Home » Education » Fellowship Programs » Brodie Family Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program

Medical Education

Committed to Teaching Future Generations of Physicians for our Community

Residency Programs
Fellowship Programs
Educational Courses and Events
- International Observership Courses
Life in Miami Beach

Brodie Family Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program

Letter from the Program Director

Mount Sinai Medical Center is the largest private, independent, non-profit teaching hospital in South Florida. Our 672-bed hospital provides care to a large local patient population throughout South Florida. Mount Sinai also serves as a referral center to international patients from the Caribbean and Central and South America. We are a three-year fellowship program that complies with all ACGME requirements and follows the guidelines and recommendations of the American College of Cardiology (COCATS). Fellows receive training and supervised experience in the evaluation and management of a wide variety of acute and chronic cardiovascular conditions. Clinical rotations, simulation, didactics, procedures, mentored research, and self-directed learning prepare our fellows to be outstanding physicians. All applications are accepted only through the ERAS system. Our program is directed by the Columbia University Division of Cardiology at MSMC.

Esteban Escolar, MD
Program Director, Brodie Family Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program

Program Overview

Teaching Philosophy

At Mount Sinai Medical Center, we stress the physician’s primary obligation to patient care and patient advocacy. Fellows accept progressive responsibility in an environment that is dedicated to their supervision and support.

Our program provides superior, “hands on” training for physicians who wish to become highly skilled clinical cardiologists as well as educators and investigators in cardiovascular disease.

Fellowship Management Team

Any active problems or issues are discussed, and plans for resolution and/or implementation are developed. A Clinical Competency Committee composed of select faculty members meets twice a year to review the progress of fellows and to identify any performance issues or unmet needs. Members include the Program Director, the Associate Program Director, the Program Coordinator, and core faculty teaching members.

House Staff Benefit

Fellows are provided with:
• Professional liability insurance
• Parking
• On-call room
• White lab coats
• Shared private offices, lounge with TV, refrigerator, and computer stations
• $2000 Educational Allowance
• 14 paid sick days
• 28 paid vacation days
• Long-term disability insurance

Fellows are eligible for:
• Health insurance for resident and dependents
• Dental insurance
• Life insurance

Education and Teaching Conferences

We are dedicated to teaching comprehensive and compassionate cardiovascular care while developing a learning environment that facilitates the achievement of knowledge and life-long learning abilities and providing time, resources, and mentoring to develop research skills. Our cardiology fellows spend a minimum of 24 months in clinical training, in the diagnosis and management of a broad spectrum of cardiovascular diseases. Fellows receive skillful training in electrocardiography, stress testing, echocardiography, electrophysiology, cardiac intensive care, nuclear cardiology, advanced cardiovascular imaging, and diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Also, fellows are strongly encouraged to contribute in scholarly activities that range from clinical, translational, or basic science research to case reports, book chapters, or national presentations. Numerous conferences are held on a continuing basis, including EKG conference, echo conference, and subspecialty conferences in electrophysiology, interventional cardiology, nuclear/imaging, and vascular medicine. Fellows attend the weekly Cardiology Grand Rounds lecture series in which national visiting speakers and MSMC faculty members provide presentations on important clinical subjects and clinically relevant research topics.

Program Curriculum

There are 6 fellows each year for a total of 18 fellows in the program. We are proud of our full ten year (maximum) accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).

Rotation	1st Year	2nd year	3rd year
Consults	5	1.5	–
CCU	1	1	1
EP	1	1	1
Echo lab (TTE/TEE)	2	3.5	2
Stress test	1	2	–
CT/MRI/Nuclear	–	1	1
Cath	1	1	2
Heart Failure (Columbia University)	–	1	1
Elective	–	–	4
Vacation	1	1	1
Orientation	1	–	–
Total	13	13	13

Ambulatory Experience

Division of Cardiology has an active outpatient clinic. The patient populations in these clinics provide a diverse experience in terms of gender, socioeconomic status and reason for referral. Routine management of common cardiology problems, pre-operative evaluations prior to noncardiac surgery, evaluations of potential revascularization procedures (surgical and interventional), post-revascularization follow-up, follow-up of recently discharged patients, and referrals for complex cardiology problems are similar in all venues. Each fellow is assigned to one half-day per week. Patients who require continued care are followed by the same fellow throughout his/her three-year training period.

Career Guidance

Our faculty members are leading experts within their field who are committed to mentoring Cardiology fellows. Our faculty provides fellows with access to unique clinical and research opportunities and guidance on career development.

Faculty

Residency Management Team

Cardiology Fellowship Core Faculty

CHIEF, COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY DIVISION OF CARDIOLOGY AT MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER
Gervasio Lamas, MD, FACC, FAHA, FESC
Chairman of Medicine
Professor of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center
Co-Director, Mount Sinai Heart Institute
Medical School: New York University School of Medicine
Residency: Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School
Cardiology Fellowship: Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School
Specialty: Cardiovascular Disease

PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Esteban Escolar, MD, FACC
Director, Coronary Care Unit and Pulmonary Hypertension Clinic
Columbia University Division of Cardiology at Mount Sinai Medical Center
Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine, Columbia University
Medical School: Universidad de Buenos Aires
Residency: Washington Hospital Center – Georgetown University
Cardiology Fellowship: Mount Sinai Medical Center- Miami Beach
Specialty: Cardiovascular Disease, Pulmonary Hypertension

ASSOCIATE PROGRAM DIRECTOR
Cesar A. Conde MD, FACC, FACP, FAHA
Director, Postgraduate Cardiovascular Education
Associate Director, Cardiology Fellowship Training Program
Columbia University Division of Cardiology at Mount Sinai Medical Center of Florida
Clinical Professor of Cardiology
Miller School of Medicine
University of Miami
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Columbia University
Medical School: Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos
Residency: Henry Ford Hospital
Cardiology Fellowship: Mount Sinai Medical Center- New York
Specialty: Cardiovascular Disease

Olivia Mechanic, MD
Cardiologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Columbia University Division of Cardiology at Mount Sinai Medical Center
Associate Director, Cardiology Fellowship Training Program
University Division of Cardiology at Mount Sinai Medical Center
Medical School: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Residency: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School
Fellowship: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School

Nirat Beohar, MD
Vice Chief, Columbia University Division of Cardiology at Mount Sinai Medical Center
Director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory
Medical Director, Structural Heart Disease Program
Program Director, Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program
Associate Professor of Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center
Medical School: Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi University
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine- Houston, TX
Cardiology Fellowship: George Washington University
Interventional Cardiology Fellowship: Northwesten /University Feinberg School of Medicine
Specialty: Cardiovascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology

Alfonso Tolentino, MD, FACC
Vice Chair, Department of Medicine
Director, Electrocardiography Laboratory
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Columbia University
Medical School: University of the East Ramon Magsaysay Memorial Medical Center- Philippines
Residency: Mercy Catholic Medical Center- Philadelphia
Cardiology Fellowship: Mount Sinai Medical Center- Miami Beach
Specialty: Cardiovascular Disease

Todd Heimowitz, DO
Clinical & Interventional Cardiology
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Columbia University
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Mount Sinai Medical Center- Miami Beach
Cardiology Fellowship: Mount Sinai Medical Center- Miami Beach
Interventional Cardiology Fellowship: Mount Sinai Medical Center- Miami Beach
Specialty: Cardiovascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology

Christos Mihos, DO
Director of Echo Lab
Clinical Cardiologist
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Columbia University
Medical School: Nova Southeastern University College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Mount Sinai Medical Center- Miami Beach
Cardiology Fellowship: Mount Sinai Medical Center- Miami Beach
Advanced Echocardiography Fellowship: Massachusetts General Hospital
Specialty: Cardiovascular Disease, Echocardiology

Christian Koelbl, MD
Clinical & Interventional Cardiology
Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine, Columbia University
Medical School: Heidelberg University School of Medicine
Residency: Boston University Medical Center
Cardiology Fellowship: Boston University Medical Center
Interventional Cardiology Fellowship: Boston University Medical Center
Specialty: Cardiovascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology

Rafle Fernandez, MD
Cardiologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Columbia University Division of Cardiology at Mount Sinai Medical Center
Medical School: University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Residency: Jackson Memorial Hospital/ University of Miami Miller School of Medicine
Fellowship: Mount Sinai Medical Center, Miami Beach

Mark Larralde, MD
Cardiologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Columbia University Division of Cardiology at Mount Sinai Medical Center
Medical School: Ross University School of Medicine
Residency: New York Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital
Fellowship: Cardiovascular Medicine, Howard University Hospital Advanced Echocardiography, University of California San Francisco

Sofia Horvath, MD
Clinical and noninvasive cardiologist
Medical School: Universidad Central de Venezuela
Residency: Mount Sinai Medical Center
Fellowship: Mount Sinai Medical Center

David Paniagua, MD
Medical School: University of Costa Rica
Residency: Mount Sinai Medical Center – Miami Beach
Cardiology Fellowship: Mount Sinai Medical Center – Miami Beach
Interventional Cardiology Fellowship: Texas heart Institute Baylor College of Medicine – Houston, Texas
Specialty: Cardiovascular Disease, Structural Heart Disease, Interventional Cardiology

Electrophysiologist Faculty

Raul Weiss, MD, FACC, FHRS, CCDS
Director of the Electrophysiology Service
Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
Medical School: Universidad Nacional de Tucuman
Residency: University of Southern California
Cardiology Fellowship: Cardiovascular Medicine, Cardiology – University of Michigan Medical Center
Specialty: Cardiovascular Disease, Electrophysiology

Jose Torres, MD
Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
Medical School: Universidad de Cuenca, Ecuador
Residency: Temple University
Cardiology Fellowship: Mount Sinai Medical Center
Specialty Cardiac Electrophysiology

Voluntary Faculty List

Hakop H.Hrachian, MD
Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology
Medical School: Islamic Azad University
Residency: Our Lady of Mercy Medical Center- New York Medical College
Cardiology Fellowship: Mount Sinai Medical Center- Miami Beach
Electrophysiology Fellowship: Temple University Hospital, Temple University
Specialty: Cardiovascular Disease, Electrophysiology

Fellows

Cardiology Fellows

Fellows

1st Year

Ahmed Abdelrahman, MD
Residency: Detroit Medical Center/ Wayne State University- Sinai Grace Hospital
Clinical interests: Electrophysiology, Interventional Cardiology

Raad Al-Muhaisen, MD
Residency: Roger Williams Medical Center/ Boston University
Clinical interests: Interventional Cardiology, Preventive Cardiology, Adult Congenital Heart Disease

Jose G. Gomez Casanovas, MD
Residency: University of Texas RGV
Clinical interest: Advanced Heart Failure, Critical Care and Social Determinants of Health.

Anupam Halder, MD
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Harrisburg
Clinical interests: Advanced Mechanical Circulatory Support, Cardiac Transplant, Heart Failure Therapies, Electrophysiology, Channelopathies

Benjamin Klein, DO
Residency: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
Clinical Interests: Interventional and Clinical Cardiology, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Koushik Sanku, MD
Residency: East Tennessee State University
Clinical Interest: Interventional Cardiology, Mechanical Circulatory Support, and Shock management

2nd Year

Haytham A. Aboushi, MD
Residency: SUNY Downstate Medical Center
Clinical Interest: Electrophysiology, Ventricular arrhythmias, Cardiac resynchronization therapy

Javier E. Arce, MD
Residency: Detroit Medical Center/ Huron Valley Sinai Hospital
Fellowship: Advanced cardiac imaging at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine
Clinical interest: Cardiac imaging, Coronary artery disease.

Nischit Baral, MD
Residency: McLaren Flint/Michigan State University College of Human Medicine
Clinical Interest: Cardio-oncology, Immune therapy, Atherosclerosis

Marissa Donatelle, MD
Residency: Mount Sinai Medical Center
Clinical Interest: Structural heart disease, Heart failure

Sri Mandava, MD
Residency: Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital
Clinical Interest: Interventional cardiology, Structural heart disease

David Meister, MD
Residency: Mount Sinai Morningside/West
Clinical Interest: Cardiovascular imaging, Pulmonary hypertension, Venous thromboembolism

3rd Year

Mohammad Altujjar, MD (Chief Fellows)
Residency: Ascension Saint John Hospital
Clinical interest: Interventional cardiology, Peripheral endovascular intervention

Hossam Alzu’bi, MD
Residency: Michigan State University/Hurley Medical Center
Fellowship: Vascular Medicine at Mayo Clinic – Rochester, MN
Clinical Interest: Vascular medicine, Endovascular intervention

Javier Arreaza, MD
Residency: Mount Sinai Morningside/West
Clinical Interest: Cardiovascular imaging, Strain analysis

Reshma Golamari, MD (Chief Fellows)
Residency: Mercy Catholic Medical Center
Clinical Interest: Advanced heart failure, Mechanical circulatory support

Mohammad Khatib, MD
Residency: Creighton University-Phoenix
Clinical interest: Cardiovascular imaging, Role of multimodality imaging, valvular heart disease.

Alexander Khodak, MD
Residency: Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell at North University Hospital/LIJ Medical Center
Chief Residency: Einstein Medical Center Montgomery
Clinical Interest: General Cardiology, Cardiovascular imaging

Application Information

General

Six positions are offered at Mount Sinai Medical Center’s Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program each year.

Mount Sinai Medical Center participates and accepts applications only through ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service). In addition, your application will only be considered if you are enrolled in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP). You must contact your medical school for delivery of your application, transcripts, Dean’s letter and faculty recommendations to our program via the internet.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THE DEADLINE FOR APPLYING THROUGH ERAS IS AUGUST 31.

NRMP#: #1105141F0

Program ID#: #1411112076

Required Documents for Application

The following supporting documents should be submitted via the ERAS program:

ERAS Application
Official Medical School Transcript
USMLE Transcripts (at least Steps 1&2) and if applicable, ECFMG status report
Personal Statement
Three (3) letters of recommendation, including one from your internal medicine program director.

Information for applicants on a Visa:

J-1 Visas will be sponsored for applicants who are accepted into the program. Foreign medical graduates will need to have completed an ACGME-approved residency program in Internal Medicine in the United States prior to beginning our program. -We are not able to sponsor or accept H-1 or O-1 visas. We will not convert H visas to J visas for individual candidates.
Your visa status must be certain at the time of application.

Interview Process

Upon receipt of the completed application, our selection committee will review all materials. Invitations for interviews will be offered via e-mail from Jessica Alvarado, Program Coordinator. Selected applicants are interviewed in the month of September. Inquiries may be directed to Jessica Alvarado, Program Coordinator, via e-mail, Jessica.alvarado@msmc.com, or by phone at 305.674.2251.

Alumni

MSMC Graduates

2023 Graduates

Karthik Vedantam: Interventional cardiology fellowship- Mount Sinai Medical Center

Christian Torres: Interventional cardiology fellowship- Mount Sinai Medical Center

Julio Grajeda: Private practice- Miami, FL

Matthew Lozier: Clinical cardiologist- University of South Florida

Ricardo De La Villa: Private practice- Miami, FL

Hernando Torres-Ortiz: Clinical cardiologist- Mount Sinai Medical Center

2022 Graduates

Priscilla Wessly: Advanced imaging fellowship- Houston Methodist Hospital

Garly Saint Croix: Interventional cardiology fellowship- Montefiore Medical Center

Tarec Elajami: Clinical cardiologist- MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center

Jorge Perez: Private practice- Miami, FL

2021 Graduates

Syed Zaidi: Advanced imaging fellowship- University of South Florida

John Lee: Electrophysiology fellowship- Ohio State University

Sarah Guigui: Clinical cardiologist- Mount Sinai Medical Center

Benjamin Hurwitz: Private practice- Miami, FL

2020 Graduates

Denisse Diaz: Clinical cardiologist- Mount Sinai Medical Center

Saberio Lo Presti: Advanced imaging fellowship- Cleveland Clinic, Ohio

Juan Vinardell: Interventional cardiology fellowship- Mount Sinai Medical Center

Jody Ritter: Clinical cardiologist- Memorial Healthcare System

2019 Graduates

Carlos Podesta Ornes: Interventional cardiology fellowship- Mount Sinai Medical Center

Rafle Fernandez: Clinical cardiologist- Mount Sinai Medical Center

Nafees Mohammed: Interventional cardiology fellowship- Mount Sinai Medical Center

Ahmed Zedan: Electrophysiology fellowship- UTHealth Houston

2018 Graduates

Sofia Horvath: Clinical cardiologist- Mount Sinai Medical Center

Sabry Omar: Interventional cardiology fellowship- University at Buffalo

Miguel Benavides: Private practice- Miami, FL

Omar Issa: Sports cardiology- Massachusetts General Hospital

More About Mount Sinai

Mount Sinai MEDICAL CENTER

Mount Sinai in the Media

Review the latest health news and updates from across the medical center.

Mount Sinai MEDICAL CENTER

Our Blogs

Hear from our physicians and surgeons about medical topics that matter to you.

MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER

Awards and Recognition

Read about our well-deserved reputation for the highest quality of care.

The Irma and Norman Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center

MOUNT SINAI MEDICAL CENTER

Building for the Future

Learn more about the Irma and Norman Braman Comprehensive Cancer Center, scheduled to open in 2025.