Cardiovascular Fellowship Fellows
Third Year
Ibrahim Alshaghdali, MD
Hometown: Ha'il, Saudi Arabia
Medical School: University of Ha'il, College of Medicine
Residency: Case Western Reserve University/UH Cleveland Medical Center
Why UH: Strong mentorship, expert staff from different backgrounds, collegial environment, and plenty of research opportunities.
Plan after graduation: Academic general cardiology
Research Interests: Imaging, preventive cardiology
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Taking my family to one of the wonderful parks for hiking/picnics
Bart Gillombardo, MD
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
Medical School: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Residency: Cleveland Clinic, Main Campus
Why UH: Access to phenomenal mentors and a thriving research community
Plan after graduation: I hope to continue treating patients in my hometown
Research Interests: Cardiology critical care
Fun Fact: Ran with the bulls in Pamplona
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Hiking in the Cleveland Metroparks
Nour Tashtish, MD
Hometown: Aleppo, Syria
Medical School: Aleppo
Residency: University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Why UH: The first day I joined UH for residency I knew this place is the place to be trained and grow. Five years went fast and yet excited for another three years of learning, helping patients and growing. I enjoy every moment at this place. The faculty, nurses, and colleague’s makes this place exceptional.
Plan after graduation: Imaging or interventional, yet to decide
Research Interests: Heart Failure, research outcome, mechanical support devices, Big Data, Health IT.
Fun Fact: I am electrician and plumber in my free time.
Favorite things to do in Cleveland: Going to Amish county, enjoy an authentic meal, visit Put-in Bay.
Takahiro Tsushima, MD - Chief Fellow
Hometown: Aomori city, Japan
Medical School: Hirosaki University, School of Medicine
Residency: University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Why UH: UH provides great opportunities for clinical education and research. Such an integrated training makes UH a great educational center.
Plan after graduation: Electrophysiology
Research Interests: Electrophysiology
Fun Fact: Food, listening to classical music and jazz, driving
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Searching nice restaurants every weekends, visiting Cleveland Orchestra or Cleveland Museum of Art
Sojin Youn Wass, MD
Hometown: Northern Virginia
Medical School: Georgetown University, School of Medicine
Residency: Cleveland Clinic, Main Campus
Why UH: Supportive staff
Plan after graduation: More training and learning
Research Interests: Prevention, inflammation
Fun Fact: A believer in digressions. Have been backpacking alone (mostly) to developing countries since 18 on an annual basis.
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Metroparks, Blossom, Playhouse Square
Second Year
Feras Asiri, MD
Hometown: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Medical School: King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS).
Residency: University of Maryland Medical Center.
Why UH: Collegial environment and supportive faculty. Rigorous training program in all aspects of cardiology. Night float system.
Plan after graduation: Electrophysiology
Research Interests: PVC/VT, Electrophysiology.
Fun Fact: I play table tennis in my free time.
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Exploring new restaurants, musical theater.
Ali Azeem, MD
Hometown: Youngstown, OH
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Residency: UPMC Presbyterian
Why UH: supportive educational culture, large catchment area, diverse patient population
Plan after graduation: undecided - maybe heart failure or advanced imaging
Research interests: clinical analytics, predictive modeling
Fun Fact: I have visited the pyramids of Giza (and went inside one of them)
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: go see the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra (5 minute walk from UH)
Rafey Feroze, MD
Hometown: Memphis, TN
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh
Residency: University of Michigan
Why UH: Excellent learning opportunities from caring and dedicated mentors. Wide encompassing program which provides a broad training base.
Plan after graduation: Cardiac Critical Care.
Research Interests: Cardiac Remodeling, Biomarkers for Ischemia.
Fun Fact: I have working on perfecting my golf game.
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Go paddleboarding on Lake Erie and watching the sunset while running at Edgewater Park.
Jason Galo, MD
Hometown: San Pedro Sula, Honduras
Medical School: THE Ohio State University College of Medicine
Residency: University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital
Why UH: Strong research and mentorship, diverse clinical exposure, collegiality among fellows
Plan after graduation: Interventional Cardiology
Research Interests: Cardiogenic shock, heart failure, pulmonary hypertension
Fun Fact: I once played pick-up soccer for 47 consecutive days
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Restaurants and exploring downtown/parks
Robert Okyere, MD
Hometown: Kumasi, Ghana
Medical School: Howard University College of Medicine
Residency: Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center
Why UH: The opportunity to access great mentorship, to feel supported in a friendly and collegial environment, and to have abundant research opportunities
Plan after graduation: General Cardiology
Research Interests: Prevention, Metabolic Syndrome/Obesity, Racial Disparities
Fun Fact: I’ve never had coffee before
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Exploring the museums and trying new restaurants
Richard Pham, MD - Associate Chief Fellow
Hometown: Cleveland
Medical School: University of Toledo College of Medicine
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Why UH: Strong program, and home is where the heart is!
Plan after graduation: Undecided
Research interests: Heart failure, Electrophysiology
Fun fact: unashamed board game and video game enthusiast
Favorite thing to do in Cle: So many! Cleveland Orchestra, Cavs, all the great museums, great restaurants
First Year
Mohammed Alghammass, MD
Hometown: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Medical School: King Saud University
Residency: University of Utah
Why UH: Supportive program leadership with eagerness for continuous improvement. The fellowship program is strong across all clinical cardiology fields and offers great research opportunities.
Plan after graduation: Interventional Cardiology
Research Interests: heart failure, MCS, interventional cardiology
Fun Fact: I watch lots of lion documentaries (fan of Mapogo lions!) and follow stock charts closely
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: exploring Cleveland Metroparks
Ghassan Daher, MD
Hometown: Amioun, Lebanon
Medical School: American University of Beirut, Lebanon
Residency: Saint Louis University Hospital
Why UH: Exceptional clinical experience and research opportunities. Great program to become a complete well-rounded cardiologist and learn from leaders and pioneers in the field of cardiology.
Plan after graduation: Undecided but likely heart failure or imaging
Research Interests: Advanced heart failure, mechanical support devices and cardiogenic shock
Fun Fact: Ranked 2nd in the Lebanese Tennis Junior Championship / Represented Lebanon in West Asia Tennis Championship
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Spending time by Lake Erie and enjoying outdoor activities. Great food scene!
Michael Glidden, MD, PhD
Hometown: Palmetto, FL
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Residency: University Hospitals Harrington Physician Scientist Pathway/Case Western Reserve University
Why UH: I've been in Cleveland for over a decade now for medical school, graduate school, residency, and now fellowship. The ratio of things to do to cost-of-living is probably the highest of any city in the US. I can't think of any other location I'd rather be in!
Plan after graduation: Probably some balance of clinical and research time
Research Interests: Therapeutic protein engineering, structural biophysics, emerging CRISPR/gene-editing technologies
Fun Fact/Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: I'm a big DIYer and recently got into 3D printing. I utilized these evolving skills to create WiFi voice-activated window blinds in my house and also made my old push lawnmower remote-controlled so I can cut my grass from a chair.
Bryan Maliken, MD, PhD
Hometown: Bethlehem, PA
Medical School: University of Cincinnati/Cincinnati Children's
Residency: UH/CWRU
Why UH: Excellent mentorship, great research opportunities, and a collegial training environment
Plan after graduation: Heart failure and basic science
Research Interests: Heart failure, mechanisms of fibrosis/remodeling, cardiac regeneration, angiogenesis
Fun Fact: I'm a regular disc golfer, a big stand-up comedy fan, and Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson went to my high school
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Going to Guardians games, hanging out with friends at different breweries around the city, disc golf at Sims Park
Mariam Rana, MD
Hometown: Lahore, Pakistan
Medical School: Army Medical College, Pakistan
Residency: University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Why UH: Great mentors and collegiality
Plan after graduation: Cardiac imaging, prevention
Research Interests: Lipidology, preventative health, cardiovascular disease in South Asians
Fun Fact: I learned to drive a car at the age of 26
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Biking in the summer and Ferris Shawarma after a busy day at work.