Cardiovascular Fellowship Fellows
Third Year
Ala Arafah
Hometown: Amman/Jordan
Medical School: University of Jordan
Residency: UH/CWRU
Why UH: The strong mentorship and collegiality at UH attracted me. The faculty’s support, combined with a diverse patient base, provides an ideal setting for developing my skills in cardiology.
Plan after graduation: Undecided
Research Interests: Afib, Ablation
Fun Fact: I am addicted to video games
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Biking around Edgewater, visiting the Observatory park
Tasveer Khawaja
Hometown: Philadelphia
Medical School: Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
Residency: CWRU/UH
Why UH: As a former resident and chief resident, I understood the fantastic opportunities I would have here as a fellow. From the mentors, to complex cases, and superb research opportunities, our program has it all!
Plan after graduation: Advanced imaging
Research Interests: Cardiac MRI and cardiac CT
Fun Fact: I enjoy rewatching TV shows I've seen far too mang times
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Hiking in one of the many Cleveland Metroparks!
Matt Mignery
Hometown: Columbus, OH
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Residency: University of Michigan
Why UH: Supportive training environment, breadth of learning opportunities, and I have come to love Cleveland as a second home!
Plan after graduation: Undecided, heart failure vs general cardiology
Research Interests: Heart failure, end of life care/palliative care for heart failure patients
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Eat at all the unique restaurants, golf, enjoy the wonderful Metroparks with my family
Aroosa Malik
Hometown: Warren, MI
Medical School: University of Michigan
Residency: University of Michigan
Why UH: Emphasis on promoting women in cardiology, strong vascular medicine program, excellent critical care exposure with 3 different ICUs and 20 bed capacity for UH unit.
Plan after graduation: Undecided, likely heart failure vs preventative/vascular
Research Interests: Heart failure, critical care, and qualitative research
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Exploring the local museums which are in walking distance.
Pranati Sreepathy
Hometown: Cupertino, CA
Medical School: Drexel University
Residency: University of Illinois Chicago
Why UH: Wonderful training and exposure to every field in cardiology with great critical care exposure!
Plan after graduation: Cards Critical Care
Fun Fact: My Favorite TV show ever is Frasier!
Research Interests: QI, Critical Care Cardiology
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Exploring all the restaurants and neighborhoods.
Rakan Alqabbani
Hometown: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Cleveland is now my second home.
Medical School: Alfaisal University in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Residency: University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center / Case Western Reserve University
Why UH: I completed my residency here and have developed a strong attachment to the community and culture. It’s a wonderful place to work and train!
Plans After Graduation: I’m interested in subspecializing but am currently undecided. I’m leaning towards heart failure or imaging.
Research Interests: CRT-D and cardiac MRI.
Fun Fact: I can eat two whole pizza boxes in under five minutes. I’m also a semi-pro gamer and a great dancer!
Favorite Thing to Do in Cleveland: Eat at Ferris Shawerma and Yemen Gate.
Second Year
Nawaf Alhabdan, MBBS
Hometown: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Medical School: King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences
Residency: UH/CWRU
Why UH: Strong training, exposure to diverse pathologies and patient populations, and a collegial work environment.
Plan after graduation: Undecided
Fun Fact: I make the best black tea.
Research Interests: Left atrial appendage occlusion.
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: attending Cavs games, exploring the metroparks, and enjoying the various food options.
Brandon Francis, MD
Hometown: Evansville, IN
Medical School: Indiana University School of Medicine
Residency: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Why UH: When looking for my future home, I was looking for a fellowship program that emphasized clinical volume, world-class training, and caring, empathetic leadership. I'm happy to say that this program fits the bill perfectly, and I'm thrilled to continue to grow my career and family in Cleveland!
Plan after graduation: I would like to continue a career in academic medicine, hopefully staying in Cleveland!
Fun Fact: I'm a black belt in TaeKwonDo (although quite a few years removed from training).
Research Interests: My experience is primarily in sports cardiology, medical education, and health policy; however, I am also interested in continuing to explore other areas of research (i.e. public health, heart failure) as I continue to explore future career opportunities.
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: My wife and I love to grab a donut from Goldie's, check out the Cleveland Museum of Art, and catch a sports game if we have the time!
David Newhouse, MD
Hometown: Columbus, Ohio
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Why UH: I really enjoyed my conversations on my interview day. It was clear that the attendings are invested in my professional growth.
Plan after graduation: I am interested in becoming a Cardiologist who helps patients with advanced heart failure.
Fun Fact: I enjoy watching Formula 1 and Ohio State football
Research Interests: Transplantation outcomes
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Explore new restaurants and go to shows
Olivia Noall, MD
Hometown: Mentor, OH
Medical School: Wright State University
Residency: Cleveland Clinic
Why UH: My mom was a family medicine doctor at UH and I was her medical receptionist. It was always my hope that I could come back to UH as a physician myself and serve my hometown. Every time I get a patient from the Mentor area I truly feel so lucky!
Plan after graduation: likely general cardiology
Research Interests: women’s cardiovascular health, cardio OB, prevention
Fun Fact: My BFF is David
Favorite things to do in Cleveland: I live very close to our theater district, so I love seeing Broadway level shows at the second largest theater district in the US. I also love the food scene and trying new restaurants with my family. You really can’t beat a summer day on the beach or a boat in Cleveland either!
Vincent Salvador, MD
Hometown: Manila, Philippines
Medical School: University of the Philippines - Manila
Residency: Queens Hospital/Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai
Why UH: Well-rounded academic program with robust education curriculum, diverse hands-on clinical training, collaborative relationships with faculty and fellows, supportive mentors, and a strong sense of community
Plan after graduation: General/Geriatric Cardiology
Research interests: Cardiometabolic, heart failure, brain-heart interaction
Fun Facts: Started to play pickleball and am loving every minute in the court! As a trivia, my bff is Gabe Tensol.
Favorite things in Cleveland: The Cleveland Orchestra and a seasonal scoop of Mitchell's
Gabriel Tensol, MD
Hometown: Belo Horizonte - Brazil
Medical School: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais
Residency: University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center / CWRU
Why UH: It’s the place that I did most of my research in addition to Internal Medicine training, which led me to know the institution very well and it’s great things such as an amazing clinical experience, diverse staff and a well stablished research department with world-wide famous researchers.
Plan after graduation: Fellowship training in either/or Electrophysiology/Interventional Cardiology
Research Interests: Coronary physiology, intravascular imaging, biomedical engineering in interventional cardiology
Fun Fact: I’m am both an exercise geek and a computer geek and my BFF is Satawart!
Favorite things to do in Cleveland: Cycling on Towpath Trail and riding my bike thru Cuyahoga National Park are one of my favorites. The restaurant scene is very good as well!
Satawart Upadhyay, MD
Hometown: Richmond, Virginia
Medical School: Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Residency: University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center/CWRU
Why UH: Incredible training environment with individuals who are passionate about patient care, advocacy, and medical education
Plan after graduation: Electrophysiology or Interventional Cardiology
Research Interests: Integrating AI into Medicine, Medical Education/Curriculum Development, Quality Improvement
Fun Fact: I've visited 14 national parks (and counting)
Favorite things to do in Cleveland: Cleveland Metroparks/CVNP with my dogs, biking the Towpath trail, exploring new restaurants/breweries, Flats, Cavs/Guardians >> Browns, Playhouse Square, Cleveland Orchestra (at Severance Hall and Blossom Music Center), Cleveland Museum of Art (free exhibits and MIX events)
First Year
Alwaleed Aljamaan, MD
Hometown: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Med school: King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences
Residency: University of Ottawa, Canada
Why UH: excellent exposure to both bread and butter cardiology as well as complex, rare pathology in addition to its friendly and supportive environment
Plans after graduation: Undecided yet
Research interests: Valvular heart disease,
Fun fact: If I wasn't a physician, you would've found me as a professional soccer player!
Favorite things to do in Cleveland: Discovering new restaurants
Harish Chatrathi, MD
Hometown: Clarksville, Maryland
Medical school: University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Residency: Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals
Why UH: I came to UH for the outstanding clinical training, the strong culture of autonomy, and the opportunity to pursue meaningful basic and translational research. What has made me happiest about that decision, though, is the people—I feel lucky to train alongside such supportive fellows and faculty.
Plans after graduation: I plan to become an academic cardiologist and physician-scientist, caring for patients while building a translational research program focused on the molecular mechanisms of cardiovascular disease.
Research interests: My research focuses on genetic forms of hypertension and how dysregulated protein neddylation affects vascular smooth muscle, cardiomyocytes, and glial cells. I'm especially interested in using rare genetic diseases to uncover insights that may apply more broadly to hypertension and cardiovascular remodeling.
Fun fact: I grew up playing competitive junior golf and tennis—and played both with and against Francis Tiafoe when we were kids.
Favorite things to do in Cleveland: Trying new restaurants with my fiancé, playing golf and tennis, and going to the movies.
Ibolya Csecs, MD, PhD
Yara Jelwan, MD
Hometown: Byblos, Lebanon
Med school: Lebanese American University School of Medicine
Residency: Internal Medicine at St Luke's Hospital
Fellowship: Preventive Cardiology at Johns Hopkins Hospital
Why UH: I have had the opportunity to meet several wonderful graduates of the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program at UH, all of whom spoke highly of their training and strongly recommended the program. During my interviews, I immediately felt a genuine connection with the faculty and recognized how closely my own goals align with those of UH: to serve and heal the community, to teach and continue learning from others, and to advance cardiovascular care through meaningful research and discovery.
Plans after graduation: My goal is to become a leader in cardiovascular prevention and imaging, both clinically and academically, providing high-quality comprehensive preventive care while contributing to research, education, and the advancement of the field.
Research interests: Cardiometabolic health, multimodality cardiovascular imaging, prevention of cardiovascular disease and cardiovascular public health
Fun fact: In the past eight years, I've called seven cities across three continents home!
Favorite things to do in Cleveland: The art scene in Cleveland is outstanding. From concerts and art exhibitions to niche movie clubs, there is always something new to discover and something to feed the soul. I also love catching the sunset anywhere along the lakefront when it's warm.
Matthew Nied, MD
Hometown: Northfield, Ohio
Med school: Northeast Ohio Medical University
Residency: CWRU/UH CMC
Why UH: Loved the program culture and clinical experience. I felt confident that no program would prepare me better to be the Cardiologist that I want to become!
Plans after graduation: Interventional Cardiology
Research interests: Cardiogenic shock, mechanical circulatory support, valvular heart disease
Fun fact: I have a wife and three daughters, so I've become very comfortable being told what to do by people significantly shorter than me.
Favorite things to do in Cleveland: Hike or go to the zoo with my three daughters and wife
Eve Schodowski, MD
Hometown: Rocky River OH
Med school: University of Toledo
Residency: UH CMC
Why UH: Collegial atmosphere and world class education right at home
Plans after graduation: keeping an open mind, but interested in preventive cardiology and cardiovascular global health
Research interests: air pollution and cardiovascular outcomes, global health
Fun fact: I minored in Spanish in college and enjoy learning/speaking the language
Favorite things to do in Cleveland: Visit the various Metroparks, spend time with friends/family, try new restaurants (Thai cuisine is a favorite)