First Year Fellows
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Rodrigo Barriola- Rubarth, MD
Hometown: Brasília, Brazil
Undergraduate: UC San Diego
Medical school: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Residency: UC San Diego HealthFavorite aspects of the program: I am fortunate to continue my training at UCSD, where cardiology fellows receive rigorous clinical training with an outstanding volume, complexity and diversity of patients. UCSD offers mentorship from world-renown faculty and opportunities for cutting-edge clinical research. I am particularly drawn to the exceptional hands-on exposure to advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology at UCSD.
Career interests: Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology; Cardiac Critical Care; Medical Education
Research interests: Cardiogenic Shock; Advanced Heart Failure; Cardiac Hemodynamics
Research publications: view publicationsHobbies: Soccer, drumming, discovering new music, spending quality time with my family
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Maedha Begur, MD
Hometown: Cupertino, CA
Undergraduate: UC San Diego
Medical school: UC San Diego
Residency: UC San DiegoFavorite aspects of the program: Diverse patient populations across the 3 sites, clinical rigor and innovation in all fields of Cardiology, and strong Women in Cardiology presence
Career interests: Electrophysiology, General Cardiology, Critical Care
Research interests: Arrhythmias, Pacing Devices, Inflammatory Heart Disease, Health Care Disparities
Research publications: view publicationsHobbies: Running, cooking, collecting vinyl, pottery, beach walks
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Yusi Gong, MD
Hometown: Acton, MA
Undergraduate: Tufts University
Medical school: Carle Illinois College of Medicine
Residency: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical CenterFavorite aspects of the program: Warm and welcoming division, incredible preventive cardiology faculty and opportunities, training across multiple sites, a gorgeous city with amazing weather!
Career interests: Academic Cardiology, Preventive Cardiology, Vascular Disease, Hypertension
Research interests: Cardiovascular outcomes in older adults, frailty, lifestyle on cardiovascular risk
Research publications: view publicationsHobbies: Board games, hiking, rock climbing, being outdoors, spending time with friends!
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Max Jason, MD
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Undergraduate: UC Berkeley
Medical school: University of Rochester School of Medicine
Residency: University of ColoradoFavorite aspects of the program: Research support, mentorship, the breadth and depth of clinical training at multiple different sites
Career interests: Interventional Cardiology, Critical Care
Research interests: Genetic Cardiomyopathies, mechanical circulatory supportHobbies: Running, biking, skiing, cooking
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Saurabh Sudesh, MD
Hometown: Orlando, FL
Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania
Medical school: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Residency: Duke UniversityFavorite aspects of the program: Fantastic clinical training, diverse patients and colleagues, and mentorship by leading experts - all in a vibrant, sunny, coastal city!
Career interests: Electrophysiology
Research interests: Cardiac resynchronization therapy, arrhythmias
Research publications: view publicationsHobbies: Soccer, rollerblading, guitar, hand-lettering, video games, trying new recipes/restaurants with my partner.
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David Timmer, MD
Hometown: Atlanta, GA and Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Undergraduate: University of Miami
Medical school: Morehouse School of Medicine
Residency: University of California, San DiegoFavorite aspects of the program: The strong clinical foundation it provides, along with the broad exposure to the many subspecialties within cardiology.
Career interests: General Cardiology, Advanced Heart Failure, and Medical Education
Research interests: Heart Failure, Disparities in Heart FailureHobbies: Soccer, video games, movies, and spending time with loved ones.
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Alexander Wells, MD
Hometown: Piedmont, California
Undergraduate: Stanford University
Medical school: Vanderbilt University
Residency: University of California, San FranciscoFavorite aspects of the program: The outstanding clinical and research mentorship, wonderful co-fellows, and diverse patient population.
Career interests: General Cardiology, Electrophysiology
Research interests: Cardiovascular Genetics, Biomedical informatics
Research publications: view publicationsHobbies: Skiing, Scuba Diving, Tennis, Ultimate Frisbee
Second Year Fellows
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Theodore B. Curran, MD
Hometown: Hollis, NH
Undergraduate: University of Southern California
Medical school: Dartmouth
Residency: University of WashingtonCareer interests: Academic Medicine, Preventive Cardiology, Advanced Imaging
Research interests: Development and validation of technologies for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular diseases
Research publications: view publicationsHobbies: Freediving, surfing, skiing, playing guitar, eating spicy food
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Jessica Hong, MD
Hometown: San Diego, California
Undergraduate: University of California, Berkeley
Medical school: University of California, San Francisco
Residency: University of California, Los AngelesFavorite aspects of the program: High clinical volume across multiple health systems, service to a diverse patient population, training in complex and advanced physiology, proximity to multiple research institutes and academic/industry collaborators, cutting-edge clinical and basic science research
Career interests: General Cardiology, Basic Science
Research interests: Molecular underpinnings of cardiac inflammation and fibrosis, synthetic biology, multi-omics
Research publications: view publicationsHobbies: Hiking and camping, outdoors time with family, yoga
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Melody Huang, MD
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Undergraduate: UC Berkeley
Medical school: Harvard Medical School
Residency: Massachusetts General HospitalCareer interests: Women's cardiovascular health, cardio-obstetrics
Hobbies: music, weight lifting, exploring new places by foot
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Apurva Khedagi, MD, MS
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
Undergraduate: Stanford University
Medical school: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Residency: Duke UniversityFavorite aspects of the program: Outstanding clinical training and culture with a diverse population, along with exceptional opportunities within preventive cardiology in a beautiful city!
Career interests: Prevention, Advanced Imaging
Research interests: Heart disease in South Asians, Health Disparities
Research publications: view publicationsHobbies: Reading fiction, painting, anything outdoors, and spending time with friends, family, and my cat!
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Emily Margolin, MD
Hometown: Tiburon, CA
Undergraduate: UC Berkeley
Medical school: University of Southern California
Residency: UC San DiegoFavorite aspects of the program: At UCSD, fellows receive robust clinical training to become well-rounded cardiologists, supported by attendings who love to teach and are leaders in their field. I am excited about the unique, hands-on experience in caring for patients with advanced heart failure and the opportunity to serve underserved populations, while also rotating at a top-tier quaternary care center.
Career interests: Advanced Heart Failure; General Cardiology
Research interests: Optimizing heart failure management to improve clinical outcomes; social determinants of health in cardiovascular care; patient-reported outcomes
Research publications: view publicationsHobbies: When I am not working, I love to practice yoga, go on hikes and spend time at the beach
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Rebecca Ocher, MD
Hometown: San Diego
Undergraduate: UC Berkeley
Medical school: UC Riverside
Residency: UCLAFavorite aspects of the program: I was drawn to UCSD for the rigor of the training this program provides at a wide variety of clinical sites, in addition to the incredible mentorship from world-renowned faculty at UCSD.
Career interests: Preventive Cardiology; General Cardiology; Women's Cardiovascular Health
Research interests: Mitral Regurgitation; Preventive Cardiology; POTS; Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Care and Outcomes
Research publications: view publicationsHobbies: I enjoy playing pickleball, tennis, hiking and jogging by the beach.
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Shelief Robbins-Juarez, MD
Hometown: San Diego
Undergraduate: University of Southern California
Medical school: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
Residency: Duke UniversityFavorite aspects of the program: Phenomenal clinical training with wide exposure to complex pathologies and a diverse patient population, outstanding research opportunities, and incredible faculty and fellows in the best (my home) city!
Career interests: Electrophysiology
Research interests: Atrial fibrillation, anticoagulation, disparities in care for patients with AF
Research publications: view publicationsHobbies: English Premier League, coffee, exploring new restaurants, and spending time with family
Third Year Fellows
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Jonathan Davis, MD
Hometown: Granite Bay
Undergraduate: Cal Poly
Medical school: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical CenterFavorite aspects of the program: Strong and robust clinical training with opportunities to pursue all areas within cardiology alongside expert faculty
Career interests: Advanced Heart Failure, General Cardiology
Research interests: Cardiac transplantation
Research publications: view publicationsHobbies: Sacramento Kings Basketball, hiking, biking, volleyball
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Gourisree Dharmavaram, MD
Hometown: Chicago
Undergraduate: Univ of Illinois at Chicago
Medical school: Case western reserve university school of medicine
Residency: UCSDFavorite aspects of the program: Wonderful mentors and co-fellows as well as ample learning opportunities
Career interests: Cardiac imaging, heart failure, general cardiology
Research interests: CT imaging on heart failure and transplant, QI
Research publications: view publicationsHobbies: Trying out new coffee shops, running, reading books
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Benjamin Hoffman, MD PhD
Hometown: Gaithersburg, MD
Undergraduate: Stanford University
Medical school: Columbia University
Residency: UCSFFavorite aspects of the program: Outstanding breadth of pathology and procedural expertise, program and University-wide dedication to research, and of course location.
Career interests: Electrophysiology, Basic Science
Research interests: Neural innervation and regulation of cardiac physiology
Research publications: view publicationsHobbies: Raising my toddler, cooking (ask me about my taco cart), Stanford Football, being outside
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Chaitanya Malladi, MD
Hometown: San Jose, CA
Undergraduate: California Institute of Technology
Medical school: UC San Diego
Residency: UT SouthwesternFavorite aspects of the program: Clinical volume, diversity of cases, collegial relationship between faculty and fellows
Career interests: Electrophysiology
Research interests: Catheter ablation techniques, left atrial appendage occlusion, anticoagulation in atrial fibrillation
Research publications: view publicationsHobbies: Basketball, breweries, trivia, golf
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Praneet Mylavarapu, MD MS
Hometown: San Diego, CA
Undergraduate: University of Pennsylvania and The Wharton School
Medical school: University of California, San Diego
Residency: University of California, San DiegoFavorite aspects of the program: UCSD combines a high volume of complex pathology in all subspecialties of cardiology with cutting edge research. The support for artificial intelligence research in cardiology and inter-departmental collaboration to bring projects to the bedside make it a perfect research environment.
Career interests: Advanced Heart Failure, Cardiac Critical Care, General Cardiology
Research interests: Artificial Intelligence and Cardiology,
Research publications: view publicationsHobbies: Tennis, Watching football and cricket
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Kevin Sung, MD MS
Hometown: Hacienda Heights, CA
Undergraduate: University of California, Los Angeles
Medical school: University of California, Los Angeles
Residency: University of California, San DiegoFavorite aspects of the program: UCSD serves a diverse patient population, and sees a wide variety of high acuity and complex cardiovascular pathologies. Fellows get comprehensive training in all facets of cardiology, and get to work with renowned experts in their respective fields. In addition, there is strong co-fellow camaraderie, a rich research environment, and a supportive mentorship structure within the program.
Career interests: Electrophysiology, Advanced Heart Failure
Research interests: Novel ablation techniques, stereotactic ablation, sudden cardiac death risk stratification, ECG forward solution computational arrhythmia mapping
Research publications: view publicationsHobbies: Surfing, trying new restaurants, spending time with family, video games, playing with my dog
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Iosif Taleb, MD
Hometown: Corfu, Greece
Medical school: Aristotle University
Residency: University of UtahFavorite aspects of the program: The program is highly regarded for its academic excellence, distinguished faculty, diverse clinical experiences, research opportunities, and collaborative environment. It provides a comprehensive curriculum and rigorous training in cardiovascular medicine, offering exposure to a wide range of cardiovascular diseases and subspecialties. We have the opportunity to learn from renowned experts, engage in research activities, and benefit from a supportive learning environment that fosters interdisciplinary collaboration.
Career interests: Academic Cardiovascular Medicine
Research interests: Cardiogenic shock, mechanical circulatory support, myocardial recovery
Research publications: view publicationsHobbies: BBQing, traveling, fishing, listening to music, and spending quality time with family
Recent Graduates
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Alumni
- Mike Ahlers
- Masihullah Barat
- Adam Custer
- Sonya John
- Emily Nguyen
- Revathy Sampath-Kumar
- Musa Shakoor
- Daniel Chu
- Candace Jackson
- Andrew Lin
- John Power
- Tatiana Saul
- Omar Aldaas
- Omid Behnamfar
- Antoinette Birs
- Allison Brann
- Gary Ma
- Bryan Wu
- Harpreet Bhatia
- Calvin Hang
- Thomas Prohaska
- Quan Bui
- Prerana (Pre) Bhatia
- Patrick Azcarate
- Shahzad (Shaz) Chindhy
- Kevin Ting
- David Torres-Barba
- Alayn Govea
- Abduallah Almasoud
- Jason Duran
- Marin Nishimura
- Daniel Mangels