Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship

Program Overview

Our Program

The General Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship is a comprehensive three-year program designed to provide the skills required for a successful leadership career in both academic and clinical practice. Our state of the art Heart Center under the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute allows us to provide unparalleled clinical training throughout the three years of fellowship and allows for our fellows to leave as the best trained cardiologists in the country. The challenging cases, procedural volume, dedicated faculty, and the academic strength of our fellows ensure that our trainees receive a comprehensive education in all aspects of cardiovascular medicine. The core curriculum is designed to provide a strong clinical foundation in cardiovascular medicine in the first year of training. The second and third year experience builds upon that foundation to enhance the scope of knowledge and skills by allowing more time for dedicated electives, research, and supervisory roles. The structure of our fellowship provides the opportunity for each fellow to tailor their experience to their specific interests and goals.

Research is an integral component of our training program. The majority of fellows graduating the program present at premier national meetings and publish in peer reviewed journals. Our success in research is evident by fellows receiving a variety of research awards and grants on an annual basis. Didactic conferences and research meetings are an integral component of the educational experience. For those interested in enriching their research education during their fellowship, we provide a variety of resources including formal biostatistics courses, advanced degrees (i.e. MPH), and training at our clinical research institute; all of which are supported by our program.

The program meets all requirements of the American Board of Internal Medicine Subspecialty Board of Cardiovascular Diseases. To qualify, you must have completed an internal medicine residency in the United States.

Living in Cleveland

Cleveland is a mid-sized Midwestern city that offers world-class experiences at a low cost of living. The city is home to several of America’s best restaurants, learn more.

Graduate Medical Education

We are delighted to offer you a glimpse of areas around Cleveland Clinic that are of interest to our residents and fellows.

• Take a virtual tour of our campus.

Current Fellows

Learn about the Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship through our current fellows.

1. Why Cleveland Clinic?
2. Culture At Cleveland Clinic
3. The J31 Rotation
4. On Call in J31
5. The Cath Lab
6. Inpatient Rotations
7. Outpatient Clinic
8. Research at Cleveland Clinic
9. Transitioning to Fellowship at Cleveland Clinic
10. First Year Favorites
11. Living in Cleveland Part 1
12. Living in Cleveland Part 2

Third Year Fellows:

	Nijat Aliyev (Nijat), MD Hometown: Baku, Azerbaijan Residency: Duke Medical School: Spencer Fox Eccles School of Medicine at the University of Utah Career goals: Undecided, interested in all things cardiology. Why I chose CCF: I wanted to join a clinically rigorous yet supportive and family-friendly program that would push me outside of my comfort zone and prepare me well for independent practice as an attending cardiologist
	Ali Assi, MD Hometown: Dearborn, Michigan Residency: Brigham and Women's Medical School: University of Michigan Career Goals: iCards vs general Why You Chose CCF: Clinical training and Midwest living
	Osamah Badwan, MD Hometown: Ceiba, Puerto Rico Residency: Cleveland Clinic Medical School: University of Puerto Rico 🇵🇷 Career Goals: Interventional/Structural Cardiology Why You Chose CCF: No matter what career path you choose, you will find outstanding mentors who will support your training and help you become a future leader in that field.
	Lorenzo Braghieri, MD Hometown: Milan Residency: Cleveland Clinic Foundation Medical School: University of Pavia Career Goals: Electrophysiology vs Critical Care Cardiology Why You Chose CCF: The people
	Kimberly Chow, MD Hometown: Dakota Dunes, SD Residency: UPMC Medical School: Northwestern Career goals: General cardiology, imaging, and medical education Why You Chose CCF: The experience and the people Favorite Rotation: J31 as a second-year fellow. I got to integrate everything I've learned in cardiology and apply it to some of the sickest patients in the hospital. What a whirlwind!
	Anna Curtis, MD Hometown: Kansas City, MO Residency: University of Michigan Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City Career Goals: To be an excellent cardiologist! Why You Chose CCF: I chose CCF because of the clinical training, advanced fellowship opportunities, and the people!
	Elise (Ellie) Fraser, MD Hometown: Bloomfield Hills, MI Residency: New York Presbyterian - Cornell Medical School: Columbia Career Goals: I am currently undifferentiated, but I love procedures and action! Why You Chose CCF: The procedural training and J31 experience are unmatched!
	Matthew Jiang (Matt), MD Hometown: Glastonbury, CT Residency: Yale Medical School: Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth Career Goals: EP Why You Chose CCF: For the temperate climate (relative to Dartmouth) and the abundance of procedural experience
	Yash Maniar, MD Hometown: Herndon, Virginia Residency: Johns Hopkins Osler Residency Medical School: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Why I Chose CCF: : I chose CCF for the unparalleled hands-on clinical experience, the remarkable camaraderie between the fellows, and the opportunity to learn from some of the greatest minds in the field. From the moment I've arrived I've been amazed by how warm, welcoming, and supportive the fellowship environment has been
	Aarti Purohit, MD Hometown: grew up all over the place, but have lived in Stephens City, VA the longest! Residency: Osler Medical Residency at Johns Hopkins Medical School: Johns Hopkins Career Goals: still undecided, but likely something in the procedural or critical care realm Why You Chose CCF: it was an incredible fellowship program with a strong focus on clinical training and volume, with emphasis on fellow education and autonomy
	Ashkon (Ash) Rahbari, MD Hometown: Moorpark, California Residency: NYP - Columbia Medical School: Northwestern Career Goals: Learn and practice Electrophysiology Why You Chose CCF: The best clinical training environment.
	Dave Raile, MD Hometown: Minneapolis, MN Residency: Penn Medical School: Rutgers - New Jersey Medical School Career Goals: Interventional/Structural Cardiology Why You Chose CCF: Collegiality amongst fellows, Clinical excellence and volumes, ICU experience (J31)
	Andrew "Drew" Vista, MD Hometown: Cary, NC Residency: Duke University Medical School: Duke University Career Goals: My goal is to pursue a career in cardiac electrophysiology and practice in an academic setting where I can engage in patient care, research, and teaching Why You Chose CCF: I chose CCF because of the opportunities for rigorous clinical training in a collaborative, encouraging work environment with exposure to the latest advances in cardiology
	Eric Warner, MD Hometown: Orlando, Florida Residency: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital Medical School: Jefferson Medical College Career goals: Interventional/Critical Care Why I chose CCF: Extremely hands-on, high-volume clinical training by leaders in every subspecialty. Also, a very nice place to live as a fellow with a great cost of living and lots of outdoor activities

Second Year Fellows:

	Brett C. Austin, MD Hometown: Silvis, IL Residency: Mayo Clinic, Rochester MN Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria Career goals: To be the best cardiologist I can be! I enjoy teaching and hope to stay in academic medicine. I am currently exploring all subspecialties with a growing interest in electrophysiology. Why I chose CCF: CCF cardiology offers an unparalleled depth and breadth of hands-on exposure to all aspects of clinical cardiology while fostering an incredibly collaborative and collegial culture.
	Mark Brahier, MD Hometown: Perrysburg, Ohio Residency: Duke University Hospital Medical School: Georgetown University School of Medicine Career goals: Electrophysiology Why I chose CCF: Cleveland Clinic offered the breadth of training and clinical rigor that I was looking for. The program positions you well for the full spectrum of cardiology, whether that is interest in an academic role, a clinic role, or anything in between. There are brilliant staff and passionate and hard-working co-fellows, so the learning environment is excellent for an important 3-5 years of your training that launches you into your early career as a cardiologist.
	Chris Chew, MD Hometown: Orlando, Florida Residency: Johns Hopkins Medical School: UNC Why I chose CCF: The incredible volume and teaching from the staff and co-fellows.
	Brett Curtis, MD Hometown: Newtown, PA Residency: University of Michigan Medical School: University of Pittsburgh Career goals: Cardiology-Critical Care Why I chose CCF: My decision ultimately came down to two factors: the rigor of training and the program’s culture. Cleveland Clinic offers exposure to cases that are rare even at other major academic centers. The fellowship is thoughtfully structured to ensure fellows gain hands-on experience with these complex patients, while also receiving real-time feedback from senior fellows and faculty. As someone pursuing a career in cardiac critical care, the program’s integration with the J31 CICU was a decisive factor—nearly every aspect of the fellowship intersects with this unit. The procedural volume and cardiogenic shock caseload are unmatched; the numbers you see online are real. What sets the program apart even further is the community. The fellows are supportive and accessible, and the faculty—despite being leaders in the field—are approachable, grounded, and deeply committed to mentorship.
	Naba Farooqui, MD Hometown: Hyderabad, India Residency: Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN Medical School: All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi Career goals: Heart Failure/Critical Care or Interventional/Critical Care Why I chose CCF: The collegiality among fellows, structured didactics.
	Edward (Ed) Gomes, MD Hometown: Suburbs of Philly Residency: Johns Hopkins Medical School: UPenn Career goals: Cardiac Imaging, General Cardiology Why I chose CCF: The fantastic training program with fantastic co-fellows.
	Michael Hendrickson, MD Hometown: Ann Arbor, MI Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital Medical School: University of North Carolina Chapel Hill Career goals: To be an excellent general cardiologist, then subspecialty to be determined  Why I chose CCF: Unmatched clinical training surrounded by outstanding people .
	Pradeep Venkata Kandula, MD Hometown: Edwardsville, Illinois Residency: Cleveland Clinic Foundation Medical School: University of Missouri-Kansas City Why I chose CCF: I loved my time in residency working with the fellows and staff, and chose to train here to become the best cardiologist I can be.
	Liz Kobe, MD Hometown: Westlake, OH Residency: Duke Medical School: Duke Career goals: General cardiology with a focus on imaging and prevention.
	Kate Lang, MD Hometown: Denver, CO Residency: Johns Hopkins Medical School: Case Western Reserve Career goals: Interventional, Critical Care Why I chose CCF: The people, procedural exposure, J31.
	Sarah Myers, MD Hometown: Jamestown, NY Residency: Vanderbilt Medical School: SUNY Upstate Medical University Career goals: I am interested in Critical Care Cardiology Why I chose CCF: Unparalleled clinical training, a comprehensive didactic curriculum and a strong focus on procedural excellence.
	Nick Panagopoulos, MD Hometown: Rio City, Greece Residency: Emory University Medical School: AUT School of Medicine, Greece Career goals: Interventional Cardiology Why I chose CCF: Fantastic co-fellows, excellent mentors. CCF cardiology is a hub of cardiovascular excellence and innovation.
	Ryan Searcy, MD Hometown: Raleigh, NC Residency: UNC Medical School: UNC Why I chose CCF: World-class training alongside excellent clinician educators and colleagues who go out of their way to help you succeed. I have 100% confidence that CCF will make me the best cardiologist I can be regardless of which direction I choose to go with my career.
	Chris Sefton, MD Hometown: Cincinnati, OH Residency: Cleveland Clinic Foundation Medical School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

First Year Fellows:

	Rohan P. Bajaj, MD, MBA Hometown: Vancouver, Canada Residency: Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Mass General Brigham Medical School: Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Career goals: Intersection of critical care cardiology and healthcare innovation Why I chose CCF: My interest in healthtech and innovation within cardiac critical care made Cleveland Clinic a natural fit. The clinical rigor here sharpens my skills as a cardiologist and surfaces new frontline problems, while the institution's forward-thinking culture and the cardiology program's strong support give me room to keep building on the technologies I've already developed, improving patient safety, reducing frontline staff burden, and increasing health system operational efficiency.
	Paige Coughlin Hometown: Cleveland, OH Residency: Washington University in St. Louis Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine Career goals: Interventional Why I chose CCF: The clinical rigor and procedural volume are what drew me here. Since arriving, I have been continuously impressed by the collegiality among the staff and fellows. Everyone is so willing to teach and learn, regardless of their level of expertise. Here, you are able to receive excellent training in every aspect of cardiology.
	Abdallah Elshafeey Hometown: Cairo, Egypt Residency: Johns Hopkins Osler Medical Residency Medical School: Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar Career goals:Undifferentiated but likely something procedural based, and mhealth/AI in parallel Why I chose CCF: The unmatched clinical rigor and autonomy, the clear sense of camaraderie amongst fellows, and the institute's commitment to being on the cutting edge of every aspect of cardiovascular care are just a few of the countless reasons. I knew this would be the best place to learn how to become the best clinical cardiologist I can be, while slowly carving out my niche and exploring my interests in parallel.
	Alessio Gasperetti Hometown: Milan, Italy Residency: Johns Hopkins Osler Medical Residency Medical School: Universita’ degli Studi di Milano – Italy Career goals: Cardiac Electrophysiology Why I chose CCF:  I chose this program for the large amount of cases with complex CV pathologies that are managed directly by fellows and for the unique hands-on procedural training that CCF offers. The peer-to-peer support and mentorship is truly great and the camaraderie building that this program allows to build appeared unique during the interview trail.
	Alexandra Mansour Hometown: Lake Orion, MI Residency: Johns Hopkins Osler Medical Residency Medical School: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Career goals: Heart Failure and Critical Care, but look forward to exploring all subspecialties Why I chose CCF:  I chose CCF for to the unapparelled clinical training, autonomy, and exposure to a breadth of cardiac pathology that will prepare me to become the best cardiologist I can be for my patients. The procedural training and case complexity seen in the J31 CICU particularly drew me to the program. More importantly, the fellows and staff are incredibly kind, collegial and genuinely interested in helping us achieve our career goals.
	Issam Motairek Hometown: Tyre, Lebanon Residency: Cleveland Clinic Medical School: Lebanese American University Career goals: Still exploring. Check back in a couple of years. Why I chose CCF: After completing my internal medicine residency here, I knew I wanted to stay. The training is outstanding, with incredible clinical volume, diverse pathology, procedural experience, and mentorship. But more than anything, it was the people who made the decision an easy one.
	Thomas O'Neill Hometown: Cleveland, OH Residency: Case Western Medical School:  Case Western Career goals: EP? Heart Failure? Why I chose CCF:  The Second Look weekend made clear that the Clinic offers both the best general cardiology clinical training in the country while maintaining an extremely collegial and supportive culture. I was particularly impressed by the breadth and depth of clinical exposure, the commitment to mentorship, and the shared dedication to excellence that makes the program the perfect place to train!
	Akiva Rosenzveig Hometown: New Rochelle, NY Residency: Cleveland Clinic Medical School: New York Medical College Career goals: Interventional Cardiology Why I chose CCF:  As a resident, I saw firsthand the breadth of cardiovascular pathology and autonomy and extensive clinical and procedural skills the fellows were equipped with. I really appreciated the focus on becoming excellent cardiologists. The exposure to state-of-the-art innovations in cardiology is also unique. With all the outstanding training, it has also been amazing to see and experience the camaraderie amongst the fellows. The support isn't limited to co-fellows within the same class. Everyone, regardless of training year, is approachable and genuinely invested in helping each other succeed.
	Raafat Sadeq, MD Hometown: Jacksonville, FL Residency: Duke University Medical School: Florida State University College of Medicine Why I chose CCF: I chose Cleveland Clinic for its robust clinical training, which will prepare me to practice confidently in any clinical setting. The breadth of pathology and exposure to outstanding faculty provide an exceptional learning experience. Just as important, I was drawn to the collegial culture, where collaboration, mentorship, and a shared commitment to excellence create an ideal environment for both professional and personal growth.
	Panagiotis Sarris-Michopoulos Hometown: Athens, Greece Residency: Emory Medical School: University of Miami Career goals: I am between Interventional, Imaging or Crit Care Why I chose CCF:  During the interview day I got the sense that there is incredible camaraderie between fellows, and everyone holds each other to a very high standard. This leads to a learning environment where attendings are more than happy to work with fellows and treat their fellows as colleagues. I also felt like this program is a place where hard work and curiosity are rewarded but at the same time it is meant to be through a collaborative environment. For these cultural reasons, in combination with the volume and diverse pathology seen at CCF, I felt it would make me the best cardiologist I can be.
	Nicholas Smith Hometown: New York, NY Residency: Penn Medical School: Harvard Career goals: Exploring many options but hoping to balance clinical cardiology with health care delivery innovation Why I chose CCF:  I was truly blown away by the interview day. The unparalleled clinical and hands-on procedural training, exposure to extraordinarily diverse pathology, dedication of the faculty, superb didactic curriculum, and the warmth and camaraderie shared by the fellows drew me to this program.
	Michael Swett Hometown: Kansas City, KS (I also consider DC home!) Residency:Georgetown University Medical School:Georgetown University Career goals:Undifferentiated but likely procedural or critical care Why I chose CCF: CCF has an unparalleled fellowship clinical exposure with a high volume of sick cardiac patients. I wanted to be in a fellowship environment dedicated to training the best possible clinical cardiologists, and I found that within CCF. The high procedural volume, development of technical skills, and early autonomy is simply a bonus. Since I have joined CCF, I have been given the warmest welcome. The fellowship has a collegial and collaborative vibe, especially with all the fellows being in the same office (honestly an absolute highlight of the program). I could not imagine training anywhere else!
	Rachel Swier Hometown: Greensboro, NC Residency:UCLA Medical School:UNC Career goals:Trying to become a solid, well-rounded cardiologist first, then maybe crit care or advanced heart failure? Why I chose CCF: The clinical rigor and unparalleled CICU experience (J31), the warm camaraderie between the fellows, the cubicles
	Nicholas Talbot Hometown: Cincinnati, OH Residency:UT Southwestern Medical School:The Ohio State University Career goals:still exploring, but leaning towards critical care Why I chose CCF: The combination of the culture and clinical training. The learning opportunities, clinical and procedural volume, autonomy, and depth and breadth of experiences are unparallelled – all of which converges in the J31 CICU. Equally important, though, is the culture. The faculty and fellows here are great people first, who also happen to be exceptional clinicians, researchers, and teachers. Everyone is invested in our success and takes their roles as teachers/mentors seriously, and the program is thoughtfully designed to challenge us to be our very best. The culture is very social and collaborative, too – especially with all of us sitting in the same office, one of my favorite parts of the program!

Alumni

2025 Graduating Fellows:

Abboud, Andrew – Cleveland Clinic Electrophysiology Fellowship
Bansal, Agam – Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship
Chapman, Brittany – Cleveland Clinic Heart Failure and Transplant Fellowship
Chen, Vincent – Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship
Covington, Megan – Cleveland Clinic Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellowship
Duran Crane, Alejandro – Cleveland Clinic Electrophysiology Fellowship
Farwati, Medhat - Cleveland Clinic Electrophysiology Fellowship
Haouzi, Alice – Brigham & Woman's Boston - Cardiac Imaging
Keane, Ryan – Cleveland Clinic Critical Care Fellowship
Kelly, Samuel – University Hospitals, Cleveland - Heart Failure and Transplant Fellowship
Mantha, Aditya – Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship
Nandan, Anirudh – Northwestern, Chicago, Electrophysiology Fellowship
Whitehead, Evan – Cleveland Clinic Interventional Cardiology
Zeis, Tessa – Cleveland Clinic Heart Failure and Transplant Fellowship

2024 Graduating Fellows:

Abbasi, Mohammad – Cleveland Clinic Electrophysiology Fellowship
Das, Thomas – Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship
Derakhshan, Arsalan – Cleveland Clinic Electrophysiology Fellowship
Dugan, Eunice – Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship
Dunn, Robert – Cleveland Clinic Electrophysiology Fellowship
Harmon, Evan – Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship
Katzianer, David  - Cleveland Clinic Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Fellowship
Kaur, Simrat – Cleveland Clinic Imaging Fellowship
Massad, Christopher – Faculty Staff Member at Piedmont Heart, Atlanta, GA
Mehra, Nandini – Cleveland Clinic Adult Congenital Fellowship
Simkowski, Julia – Cleveland Clinic Heart Failure and Transplant Fellowship
Singh, Abhayjit – Faculty Staff Member at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
Wei, Trent – Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship
Zmaili, Mohammad – Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute Cardiology Fellowship

2023 Graduating Fellows:

Abadie, Bryan – Cleveland Clinic Imaging Fellowship
Ali, Ambreen – Staff Faculty Member at Hackensack Meridian Health, Hackensack, NJ
Bakhtadze, Beka – Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship
Brooksbank, Jeremy – Cleveland Clinic Heart Failure and Transplant Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Centennial Heart, Nashville, TN
Dong, Tiffany – Cleveland Clinic Imaging Fellowship
Goff, Zackary – Cleveland Clinic Imaging Fellowship
Kamp, Nicholas – Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship
LaCombe, Andrew – Cleveland Clinic Electrophysiology Fellowship
Ogunnowo, Gregory – Yale Interventional Cardiology Fellowship
Parizher, Gary – Cleveland Clinic Imaging Fellowship
Prasada, Sameer – Duke Interventional Cardiology Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at UNC Health, Chapel Hill, NC
Vajapey, Ramya – Stanford Electrophysiology Fellowship
Zheng, Weili – Northwestern Interventional Cardiology Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Zinoviev, Radi – UCLA Interventional Cardiology Fellowship

2022 Graduating Fellows

Aguilera, Jose – Cleveland Clinic Electrophysiology Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Saint Luke’s Health System, Kansas City, MO
Alencherry, Ben – Cleveland Clinic Imaging Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
Brophy, Todd – Faculty Staff Member at Mercer Health, Mercer County, OH
Cohen, Joshua – Cleveland Clinic Imaging Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Sentara Health, Virginia Beach, VA
Howard, Travis – Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at NCH Healthcare System, Naples, FL
Hutt, Erika – Cleveland Clinic Imaging Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Saint Luke’s Health System, Kansas City, MO
Kiang, Alan – Cleveland Clinic Electrophysiology Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Kaiser Permanente, Santa Clara, CA
Laczay, Balint – Cleveland Clinic Electrophysiology Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
Parikh, Parth – Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Sentara Health, Virginia Beach, VA
Parker, Joshua – Cleveland Clinic Electrophysiology Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Cone Health, Greensboro, NC
Prestera, Nicole – University of Washington Interventional Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Duke, Durham, NC
Sabbak, Nabil – Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Wellstar Health System, Marietta, GA
Sheng, Calvin – Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Franciscan Health, Indianapolis, IN

 2021 Graduating Fellows

Abdur Rehman, Karim – Cleveland Clinic, Staff South Point Hospital
Alkarabsheh, Saqer – Cleveland Clinic Electrophysiology Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Premier Health, Dayton, OH
Denby, Kara - Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Saint Alphonsus Medical Group, Boise, ID
Goyal, Amit - Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
Il’Giovine, Zachary - Cleveland Clinic Heart Failure Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Centennial Heart, Nashville, TN
Kochar, Arshneel - Cleveland Clinic Electrophysiology Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
Martyn, Tre - Cleveland Clinic Heart Failure Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, OH
Montgomery, Robert - Cleveland Clinic Heart Failure Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at
Riggs, Jennifer – Massachusetts General Hospital, Interventional Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Midwest Heart & Vascular Specialists in Kansas City, Kansas City, MO
Saef, Joshua – University of Pennsylvania, Adult Congenital Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Memorial Healthcare System, Hollywood, FL
Spilias, Nikolaos - Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at University of Miami, Miami, FL
Szpakowski, Natalie – University of Ottawa, Imaging Fellowship
Wilner, Bryan - Cleveland Clinic Electrophysiology Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Baptist Health, Kendall, FL
Zorach, Benjamin - Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Southcoast Health, Fall River, MA

2020 Graduating Fellows

Donnellan, Eoin - Cleveland Clinic Electrophysiology Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Cardiovascular Institute of the South (CIS), Lafayette, LA
Hedley, Jeffrey - Cleveland Clinic Electrophysiology Fellowship Followed by Faculty Staff Member at Sentara Health, Virginia Beach, VA
Henderson, Grant - Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Intermountain Health, Grand Junction, CO
Hu, Peter – Staff Physician - Intermountain Heart Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah
Kumar, Anirudh – Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Northwestern Medicine, Chicago, IL
Nemer, David - Cleveland Clinic Electrophysiology Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at OhioHealth Physician Group, Columbus, OH
Patel, Divyang - Cleveland Clinic Electrophysiology Fellowship followed by Faculty Staff Member at Sentara Health, Virginia Beach, VA
Riaz, Haris – Interventional Fellowship, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA followed Faculty Staff Member at Citizens Memorial Hospital, Bolivar, MO                       
Sharalaya, Zarina - Cleveland Clinic Interventional Fellowship followed by Staff Member at North Texas Heart Center, Frisco, TX
Telukuntla, Kartik – Faculty Staff Member, North Texas Heart Center, Dallas, TX (Heart Failure & Transplantation)
Young, Laura – Staff Member Cleveland Clinic Interventional Cardiology  

2019 Graduating Fellows

Bhat, Pavan – Faculty Staff Member - Cleveland Clinic (Heart Failure & Transplantation)
Bock, Ashley – Practice, Centennial Heart & Vascular Center, Nashville, TN
Borges, Nyal – Faculty Staff Member, Atrium Health Sanger Heart & Vascular Institute, Charlotte, NC (Interventional Cardiology)
Grimaldi, Adam – Faculty, St Alphonsus Hospital, Boise, ID (Electrophysiology)
Hansen, Jonathan – Practice, Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, Spokane, WA
Higgins, Andrew – Faculty Staff Member – Cleveland Clinic (Heart Failure & Transplantation & Critical Care)
Koeth, Robert – Faculty Staff Member - Cleveland Clinic (Electrophysiology)
Lambert, Cameron – Faculty Member, Moses Cone Memorial Hospital, Greensboro, NC (Electrophysiology)
Mani, Preethi – Faculty Staff Member – University Texas Southwestern (Advanced Imaging)
Meredith, Dane – Practice, Asheville Cardiology Associates, Asheville, NC (Advanced Imaging)
Nakhla, Shady – Faculty Staff Member - Cleveland Clinic (Electrophysiology)
Noll, Andrew – Practice, The Christ Hospital, Cincinnati, OH (Electrophysiology)
Schenone, Aldo- Faculty Staff Member, Montefiore Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, New York, NY (Advanced Imaging)
Shah, Nishant – Faculty Staff Member, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC (Preventative Cardiology)

Rotations

Conferences and Education

Our program strives to provide the best educational opportunities for fellows training in cardiovascular medicine. As such, we have outlined the following specific educational goals of the program:

1. Provide outstanding training in all aspects of current clinical cardiology.
2. Teach evidence based approaches to diagnosis and management of cardiovascular disease.
3. Provide an environment of continuous life long learning.
4. Ensure a commitment to scholarship either in the basic or clinical sciences for fellows and faculty.
5. Allow for a caring and compassionate environment for patients, fellows, faculty, and their families.
6. Sponsor excellence in delivery of care, educational methodology, and mentored research.
7. Attract and nurture the future leadership of cardiovascular medicine.

Our noon conference schedule for general fellows is an 18-month rotating curriculum that covers a wide range of topics within cardiovascular medicine. This allows for our fellows to be well prepared for clinical practice and sit for national board exams.

• Cardiology Conference Series Curriculum
• Heart, Vascular and Thoracic Institute Educational Programs
• HVTI Live Events - Continuing Education.
• Tall Rounds® - Enduring Online Education.
• Cardiac Consult Podcast

Research and Outcomes

Each of our fellows completes a scholarly project during their time in the fellowship. Funding for conference attendance and travel is provided for those accepted as a first author presenter. Each spring, a guest speaker is invited to judge the Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship Research Day, where our third year fellows present their work.

Cleveland Clinic Coordinating Center for Clinical Research is Cleveland Clinic's academic coordinating center providing an academic focus to the design, planning and management of clinical trials.

Clinical Research Trials help us create the medicine of tomorrow. They provide hope through offering testing of new drugs, new surgical techniques or other treatments before they are widely available.

Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute Outcomes and Statistics, a comprehensive overview of outcomes from across the Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute: cardiovascular and thoracic procedure volumes and outcomes,

Fellowship Accomplishments

• View Fellows Publications
• View Fellows Awards
• View Past Fellows and "Where Are They Now"

Application Process

We participate in the NRMP match. All applicants must apply through the ERAS website. We do not accept any applicants not participating in the match. All applicants must have completed an internal medicine residency program within the United States.

Tomsich Family Department of Cardiovascular Medicine Contact Information

Core Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program

Georgann Yonkers
Cardiology Education Coordinator
216.444.3925

Venu Menon, MD
Program Director Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship
216.445.5390

Subspecialty Programs 

Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Margaret Fuchs, MD
Program Director, ACHD
Georgann Yonkers
216.444.3925

Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program
Grant Reed, MD, MSc
Program Director, Interventional Cardiology
Millie Cuevas
216.636.6932

Heart Failure Transplantation
Miriam Jacob, MD
Program Director Heart Failure Transplantation
Millie Cuevas
216.636.6932

Electrophysiology and Pacing
Bryan Baranowski
Program Director, Electrophysiology and Pacing
Millie Cuevas
216.636.6932

Cardiac Imaging
Leonardo Rodriguez, MD
Program Director, Cardiac Imaging
Millie Cuevas
216.636.6932

Vascular Medicine
Deborah Hornacek
Program Director, Vascular Medicine
Claire Miller
216.444.6720

For a Tomsich Family Department of Cardiovascular Medicine fellowship application, contact

• ERAS® — the Electronic Residency Application Service

Deadline for application is August 1.

For All Subspecialty applications contact the appropriate Program Directors.

Fellowship Wellness

Mentorship

In the second year of fellowship, you will choose one faculty member who will become your ‘clinic mentor’. Throughout the next two years you will attend clinic weekly with your mentor for learning, continuity of care with their patient cohort, and mentorship. Many fellows have enduring relationships with their clinic mentor, in addition to mentor-mentee relationships formed through research and other clinical activities.

Wellness and Professional Development

Our fellows are supported by wellness initiatives both within the department, the GME office, and the Cleveland Clinic Employee Wellness office. As a trainee at the Cleveland Clinic, you will have free access to the on campus gym (Walker | employeewellness (ccemployeewellness.com), and the House staff work out room. Hospital wide programming under the office of Caregiver Well-Being offers classes, meditation, and financial counseling, in addition to the Caring for Caregivers program which offers mental health resources and quickly available counseling. The GME office has developed an app (internally available) for quick access to Wellness resources.

• View highlights of some of the available programming.

Life in Cleveland

Our fellows get together at a variety of social events, both program sponsored and in the greater Cleveland community. Our program features an annual golf outing and family day at the Cleveland Zoo. Our fellows participate in Velosano, a Cleveland Clinic sponsored bicycle race for cancer fundraising and awareness.

Women in Cardiology

We have a large and supportive community of female cardiologists with Dr Christine Jellis (Imaging staff) and Dr Tiffany Dong (cardiology fellow) serving as group spokeswomen. Our group has quarterly events including casual events to get to know our female faculty better, and more formal events like the recent Women in Cardiology recruiting event sponsored by the local Ohio chapter of the ACC that was attended by medical students, trainees, and attendings from across Northeast Ohio.