Program Overview

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Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship Program

General Information

The Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship Program is designed to provide comprehensive training in cardiovascular medicine. The program includes training sites, facilities, and resources, as well as hallmarks of excellence, conference schedules, summer core curriculum, annual rotation schedules, simulation training, and scholarly activity.

Training Sites

• New Jersey Medical School
• Medical Science Building, Room I-538
• 185 South Orange Avenue
• Newark, NJ 07103

Facilities and Resources

The program offers state-of-the-art facilities and resources, including:

• Advanced cardiac imaging and non-invasive cardiology
• Interventional cardiology and cardiac catheterization
• Electrophysiology and arrhythmia management
• Heart failure and cardiac transplantation
• Cardiovascular surgery and vascular medicine

Hallmarks of Excellence

The program is committed to excellence in:

• Clinical care and patient outcomes
• Research and scholarly activity
• Education and training
• Quality improvement and patient safety

Conference Schedule

The program includes a comprehensive conference schedule, featuring:

• Weekly cardiology grand rounds
• Monthly journal clubs and research seminars
• Quarterly morbidity and mortality conferences
• Annual cardiovascular medicine symposium

Summer Core Curriculum

The summer core curriculum includes:

• Cardiovascular physiology and pathophysiology
• Cardiovascular pharmacology and therapeutics
• Cardiovascular imaging and diagnostics
• Cardiovascular disease prevention and management

Annual Rotation Schedule

The annual rotation schedule includes:

• Cardiology consult service
• Cardiac catheterization and interventional cardiology
• Electrophysiology and arrhythmia management
• Heart failure and cardiac transplantation
• Cardiovascular surgery and vascular medicine

Simulation Training

The program includes simulation training in:

• Cardiac catheterization and interventional cardiology
• Electrophysiology and arrhythmia management
• Heart failure and cardiac transplantation
• Cardiovascular surgery and vascular medicine

Scholarly Activity

The program encourages scholarly activity, including:

• Research projects and publications
• Presentations at national and international conferences
• Participation in clinical trials and research studies

Current Fellows

The program currently has a diverse group of fellows, including:

• Felix Afriye, MD
• Afif Hossain, MD
• Joseph Dzierzawiec, MD
• Amanda Naaraayan, MD
• Matthew Fanous, MD
• Keneil Shah, MD
• Baoqiong Liu, MD

Fellow Graduates

The program has a strong track record of placing graduates in:

• Academic and research positions
• Private practice and clinical leadership roles
• Fellowship programs and advanced training

Graduates by Year

2025

• Felix Afriye, MD: Private Practice, Novant Health - North Carolina
• Afif Hossain, MD: Interventional Cardiology Fellow, University of California Los Angeles
• Joseph Dzierzawiec, MD: Assistant Professor of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University Hospital
• Amanda Naaraayan, MD: Private Practice, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
• Matthew Fanous, MD: Private Practice, White Plains Hospital Group
• Keneil Shah, MD: Private Practice, Virtua NJ
• Baoqiong Liu, MD: Imaging, NJMS Imaging Fellowship, Advent Health Winter Park, FL

2024

• Michael Silverman, MD: Private Practice, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
• Amtul Mansoor, MD: Private Practice, Richmond Hill, NY

2023

• Shin, Jaewook, MD: Electrophysiology, UTHealth Houston, Assistant Professor, McGovern Medical School UTHealth Houston
• Singh, Inderjit, MD: Interventional Cardiology, Albert Einstein; Vascular & Endovascular, Massachusetts General Hospital, Shore Heart Group, Manahawkin, NJ
• Michel Sanchez, Pablo, MD: Private Practice, Kootenai Health, Idaho
• Wengrofsky, Perry, MD: Advanced Imaging, Morristown NJ, Director of Structural/Interventional Echocardiography at Hackensack University Medical Center

2022

• Uzair Ashraf, MD: Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh
• Parul Kakar, MD: Interventional Fellowship, Hackensack University Medical Center, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center
• Mohamad Soud, MD: Interventional Fellowship, New York University, RWJBH - Robert Wood University Hospital

2021

• Aishwarya Bhardwaj, MD: Attending- Noninvasive Cardiology, University of Rochester, NY
• Vitaly Buza, MD: Attending- Noninvasive Cardiology, Great Plains Health System, Nebraska
• Anthony Lucev, MD: Attending- Noninvasive Cardiology, New Jersey, Clinical Assistant Professor, Rutgers NJMS, East Orange VA Hospital
• Brijesh Rajeshkumar Patel, MD: Attending- Noninvasive Cardiology, St. Joseph’s University Medical Center, Paterson, NJ
• Anoshia Raza, MD: Interventional Cardiology Fellowship, Hackensack University Medical Center, St. Mary's General Hospital · Passaic, NJ

2020

• Monali Shah, DO: Assistant Professor of Medicine, Temple University, PA, Temple University Hospital - Jeanes Campus · Philadelphia, PA
• Renjit Thomas, MD: Attending - Noninvasive Cardiology, East Orange Veterans Hospital, Clinical Assistant Professor, Rutgers NJMS, East Orange VA Hospital

2019

• Ahmad Alkhalil, MD: Interventional Cardiology Fellowship, Montefiore Medical Center, New York, NY, Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Director, Stony Brook University, Northport VA Catheterization Laboratory
• Shervin Golbari, MD: Attending - Noninvasive Cardiology, Mount Sinai Long Island Heart, New York, NY
• Shashank Jain, MD: Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, University Hospitals, Cleveland Ohio

2018

• Farhan Bajwa, MD: Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Fellowship, Detroit, MI, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Rochester, NY
• Sajid Mirza, MD: Advanced Heart Failure Fellowship, Pittsburgh, PA, HCA Florida Heart and Vascular Care - JFKAtlantis, FL
• Geurys Rojas Marte, MD: Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantation Fellowship, University of Florida, FL, Director of the Advanced HF and Pulmonary Hypertension Programs at Deborah Heart and Lung Center
• Adebayo Olusanya, MD: Cardiology Attending, El Paso, TX, Las Palmas Del Sol, El Paso TX

2017

• Osama (Tariq) Niazi, DO: Advanced Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship, New York University, New York, NY, Private Practice Tri-County Cardiology Mesa Arizona
• Menhel Kinno, MD: Cardiac Imaging Fellowship, Northwestern, Chicago, Illinois, Director of Advanced Cardiac Imaging, Rush Universoty Medical Center, Chicago, IL
• Ra'ad Tashman, MD: Invasive Cardiology Attending, Kaiser Permanente System, Sacramento, California

2016

• Venkata Boppana, MD: Interventional Cardiology Fellowhip, St. Louis University, Missouri, Heartland Cardiology, Andover Kansas
• Saurabh Kapoor, MD: Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Fellowship, Newark Beth Israel Center (Barnabas Health), Newark Beth Israel Center (Barnabas Health)
• Fatima Samad, MD: Cardiac Imaging Fellowship, Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Assistant Professor University of Missouri- Columbia

2015

• Adam Raskin, MD: Interventional Cardiology Fellowship, Hackensack University Medical Center, NJ, Mercy Health, Fairfield, OH
• Hayder Hashim, MD: Interventional Cardiology Fellowship, Albert Einstein School of Medicine/Montefiore Medical Center, NY, Faculty: Medstart Health, Washington Hospital
• Ifad Rahman, MD: Private Practice, Virginia, Medical Director Advance cardiac imaging and Non invasive cardiology, UNC Health Chapel Hill, NC
• Nandan Thirunahari, MD: Private Practice, New Jersey, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, Atlantic City

2014

• Christopher DiGiorgio, MD: Private Practice, Glen Ridge, New Jersey
• Puneet Ghayal, MD: Non invasive cardiologist, University Medical Center of Princeton, NJ, Kaise Permanente, Oregon, CA
• Atish Mathur, MD: Interventional Cardiology Fellowship, Hackensack University Medical Center, NJ, Ohio Health, Mansfield OH

2013

• Eyad Alhaj, MD: Private Practice, New York, Private Practice Ascencion, Il
• Oussama Lawand, MD: Electrophysiology Fellowship, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Cheyenne, Regional Cheyenne, Wyoming
• Wojciech Rudzinski, MD: Faculty Appointment, Guthrie Clinic, PA, Clinical Assistant Professor Medicine, Chair Division of Cardiology East Orange VA Hospital

2012

• Rajiv Patel, DO: Attending, Hackensack University Medical Center, NJ, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Hackensack University Medical School
• Arthur Rusovici, MD: Interventional Cardiology Fellowship, St. Lukes Roosevelt, Private Practice: NYU Langone South Shore Heart, Rockville Centre, NY
• Santosh Varkey, MD: Electrophysiology Fellowship, Boston Medical Center, Piedmont Augusta Georgia
• Alfonso Waller, MD: Imaging Fellowship, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Professor and Division Chief Rutgers New Jersey Medical School

2011

• Dan Tsyvine, MD: Interventional Fellowship, NBIMC, Newark, NJ, St Lukes Health, Sellersville, PA
• Michael Kasper, MD: Private Practice, New Jersey, Saddle River Medical Group, NJ
• Aarti Patel, MD: EP Fellowship, New York Methodist, Garden State Heart, Englishtown NJ

2010

• Brijesh Patel, MD: Faculty Appointment, Louisiana State University, HeartPlace, Dallas Tx
• Victor Mazza, MD: EP Fellowship, Temple University, All Health Medical, Hasbrouch Heights, NJ
• Monica Sanchez-Ross, MD: Private Practice, Texas, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

2009

• James Maher, MD: Faculty Appointment, UMDNJ-NJMS, Carolina Cardiology Associates, Rock Hill, SC
• Pallavi Solanki, MD: Heart Failure Fellowship, Columbia University, Associate Professor of Medicine Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
• David Sedaghat, MD: Private Practice, Long Island Area, North Shore University Hospital Manhasset, NY

2008

• Bernard Kim, MD: Heart Failure, Hackensack University Medical Center
• Steve Tsai, MD: Faculty Appointment, EO VA Medical Center, Clinical Associate Professor Penn State Health, Hershey PA
• Ramzan Zakir, MD: Interventional Fellowship, NBIMC, Newark, NJ, Clinical Assistant Professor Of Medicine Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital

2007

• Samir Ahuja, MD: Interventional Fellowship, Arizona, Cardiology Associates of Frederick, MD
• Ather Anis, MD: Interventional Fellowship, Boston University, Inova Loudoun Hospital, Leesburg, VA
• Vivek Dhruva, DO: Private Practice, Maryland, Chair, Dept of Medicine University of Medicine of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health
• Jesus Mendiolaza, MD: Private Practice, Florida, Gulf Coast Medical Center, Fort Myers FL

2006

• Jason Levine, MD: Interventional Fellowship, Maryland, St. Anthony's Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL
• David Manela, MD: EP Fellowship, Stanford, Kaiser Permanente, Los Angeles, CA

2005

• Amir Choudry, MD: Private Practice, Texas, Hearplace, Dallas, TX
• Kingsley Okorafor, MD: Private Practice, North Carolina, Cape Fear Medical Center, Fayetteville, NC
• Jennifer Zimmer, MD: EP Fellowship, George Washington University, John Hopkins Medicine, MD

2004

• Raju Bejjanki, MD: Interventional Fellowship, St. Vincent’s, NY, Jersey City Medical Center
• Navin Budhwani, MD: Interventional Fellowship, Mount Sinai, NY, Valley Hospital, NJ
• George Stoupakis, MD: Interventional Fellowship, North Shore, LIJ, Hackensack Medical Center

2003

• James Orlando, MD: Interventional Fellowship, North Shore, Shore Heart Group, Neptune, NJ
• Ruchi Shah, MD: Private Practice, New Jersey, Hackensack Medical Center

How to Apply

The program accepts applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Applicants must submit:

• A personal statement
• A curriculum vitae
• Three letters of recommendation
• A medical school transcript
• A Dean's letter

Fellowship Faculty

The program has a diverse and experienced faculty, including:

• Program Director: [Name]
• Associate Program Director: [Name]
• Faculty Members: [List of faculty members]

Cardiovascular Imaging Fellowship Program

The program also offers a Cardiovascular Imaging Fellowship, which provides advanced training in:

• Cardiac MRI and CT
• Nuclear cardiology
• Echocardiography
• Vascular imaging

Patient Care

The program provides comprehensive patient care, including:

• Consultative cardiology services
• Invasive and interventional cardiology procedures
• Electrophysiology and arrhythmia management
• Heart failure and cardiac transplantation services

Research

The program is actively involved in research, including:

• Clinical trials and studies
• Basic science research
• Translational research
• Quality improvement and patient safety initiatives

Publications

The program has published numerous papers and articles in peer-reviewed journals, including:

• [List of publications]

Clinical Trials

The program is currently participating in several clinical trials, including:

• [List of clinical trials]

Cardiology Grand Rounds

The program hosts regular cardiology grand rounds, featuring:

• Lectures from renowned experts in the field
• Case presentations and discussions
• Journal club and research seminars

Medicine Home

The program is part of the Department of Medicine, which offers a range of educational and research opportunities, including:

• Residency and fellowship programs
• Continuing medical education courses
• Research grants and funding opportunities

Department of Medicine

The Department of Medicine is committed to excellence in:

• Clinical care and patient outcomes
• Research and scholarly activity
• Education and training
• Quality improvement and patient safety

Division of Cardiology

The Division of Cardiology is a leading provider of cardiovascular care, offering:

• Consultative cardiology services
• Invasive and interventional cardiology procedures
• Electrophysiology and arrhythmia management
• Heart failure and cardiac transplantation services

New Jersey Medical School

The New Jersey Medical School is a leading institution for medical education and research, offering:

• Undergraduate and graduate degree programs
• Residency and fellowship programs
• Continuing medical education courses
• Research grants and funding opportunities

Medical Science Building

The Medical Science Building is a state-of-the-art facility, featuring:

• Advanced research laboratories
• Clinical facilities and patient care areas
• Educational and conference spaces
• Administrative offices and support services

Rutgers University

Rutgers University is a leading public research university, offering:

• Undergraduate and graduate degree programs
• Research grants and funding opportunities
• Continuing education courses
• Community outreach and engagement initiatives

IT@NJMS

IT@NJMS provides a range of information technology services, including:

• Network and computer support
• Software and hardware solutions
• Data management and analytics
• Cybersecurity and compliance

George F. Smith Library

The George F. Smith Library is a leading resource for medical education and research, offering:

• Print and digital collections
• Online databases and journals
• Interlibrary loan and document delivery services
• Study spaces and collaboration areas

Centers & Institutes

The program is affiliated with several centers and institutes, including:

• [List of centers and institutes]

Make a Gift

The program welcomes donations and gifts, which support:

• Educational and research initiatives
• Clinical care and patient services
• Faculty and staff development
• Community outreach and engagement initiatives

Rutgers Health

Rutgers Health is a leading provider of healthcare services, offering:

• Primary and specialty care
• Hospital and emergency services
• Rehabilitation and therapy services
• Community health and wellness programs

Non-Discrimination Statement

The program is committed to non-discrimination and equal opportunity, and welcomes:

• Applicants from diverse backgrounds
• Patients from diverse populations
• Faculty and staff from diverse backgrounds

Wayfinding

The program provides wayfinding services, including:

• Maps and directions
• Parking and transportation information
• Building and facility information

Free Expression

The program values free expression and open communication, and encourages:

• Open dialogue and discussion
• Respectful and inclusive language
• Constructive feedback and criticism

Affiliations

The program is affiliated with several organizations, including:

• University Hospital
• RWJBarnabas Health
• Veterans Health Administration
• Bergen New Bridge Medical Center
• Trinitas Regional Medical Center

Contact Us

The program can be contacted at:

• Medical Science Building
• 185 South Orange Avenue
• Newark, NJ 07103
• (732) 445-info (4636)