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Division of Cardiovascular Medicine Division of Cardiovascular Medicine

First Year Fellows

  • Jonathan Davis, MD

    Jonathan Davis, MD

    Hometown: Granite Bay
    Undergraduate: Cal Poly
    Medical school: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine
    Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Favorite 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 publications

    Hobbies: Sacramento Kings Basketball, hiking, biking, volleyball
  • Gourisree Dharmavaram, MD

    Gourisree Dharmavaram, MD

    Hometown: Chicago
    Undergraduate: Univ of Illinois at Chicago
    Medical school: Case western reserve university school of medicine
    Residency: UCSD

    Favorite 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 publications

    Hobbies: Trying out new coffee shops, running, reading books
  • Benjamin Hoffman, MD PhD

    Benjamin Hoffman, MD PhD

    Hometown: Gaithersburg, MD
    Undergraduate: Stanford University
    Medical school: Columbia University
    Residency: UCSF

    Favorite 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 publications

    Hobbies: Raising my toddler, cooking (ask me about my taco cart), Stanford Football, being outside
  • Chaitanya Malladi, MD

    Chaitanya Malladi, MD

    Hometown: San Jose, CA
    Undergraduate: California Institute of Technology
    Medical school: UC San Diego
    Residency: UT Southwestern

    Favorite 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 publications

    Hobbies: Basketball, breweries, trivia, golf
  • Praneet Mylavarapu, MD MS

    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 Diego

    Favorite 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 publications

    Hobbies: Tennis, Watching football and cricket
  • Kevin Sung, MD MS

    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 Diego

    Favorite 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 publications

    Hobbies: Surfing, trying new restaurants, spending time with family, video games, playing with my dog
  • Iosif Taleb, MD

    Iosif Taleb, MD

    Hometown: Corfu, Greece
    Medical school: Aristotle University
    Residency: University of Utah

    Favorite 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 publications

    Hobbies: BBQing, traveling, fishing, listening to music, and spending quality time with family

Second Year Fellows

  • Mike Ahlers, MD

    Mike Ahlers, MD

    Hometown: Le Mars, Iowa
    Undergraduate: University of Notre Dame
    Medical school: Vanderbilt University School of Medicine
    Residency: University of California, Los Angeles

    Favorite aspects of the program: Expansiveness of the department into "overlap" fields, such as peripheral endovascular disease and advanced mechanical circulatory support including VA ECMO. Enthusiasm of the faculty and department to train/teach. And finally my co-fellows and living in a city as welcoming and vibrant as San Diego.

    Career interests: Advanced HF/Interventional/General
    Research interests: Acute MI and Cardiogenic Shock, Heart Failure, Biomarkers, Prevention
    Research publications: view publications

    Hobbies: book club, following NBA basketball, and trying new restaurants in Little Italy
  • Masihullah Barat, MD

    Masihullah Barat, MD

    Hometown: Toronto, Canada
    Undergraduate: University of Western Ontario
    Medical school: University of Hawai'i at Manoa
    Residency: University of California, San Diego

    Favorite aspects of the program: I enjoyed working with the faculty and witnessed the camaraderie between the fellows during my time here as a resident. UCSD's high volume of diverse pathology, coupled with the research opportunities made it an easy decision to continue training here.

    Career interests: Academic physician
    Research interests: Cardiac amyloidosis, giant cell myocarditis, COVID-19 in heart transplant
    Research publications: view publications

    Hobbies: Soccer, basketball, surfing, hiking
  • Adam Custer, MD

    Adam Custer, MD

    Hometown: Albany, NY
    Undergraduate: Cornell University
    Medical school: SUNY Upstate Medical University
    Residency: University of California, Los Angeles

    Favorite aspects of the program: Rigor of clinical training, procedure volume, supportive/receptive program leadership, and camaraderie of co-fellows

    Career interests: Advanced Heart Failure, General Cardiology
    Research interests: Waitlist performance metrics and outcomes, recipient/donor selection, EHR-based tools to improve appropriate aspirin/statin prescription rates
    Research publications: view publications

    Hobbies: Running and spending time at the beach
  • Sonya John, MD

    Sonya John, MD

    Hometown: Fremont, CA
    Undergraduate: UC Berkeley
    Medical school: The Ohio State University College of Medicine
    Residency: UC San Diego

    Favorite aspects of the program: UCSD provides a strong and robust clinical training program in all areas of cardiology while caring for a diverse patient population with complex pathophysiology. Here, we work with attendings who love to teach and create a supportive and innovative research environment.

    Career interests: Advanced Heart Failure, Cardiac Critical Care, General Cardiology
    Research interests: Outcomes in mechanical circulatory support and cardiac transplantation
    Research publications: view publications

    Hobbies: Peloton, dance, trying new restaurants!
  • Emily Nguyen, MD PhD

    Emily Nguyen, MD PhD

    Hometown: San Diego
    Undergraduate: University of California Irvine
    Medical school: University of Iowa
    Residency: University of Iowa

    Favorite aspects of the program: Volume and diversity of pathology, world class expert faculty that are dedicated to teaching and patient care

    Career interests: General Cardiology, Imaging, Women's health
    Research interests: Molecular mechanisms of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, cardiac metabolomics
    Research publications: view publications

    Hobbies: Cooking, baking, trying new foods and restaurants, spending time with my family
  • Revathy Sampath-Kumar, MD

    Revathy Sampath-Kumar, MD

    Hometown: Fremont, CA
    Undergraduate: University of California, San Diego
    Medical school: Wake Forest School of Medicine
    Residency: University of California, San Diego

    Favorite aspects of the program: Diverse patient population and breadth of pathology across three clinical sites. Robust mechanical circulatory support program and exposure to complex coronary interventions. Research mentorship from faculty experts.

    Career interests: Cardiac Critical Care, Interventional Cardiology
    Research interests: Inferior vena cava diameter guided heart failure management, clinical trial development
    Research publications: view publications

    Hobbies: Piano, Yoga, Women in STEM Mentorship
  • Musa Shakoor, MD

    Musa Shakoor, MD

    Hometown: Phoenix
    Undergraduate: Arizona State University
    Medical school: University of Virginia
    Residency: UT Southwestern

    Favorite aspects of the program: Collegiality, clinical volume, and excellent location

    Career interests: Interventional Cardiology
    Research interests: Lipids
    Research publications: view publications

    Hobbies: Cooking, basketball, movies

Third Year Fellows

  • Daniel Chu, MD

    Daniel Chu, MD

    Hometown: Irvine, California
    Undergraduate: Boston University
    Medical school: Hofstra University
    Residency: Baylor College of Medicine

    Favorite aspects of the program: Robust, clinically focused training program.  Allows for great autonomy and procedural experience while caring for a variety of patients in different practice settings.  Strong in each subspecialty area. 

    Career interests: Interventional Cardiology
    Research interests: Quality improvement in the cardiac catheterization lab, preventive cardiology and cardiorespiratory fitness
    Research publications: view publications
  • Candace Jackson, MD, MPH

    Candace Jackson, MD, MPH

    Hometown: Yorba Linda, CA
    Undergraduate: MIT
    Medical school: UT Southwestern
    Residency: Mayo Clinic, Rochester

    Favorite aspects of the program:  Comprehensive training, complex pathophysiology, diverse patient populations, numerous research opportunities, supportive faculty and mentors.

    Career interests: General Cardiology
    Research interests: Preventive cardiology, cardiovascular epidemiology, familial hypercholesterolemia
    Research publications: view publications
  • Andrew Lin, MD

    Andrew Lin, MD

    Hometown: Carmel, Indiana
    Undergraduate: Indiana University
    Medical school: Indiana University School of Medicine
    Residency: UC San Diego

    Favorite aspects of the program: At UCSD we are exposed to the entire spectrum of cardiology care, with the perfect balance between autonomy and supervision. We also get to work with attendings who are experts in their respective fields and very invested in teaching. Lastly, love my cofellows!

    Career interests: Electrophysiology, advanced heart failure
    Research interests: CIED management, ventricular arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, advanced heart failure
    Research publications: view publications
  • John Power, MD

    John Power, MD

    Hometown: Alexandria, VA
    Undergraduate: Johns Hopkins University
    Medical school: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
    Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Favorite aspects of the program: Full exposure to complex and high acuity care, collaborative and supportive institutional culture, unique research environment.

    Career interests: Advanced heart failure, clinical research
    Research interests: Cardio-oncology, cardio-immunology, informatics
    Research publications: view publications
  • Tatiana Saul, MD

    Tatiana Saul, MD

    Hometown: Downey, CA
    Undergraduate: UC San Diego
    Medical school: UC Riverside
    Residency: UC San Diego

    Favorite aspects of the program: Strong clinical training due to a high volume medical system with a diverse patient population and a variety of cardiovascular diseases. Also, the program has supportive faculty, mentors, and co-fellows to help navigate through all areas of cardiology fellowship.

    Career interests: General cardiology, Advanced heart failure
    Research interests: Non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
    Research publications: view publications

Recent Graduates


    • 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
    • Harpreet Bhatia
    • Darrin Wong
    • Htet Khine
    • Douglas Darden
    • Stephen Dickson
    • Christopher Smitson
    • Nicholas Phreaner
    • Lauren Glassmoyer
    • Thao Duong
    • Calvin Yeang