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The strength of the Ochsner Cardiology Program is in the clinical training from world-class faculty that help fellows learn to manage the high complexity-high volume patient base we have as a tertiary referral center, accredited LVAD/heart transplant center, Electrophysiology Center, and regional center of excellence in Interventional Cardiology.

Time away from clinical care is an incredible resource in the Big Easy. Get your cardio in with the Red Dress Run, explore your fashion sense with the White Linen Night, tantalize your taste buds during COOLinary month and catch a cauliflower at the St. Patrick's Day Parade. World-class cuisine, weekly festivals, and of course Mardi Gras all offer plenty of opportunities to experience the art and music culture.

Our fellows come from all over the country and match into their top choices for further specialty training or jobs after fellowship.

Class of 2025

Hometown: Puerto Rico
Medical School: San Juan Bautista School of Medicine, Puerto Rico
Residency: Sunrise Health Consortium, Las Vegas, Nevada
PGY4 Heart Failure Fellowship, Univ of Alabama at Birmingham
Area of Interest:General cardiology and/or heart failure with a high interest in pregnancy-associated cardiomyopathy.

Why I chose Ochsner: I chose Ochsner due to the strong clinical training in all subspecialties of cardiology, strong female representation in cardiology with excellent mentors and its renowned heart transplant/LVAD center. During my interview I was extremely drawn by the sense of community among the faculty and fellows.

Hometown: Lagos, Nigeria
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Residency: Ochsner Clinic Foundation
Area of Interest: Non-Invasive/Advanced Cardiac Imaging

Why I chose Ochsner: I trained at Ochsner for residency, and I truly enjoyed working with its people while exploring the rich New Orleans culture. The diverse patient population and wide array of cardiovascular pathology here is unmatched. I stayed at Ochsner for my cardiovascular fellowship training not only because it had become a familiar environment, but also for its strong, reputable, comprehensive and high-volume nature. It was important for me to train at a prestigious program that would equip me with the resources, knowledge and skills necessary for my professional and personal growth. I’m also fortunate to learn from leaders in cardiology who provide compassionate and exceptional patient care. Moreover, the culinary skills here in New Orleans is impeccable!

Publications
Obi K, Baldawi H, Garba S, et al. Structural Heart Interventions During Covid-19. Curr Probl Cardiol. 2022;47(2):100934.

Bob-Manuel T, Obi K, N’Dandu Z. Successful Revascularization of Infra-popliteal Chronic Total Occlusions Utilizing the Plantar Arch as a Conduit and Retrograde Pedal Access. Ochsner Journal , 21(2), 209-231.

Maitas O, Bob-Manuel T, Price J, Noor A, Obi K, Okoh N, Garikapati K, Kim J, Jahan S, Jenkins J. (2021, Apr). Vertebral Artery Interventions: A comprehensive updated review. Current Cardiology Reviews. Published March 17,2022.

Gupta T, Madonis S, Okor I, Obi K, Desrosiers G, Mohammed A, Fort D, Effron M. Determining value of a cardiology clinic visit. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2021;77(18_Supplement_1):1656-1656. doi:10.1016/S0735-1097(21)03012-6.

Obi K, Hajebian H. (2021, March 13). Edwardsiella Tarda: A Piscine Culprit of Acute Cholangitis. Louisiana State Medical Society Journal. Published in Spring 2021 edition.

Baldawi H, Obi K. (2021, March 13). Central Retinal Artery Occlusion and New Onset Atrial Fibrillation. Louisiana State Medical Society Journal. Published in Spring 2021 edition.

Neerukonda S, Kachur S, Obi K, Morin D, Gilliland Y, Qamruddin S. (2020, August 09). Global Longitudinal Strain and Myocardial Work Utilization in Stress Echocardiography [Poster presented]. American Society of Echocardiography Virtual Meeting 2020/New Orleans, LA, USA.

Oyugi, M., Osumah, T., Le, C., Obi, K., Johnson-Winters, K. (2014, March 01). Characterization of the recombinant F420 Cofactor Dependent G-6-P DH from Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a kinetic analysis of the active site base [Poster presented]. American Chemical Society(ACS) 247th National Meeting 2014/Dallas, TX, USA.

Hometown: Dunwoody, GA
Medical School: University of Queensland-Ochsner Clinical School
Residency: LSU New Orleans Internal Medicine residency
Area of Interest: I am mostly interested in EP but I also have some interest in interventional.

Why I chose Ochsner: I chose Ochsner for my cardiology fellowship for several reasons. Ochsner’s cardiovascular disease program has an excellent reputation of training strong clinical cardiologists while learning from world-renowned faculty. I enjoyed the mentoring relationships I formed doing cardiology research during medical school and loved the culture of excellence and teamwork among the staff and fellows. I wanted a program with exposure to high volume, comprehensive, and clinically focused cardiology training with the opportunity for advanced fellowship opportunities and research. Training in New Orleans with all it has to offer is a bonus.

Publications
Chang D, Pantlin P, Benn F, Williams CM, Bernard ML, Hiltbold AE, Khatib S, Polin GM, Rogers PA, Morin DP. Risk of Ventricular Arrhythmias Following Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Generator Change in Patients with Recovered Ejection Fraction: Implications for Decision-Making. Heart Rhythm Society. 2021. (submission pending review).

Morin DP, Manzo MA, Pantlin PG, Verma R, Bober RM, Krim SR, Qamruddin S, Shah S, Tafur Soto JD, Ventura H, Price-Haywood EG. Impact of Baseline Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction on Outcomes in Covid-19 Infection. Current Problems in Cardiology. 2021: 100845.doi.org/10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2021.100845

Pantlin PG, Bober RM, Bernard ML, Khatib S, Polin GM, Rogers PA, Morin DP. Class 1C Antiarrhythmic Drugs in Atrial Fibrillation and Coronary Artery Disease. Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology. 2020;31(3):607-611. doi:10.1111/jce.14335

Joury A, Pantlin PG, Chong-Yik R, Shah SB, Xue J, Morin, DP. Correlation Between Myocardial Scar Detected By Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Electrocardiographic Ventricular Depolarization/Repolarization. Poster presentation, Heart Rhythm Society Scientific Sessions, May 9-12, 2018 Boston, MA.

Hometown: Pakistan
Medical School: The Aga Khan University and came to the US in 2016
Residency: Conemaugh Health System in Pennsylvania
Post residency: 2 years of Hospitalist with heart transplant at Ochsner
Area of Interest: I want to be an interventional cardiologist with special interest in coronary intervention, complex and high risk PCIs and peripheral vascular intervention.

Why I chose Ochsner: Coming to Ochsner cardiology was a long dream and I'm delighted that it came true. I like Ochsner for numerous reasons; academic excellence, state of the art infrastructure and leadership in healthcare are some of the many reasons why I came here.

Hometown: Shiraz, Iran
Medical School: Florida State University COM
Residency: Ochsner Medical Center
Awards: Recipient of AOA Service and leadership award, 2017
Area of interest: Advanced heart failure and transplant

Why I chose Ochsner: I've chosen Ochsner's cardiovascular medicine fellowship for its patient-centered reputation, strong leadership and mentorship, the great camaraderie within the program, and most of all its reputation for training strong clinical cardiologists.

Publications
Shariati F, Baldawi H, Bob-Manuel T. Editorial: Premature death from heart failure among Aboriginal peoples in the Hunter New England region of new South Wales. Int J Cardiol. 2021; 337:88-89.

Gupta A, Kachur SM, Tafur JD, Patel HK, Timme DO, Shariati F. Development and Validation of a Multivariable Risk Prediction Model for COVID-19 Mortality in the Southern United States. Mayo Clin Proc. 2021;96(12):3030-3041

Gupta T, Shariati F, Krim SR. A Simplified Diagnostic and Therapeutic Approach to Pulmonary Hypertension. Curr Probl Cardiol. 2022;47(4):100857.

Neerukonda S, Shariati F, Hart T, Stewart M, Elkayam U, Qamruddin S. Cardiovascular effects of preeclampsia. Curr Opin Cardiol. 2020;35(4):357-359.

Duran A, Tutor A, Shariati F, et al. Preimplant Hyponatremia Does Not Predict Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices [published online ahead of print, 2022 May 2]. Curr Probl Cardiol. 2022;101239.

Shariati F, Duran A, Tutor A, sleep A, Desai S, Ventura H, Krim S. Outcome of concomitant Mitral Valve repair during LVAD implantation- American Heart Association Scientific Session, Nov 2021, Boston, MA

Tutor A, Duran A, Shariati F, Sleem A, Desai S, Ventura H, Krim S. Hyponatremia does not predict adverse outcomes in patient with left ventricular assist devices. Heart Failure Society of America Annual Scientific Meeting, Sep 2021, Denver, CO

Shariati F, Sultan M, Field H. Diagnosis and Management of Cardiac Hemochromatosis. American College of Physicians, Louisiana chapter. Mar 2021, New Orleans, LA

Shariati F, Rogers, K. Persistent Singultus as the Only Presenting Symptom of Pericarditis. American College of Physicians, Louisiana chapter. Mar 2021, New Orleans, LA

Shariati F, Harper C, Kastner M, Comiskey A. IVC repair: A Novel Interventional Solution. Florida Medical Association. Aug 2018, Orlando, FL

Shariati F, Pifer A, Cook S, Ichite E, Trawle E, Blackmore E. Improving the Patient Dismissal Policy: A Mixed Methods Approach. FAFP Family Medicine Sprig Forum. May 2018, Orlando, FL

Hometown: Memphis, Tennessee
Medical School: University of Tennessee Health Science Center (Memphis, Tennessee)
Residency: Ochsner Health System
Area of Interest: Non invasive or imaging

Why I chose Ochsner: For residency, I was looking for a program with a large amount of volume but also small enough to have a personalized training experience. Ochsner Internal Medicine seemed like an ideal fit and in hindsight it provided me with incredible training. During my time in residency, watching the Ochsner cardiology fellows transform over the first year of fellowship was an eye-opening experience and convinced me this was the place to train. Not only does this program over a diverse range of pathology, but it is also a referral center for complex cardiology subspecialties such as heart failure/transplant, interventional cardiology, and electrophysiology. Also, it doesn't hurt that New Orleans is a great place to live!

Publications
Tutor A, Lavie CJ, Kachur S, Dinshaw H, Milani RV. Impact of cardiorespiratory fitness on outcomes in cardiac rehabilitation. Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 2022 Jan-Feb;70:2-7. doi: 10.1016/j.pcad.2021.11.001. Epub 2021 Nov 12. PMID: 34780726.

Duran A, Tutor A, Shariati F, Sleem A, Wever-Pinzon J, Desai S, Eiswirth C, Ventura HO, Krim SR. Preimplant Hyponatremia Does Not Predict Adverse Outcomes in Patients With Left Ventricular Assist Devices. Curr Probl Cardiol. 2022 May 2:101239. doi: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2022.101239. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35513184.

Tutor A, Unis G, Ruiz B, Bolaji OA, Bob-Manuel T. Spectrum of Suspected Cardiomyopathy Due to COVID-19: A Case Series. Curr Probl Cardiol. 2021 Oct;46(10):100926. doi: 10.1016/j.cpcardiol.2021.100926. Epub 2021 Jul 3. PMID: 34311983; PMCID: PMC8254392.

Bob-Manuel T, Amoran OE, Jenkins C, Obafemi O, Tutor A, Tafur J. Renal interventions in the management of hypertension. Curr Opin Cardiol. 2021 Jul 1;36(4):444-452. doi: 10.1097/HCO.0000000000000859. PMID: 33929362.

Oktay AA, Riehl R, Kachur S, Khan Z, Tutor A, Chainani V, Cash ME, Shah S, Lavie CJ, Morin DP, Gilliland YE, Qamruddin S. Dimensionless index of the mitral valve for evaluation of degenerative mitral stenosis. Echocardiography. 2020 Oct;37(10):1533-1542. doi: 10.1111/echo.14847. Epub 2020 Sep 7. PMID: 32893904.

Lewit RA, Tutor A, Albrecht A, Weatherall YZ, Williams RF. Pediatric Spontaneous Pneumothorax: Does Initial Treatment Affect Outcomes? J Surg Res. 2021 Mar;259:532-537. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2020.10.008. Epub 2020 Nov 11. PMID: 33189361.

Class of 2026

Harith Baldawi, MD

Harith Baldawi, MD

Texas A&M School of Medicine
Residency: Ochsner Health

Connor Gillies, MD

Connor Gillies, DO

Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Ochsner Health

Ahmad Hallak, MD

Ahmad Hallak, MD

University of Sharjah College of Medicine
Residency: Texas Tech University Health Science Center at Amarillo

Jin Kim, MD

Jin Kim, MD

Sofia Lakhdar, MD

Sofia Lakhdar, MD

St. Matthew's University
Residency: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai

Ruben Porudominsky, MD

Ruben Porudominsky, MD

Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
Residency: Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach

Vanessa Rodriguez, MD

Vanessa Rodriguez, MD

Ross University School of Medicine
Residency: UT Health, San Antonio

Class of 2027

Anna Alias, MD

Anna Alias, MD

Apryl Cronley, MD

Apryl Cronley, MD

Medical University of South Carolina
Residency: Medical College of Georgia

Michael Miller, MD

Michael Miller, MD

Mukosolu Obi, MD

Mukosolu Obi, MD

American University of Antigua COM
Residency: Wyckoff Heights Medical Center

Pavankumar Thota, MD

Pavankumar Thota, MD

American University of Antigua COM
Residency: Las Palmas Del Sol Healthcare

Ankit Vyas, MD

Ankit Vyas, MD

Government Medical College Surat
Residency: Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas

Simon Gaviria Valencia, MD

Simon Gaviria Valencia

Universidad CES
Residency: Mount Sinai Medical Center Miami Beach