, the O. Winston Link museum and the Virginia Museum of Transportation; and the Mill Mountain Zoo. The Berglund Center convention center hosts concerts, Broadway performances and the Miss Virginia Pageant. Several theaters perform live plays and downtown hosts Opera Roanoke and the Roanoke Symphony Orchestra. The region has four seasons with long summers and relatively mild winters. Summertime is filled with almost weekly ethnic and food festivals. Roanoke has a relaxed and friendly atmosphere with easy travel around town and affordable housing. There are many outdoor opportunities, including a paved greenway that interconnects the city and is perfect for walking, jogging and biking. For the more adventurous, there is world-class hiking nearby, with quick access to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Appalachian Trail.