Program:
Thoracic Surgery-Independent Fellowship
Class Of:
Graduated:
Chief Resident:
Show as Alumni:
Thoracic Surgery-Independent Fellowship
About the Program
Thoracic Surgery Fellowship
The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery offers a two-year thoracic surgery fellowship program that is accredited by the ACGME. During the two-year program, fellows will rotate full time at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, and the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital to provide trainees with an in-depth experience of cardiothoracic care.
The objective of our two-year fellowship is to train outstanding clinicians in the field of Cardiothoracic Surgery encompassing the full spectrum of CT surgery. We train our fellows in minimally invasive techniques for CT surgery, heart and lung transplants, and instill interest in scientific investigations. We are passionate about helping trainees achieve their career goals, whether those be private practice or an academic career.
During your time as a fellow at Iowa, you will have flexibility with your rotation experience depending on your individual interest. Fellows will assume administrative responsibilities during their training to provide experience in managing busy clinical services.
Upon graduation, residents are eligible for the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) qualifying and certifying exams setting them up for successful careers in academic or private practice settings.
Conferences
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery Conference Schedule:
Monday
7 AM – Cardiothoracic Resident Conference
Tuesday
7 AM – Thoracic Tumor Board
7:15 AM – Adult Cardiac High-Risk Conference
Wednesday
7AM - Cardiothoracic Grand Rounds(2nd Wednesday of the month)
7AM - Supplemental Education Conference (4th Wednesday of the month)
Thursday
7 AM - Thoracic Case Review
7:15AM - Cardiothoracic/Cardiology Conference
Friday
7 AM – Adult Cardiac Team ICU Rounds
1 PM - Surgical Skills Lab
Fellows will have the opportunity to attend annual conferences:
- TSDA (Thoracic Surgery Directors Association) Boot Camp (for first year fellows)
- AATS (American Association for Thoracic Surgery)
- STS (Society of Thoracic Surgeons)
Fellows will also have the opportunity to attend other conferences if they have been accepted to present and have received departmental approval.
Research
Research in the department of cardiothoracic surgery is diverse and robust and an integral part of our mission at Iowa. Research opportunities in adult cardiac, general thoracic, and pediatric cardiac surgery include outcomes research, clinical trials, quality improvement initiatives, education, case reports, and basic science. While not required, we actively support and encourage our fellows to identify projects of interest and work to submit their research to national meetings and for publication.
Lab photos
Note: The following images contain graphic content.
Typical Schedule
Fellows will spend their training at the University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics and the UI Stead Family Children’s Hospital
A sample training program is listed below. Schedules may vary by individuals’ interest in either cardiac or thoracic surgery. This schedule is only an example: there may be variations throughout each year.
| Block | Number of Blocks |
|---|---|
| Adult Cardiac Surgery | 6 |
| General Thoracic Surgery | 4 |
| Pediatric Cardiac Surgery | 3 |
| Block | Number of Blocks |
|---|---|
| Adult Cardiac Surgery | 4 |
| General Thoracic Surgery | 7 |
| Pediatric Cardiac Surgery | 2 |
How to Apply
Applications for the Thoracic Surgery Fellowship will be accepted through ERAS (Electronic Residency Application Service).
Eligible candidates must have completed an approved General Surgery residency prior to the initiation of the fellowship and be eligible for certification by the ABTS (American Board of Thoracic Surgery).
Our program selects one candidate into the fellowship program each year or every other year through the NRMP (National Resident Matching Program).
In person interviews will be held on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 with a welcome reception the evening before.
American Board of Thoracic Surgery Certification
In order to be eligible for American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS) certification, candidates must fulfill all residency and operative requirements of the ABTS in force at the time their applications are received.
For more information on the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and their certification process, visit the ABTS website.
Our People
At Iowa, you will be exposed to some of the best clinicians, researchers, and teachers in our profession. Through formal mentoring programs as well as an open-door philosophy, we provide high-powered opportunities for you to learn career-long lessons from these dedicated professionals.
Our Faculty
The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery has faculty whose clinical, teaching, and research expertise spans a comprehensive and immersive experience into the diagnosis, management and treatment of all aspects of cardiovascular and thoracic diseases.
Cardiothoracic Surgery Faculty
Adnan Al Ayoubi, MD, PhD
Adult Cardiac Surgery, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
1-319-356-1330
adnan-alayoubi@uiowa.edu
Evgeny Arshava, MD, FACS
Clinical Associate Professor
Thoracic Surgery Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
1-319-356-2032
evgeny-arshava@uiowa.edu
Mohammad Bashir, MBBS
Clinical Associate Professor, Structural Heart Disease Program Surgical Director, Director of Adult Cardiac Services
Adult Cardiac Surgery Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
1-319-356-4087
mohammad-bashir@uiowa.edu
Mohsen Karimi, MD, MS, MBA
Clinical Professor, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
1-319-353-6810
mohsen-karimi@uiowa.edu
John Keech, MD, FACS
Clinical Associate Professor, Educational Program Director,
Director of the Center for Procedural Skills and Simulation
Thoracic Surgery Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
1-319-356-4518
john-keech@uiowa.edu
Yuki Nakamura, MD
Yuki Nakamura
Clinical Associate Professor
Director of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
Surgical Director of Pediatric ECMO/Cardiac Perfusion
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
319-384-6022
yuki-nakamura@uiowa.edu
Ali Nasr, MD, PhD, FETCS, FACS
Clinical Assistant Professor
Adult Cardiac Surgery/Procurement Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
1-319-356-0848
ali-nasr@uiowa.edu
Anthony Panos, MD, MSc, FRCSC, FACS
Adult Cardiac Surgery Professor, Heart Transplant Surgical Director, Mechanical Circulatory Support Surgical Director
Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
1-319-356-8868
anthony-panos@uiowa.edu
Kalpaj Parekh, MBBS
Nicholas P. Rossi Professor, DEO
Professor, Lung Transplant Surgical Director
Thoracic Surgery Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
1-319-353-6758
kalpaj-parekh@uiowa.edu
Arun Singhal, MD, PhD, FACS
Clinical Associate Professor
Adult Cardiac Surgery Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
1-319-384-8365
arun-singhal@uiowa.edu
Anthony Swatek, MD
Assistant Professor
Thoracic Surgery Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
319-353-8476
anthony-swatek@uiowa.edu
Residency Leaders
John Keech, MD
Residency Program Director
Mohammed Bashir, MD
Associate Program Director
Jody Gingerich
Program Coordinator
Email: jody-gingerich@uiowa.edu
Our Fellows
Abhishek Kantamneni
Residencies:
University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics General Surgery
Degrees:
MD
Medical School:
University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine
Hometown:
Madison, WI
Person Type:
E-mail:
City:
Iowa City
State:
Iowa
Zip:
52242
Facility:
University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics
Facility Street Address:
200 Hawkins Drive
Programs:
Alumni Placement
Where Are They Now?
Since the program began in 1949 we have 79 graduates who have started in private practice and 42 who started at an academic institution.
Recent Graduates:
2016 William Fisher; Private Practice - Milwaukee, WI
2017 Sarah Ahmad; Private Practice - Monroe, LA
2018 Trent Howard; Thoracic Surgeon, Brookwood Baptist Health - Alabaster, AL
2019 Pauline Go; Assistant Professor of Surgery, Thoracic Surgeon, Penn State Health - Hershey, PA
2020 Ruchi Thanawala; Assistant Porfessor of Surgery, Thoracic Surgeon, Oregon Health & Science University - Portland, OR
2021 Thamer Robert Qaqish; Director of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic Surgeon, Erie County Medical Center - Bufflao, NY
2022 Anthony Swatek; Thoracic Surgeon, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics - Iowa City, IA
2023 Adnan Al Ayoubi; Adult Cardiac Surgeon, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics - Iowa City, IA
2024 Albert Pai; Aortic Surgery Fellowship, Cleveland Clinic-Cleveland, OH
Department Chair
Welcome to the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Iowa. The Cardiothoracic Surgery training program at Iowa is the third oldest training program in the country and has a long tradition of training outstanding residents and fellows. Our educational mission is to train future Cardiothoracic Surgeons we would be comfortable with them operating on ourselves and our
family.
Our department is the leader in tertiary-level Cardiothoracic Surgery care in the state and the surrounding region. Our patient population is diverse and presents with a variety of cases from “bread and butter” surgical cases to highly complex surgical cases including mechanical circulatory support, heart and lung transplants, ECMO and complex cardiac and thoracic surgeries. We provide a multidisciplinary approach to the care of all our patients. Our clinical services range from outpatient to inpatient at both the University of Iowa and the Iowa City Veterans Affairs Medical Center. We enjoy strong collaborations with the cardiology (adult and pediatric), pulmonology, oncology, and gastrointestinal services, as well as radiation oncology and thoracic radiology.
We are proud to be a part of the financially strong University of Iowa Hospital and the academically strong Carver College of Medicine. The department is fortunate to have faculty members who care passionately about the education of our residents, fellows, as well as our medical students, and colleagues (through continuing medical education.) Iowa City is an outstanding community, close to several larger cities (Chicago, Kansas City, St. Louis, and Minneapolis-St. Paul) and enjoys low-cost living, little traffic, and a world-class public school system. The area is culturally rich and offers music, literature, college athletics, international cuisine, and fine art of the highest quality.
Our department takes pride in its rich history, while continuing to advance our vision of the future for academic health care, innovation and medical education. We hope you will take the time to become familiar with all that our fellowship program has to offer.
Kalpaj Parekh, MBBS
Kalpaj Parekh, MBBS is the Chair and DEO of Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery.