2023 Graduates
Kamel Shibbani, MD (2020-2023)
Medical School: American University, Beirut, Lebanon
Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, IA
Krista Young, MD (2020-2023)
Medical School: University of Texas School of Medicine, San Antonio
Residency: University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ
2022 Graduates
Kurt Bjorkman, MD (2019-2022)
Medical School: Michigan State University College of Human Medicine, East Lansing, Mich.
Residency: Yale New Haven Hospital, New Haven, Conn.
Janelle Buysse, DO (2019-2022)
Medical School: Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine, Erie, Pa.
Residency: Advocate Children’s Hospital, Oak Lawn, Ill.
2021 Graduates
Omar Abu Anza, MBChB (2018-2021)
Medical School: Cairo University, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo
Residency: University at Buffalo, Women and Children’s Hospital of Buffalo, Buffalo, N.Y.
Research: Doppler estimated pressure gradient after stent repair of coarctation of aorta
Current Position: Clinical Assistant Professor, Pediatric Cardiology, University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, Okla.
2020 Graduates
Nikola Dragisic, MD (2017-2020)
Medical School: American University of the Caribbean, School of Medicine, Coral Gables, Fla.
Residency: Atlantic Health Systems, Morristown, N.J.
Research: Evaluating the in vivo role of cyclin C in mammalian hearts
Current Position: Associate, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
Natasha Gonzalez Estevez, MD (2017-2020)
Medical School: University of Puerto Rico, School of Medicine, San Juan, Puerto Rico
Research: The use of novel MRI analysis model for evaluation of the RVOT in patients with congenital heart disease
Post Fellowship Training: Advanced Imaging Fellowship, University of California Los Angeles
2019 Graduates
Jess Randall, MD (2016-2019)
Medical School: University of Kansas, School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kan.
Residency: Phoenix Children's Hospital, Phoenix
Research Interests: Novel targets for treatment of pediatric pulmonary hypertension
Post Fellowship Training: Interventional Cardiology, Colorado Children’s Hospital, Denver, 2019-2020
Current Position: Group practice interventional cardiologist Rochester, N.Y., 2020-Present
2018 Graduates
Randi Durden (Parker), MD (2015-2018)
Medical School: Ross University, School of Medicine, Roseau, Dominica
Residency: Memorial University Medical Center, Savannah, Ga.
Research Interests: Childhood obesity and obesity prevention: looking into identifiable risk factors for obesity with the goal of implementation of early childhood interventions to prevent childhood obesity
Current Position: Pediatric Cardiology Associates of Houston, Houston
Deidra Ansah, MD (2015-2018)
Medical School: East Carolina University, Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, N.C.
Residency: Emory University Hospital, Atlanta
Research Interests: Determination of cardiac size and function in SSRI exposed infants
Post Fellowship Training: Advanced Imaging Fellowship, Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago
2017 Graduates
Omar Rodriguez, MD (2014-2017)
Medical School: State University of New York Downstate Medical Center, New York
Residency: Northwell Health, New York
Chief Residency: Northwell Health, New York
Research Interests: Thrombosis prevention in children with congenital heart disease
Current Position: Critical Care Fellowship, University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa
Post Fellowship Training: Pediatric Critical Care, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
2016 Graduates
Derek Hoyme, MD (2013-2016)
Medical School: University of Buffalo, State University of New York School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Buffalo, N.Y.
Residency: University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.
Research Interests: Resuscitation outcomes and outcomes of resuscitation education programs in Iowa High Schools
Current Position: University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Madison, Wis.
Sonya Kirmani, MD (2013-2016)
Medical School: University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
Research Interests: Dilated cardiomyopathy results in dilated ventricles with depressed systolic function
Additional Training: Heart failure and transplant, Washington University, St. Louis
Current Position: Duke Children’s Health Center; Cardiac Transplant, Durham, N.C.
Post Fellowship Training: Pediatric Heart Failure and Transplant, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, Washington University, St. Louis
2015 Graduates
Govinda Paudel, MD (2012-2015)
Medical School: B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Dharan, Nepal
Residency: Lincoln Medical and Mental Health Center, New York
Research Interests: Computational Fluid Dynamics in Cardiovascular Diseases
Additional Training: Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellow, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
Current Position: LeBonheur Children's Hospital, Memphis, Tenn.
Area of Expertise: Cardiac Imaging
Post Fellowship Training: Imaging Fellowship, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
2014 Graduates
Luis Ochoa, MD (2011-2014)
Medical School: University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Residency: University of Colorado, Denver / The Children's Hospital; Aurora, Colo.
Research Interests: Regulation of Epithelial Sodium Channel Gating in Hypertension
Additional Training: Electrophysiology, Duke University, Durham, N.C.
Current Position: University of Iowa Stead Family Children's Hospital, Iowa City, Iowa
Area of Expertise: Electrophysiology
Post Fellowship Training: Pediatric Electrophysiology, Duke University, Durham, N.C.
M. Santiago Restrepo, MD (2011-2014)
Medical School: University of Antioquia, Medical School, Medellín, Colombia
Residency: Woodhull Medical and Mental Health Center, New York
Research Interests: In-vivo delivery of a viral vector for gene therapy in cystic fibrosis
Additional Training: None
Current Position: Pediatric Cardiologist, Children's Hospital Central California, Madera, Calif.
Area of Expertise: General Cardiology
2013 Graduates
Lindsey Malloy, DO, MPH (2010-2013)
Medical School: Kansas City University of Medicine and Biosciences, Kansas City, Mo.
Residency: Children’s Mercy, University of Missouri at Kansas City, Kansas City, Mo.
Research Interests: Biochemical changes caused by aortic aneurysm actin mutations.
Additional Training: Fourth year EP Fellowship, Stanford Medical School, Stanford, Calif.
Current Position: Pediatric Cardiologist, Children’s Mercy, Kansas City, Mo.
Area of Expertise: Pediatric Electrophysiology
Post Fellowship Training: Pediatric Electrophysiology, Lucille Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford Hospital, Stanford, Calif.
2012 Graduates
Benton Ng, MD (2009-2012)
Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas
Residency: University of Wisconsin Hospitals and Clinics, Madison, Wis.
Research Interests: Heart rate variability in newborns
Additional Training: Completion of Masters in clinical investigation. Three-month observership at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia for cardiac MRI.
Current Position: Pediatric Cardiologist, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, Fla.
Area of Expertise: Imaging, including transthoracic echo, transesophageal echo, and cardiac MRI
Post Fellowship Training: Completion of Masters in Clinical Investigation, Cardiac MRI Observership, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia
2011 Graduates
Scott (Jared) Bentley, DO (2008-2011)
Medical School: University of New England, College of Osteopathic Medicine, Biddeford, Maine
Residency: Naval Medical Center, Portsmouth, Va.
Research Interests: Obstructive sleep apnea (clinical markers of and cardiovascular changes associated with OSA) and childhood obesity
Additional Training: None
Current Position: Major in the United States Air Force, San Antonio
Area of Expertise: General Pediatric Cardiology
Susan Haynes, MD (2008-2011)
Medical School: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, S.C.
Residency: University of South Alabama, University Hospital, Mobile, Ala.
Research Interests: Hypertension in preterm infants
Additional Training: None
Current Position: Greenville Health System, Greenville, S.C.
Area of Expertise: General cardiology and imaging
2010 Graduates
Melissa M. Agoudemos, MD, PhD (2007-2010)
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
Research Interests: Cardiovascular effects in offspring of diabetic mothers
Additional Training: None
Current Position: St. Luke's Children's Cardiology, Boise, Idaho
Area of Expertise: Pediatric Echocardiography
Ryan Johnson, MD (2007-2010)
Medical School: Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Ore.
Residency: University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.
Research Interests: Development of novel indices of right and left ventricular morphology/motion and aortic morphology/motion using 4D MR imaging in pediatric patients with tetralogy of Fallot and connective tissue disorders.
Additional Training: None
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Arizona Medical Center, Tucson, Ariz.
Area of Expertise: General pediatric cardiology
2009 Graduates
Sonali Patel, MD, PhD (2006-2009)
Medical School: University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
Research Interests: Epidemiology of atherosclerotic heart disease in pediatric patients
Additional Training: Pediatric Cardiology Research Fellowship, PhD Thesis in Epidemiology
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Director, Hypertension Program, Co-Director, Preventive Cardiology, University of Colorado, School of Medicine, Denver
Area of Expertise: Preventive cardiology
Post Fellowship Training: Pediatric Cardiology Research Fellowship, PhD Thesis in Epidemiology, University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
2008 Graduates
Priti Patel, MBBS, MD (2005-2008)
Medical School: Sri M.P. Shah Medical College, Jamnagar, India
Residency: John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Chicago
Research Interests: Genetic determinants of patent ductus arteriosus in term infants; Gene linkage analysis for familial atrial fibrillation, ventricular arrhythmias, and/or cardiomyopathy
Additional Training: Pediatric Cardiology (interventional cardiac catheterization), Baylor University, College of Medicine, Houston
Current Position: Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Illinois, Peoria, Ill.
Area of Expertise: Interventional cardiac catheterization Post Fellowship Training: Pediatric Cardiology (interventional cardiac catheterization), Baylor University, College of Medicine, Houston
Post Fellowship Training: Pediatric Cardiology (interventional cardiac catheterization), Baylor University, College of Medicine, Houston
Nicholas Von Bergen, MD (2005-2008)
Medical School: University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Residency: University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
Research Interests: Alterations of heart rate variability as a predictor of sudden cardiac death in the Norwood population; Alterations in reactive oxygen species production in ovine coronary artery smooth muscle cells, mitochondrial and sub-mitochondrial particles in early gestation dexamethasone programmed ewes; Effectiveness of ICDs by indication in children and young adults with congenital heart disease; Exercise related syncope in pediatrics
Additional Training: Pediatric Cardiology, Visiting Scholar in Pediatric Electrophysiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Current Position: Associate Professor, University of Wisconsin, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Madison, Wis.
Area of Expertise: Pediatric electrophysiology Post Fellowship Training:Pediatric Cardiology, Visiting Scholar in Pediatric Electrophysiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
Post Fellowship Training: Pediatric Cardiology, Visiting Scholar in Pediatric Electrophysiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.
2007 Graduates
Robert Escalera, MD (2004-2007)
Medical School: Georgetown University, School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia
Residency: University of California, San Francisco
Research Interests: The role of early genetic determinants of Xenopus heart development
Additional Training: None
Current Position: Pediatric Cardiology Associates, Fairfax, Va.
Area of Expertise: General Pediatric Cardiology
2006 Graduates
Benjamin Reinking, MD (2003-2006)
Medical School: University of Iowa, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Residency: University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.
Research Interests: Using high resolution ultrasound to define the cardiac phenotype of small animal models
Additional Training: Echocardiography, Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford Hospital, Stanford, Calif.
Current Position: Director Pediatric Echocardiography Laboratory, Professor of Pediatrics, University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Iowa City, Iowa
Area of Expertise: Pediatric echocardiography Post Fellowship Training:Echocardiography, Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford Hospital, Stanford, Calif.
Post Fellowship Training: Echocardiography, Lucille Packard Children’s Hospital, Stanford Hospital, Stanford, Calif.
2005 Graduates
Aaron Olson, MD (2002-2005)
Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis and University of Minnesota, School of Medicine, Duluth, Minn.
Residency: University of Chicago Hospital and Clinics, Chicago
Research Interests: Signaling pathways in fetal cardiac hypertrophy
Additional Training: None
Current Position: Associate Professor, University of Washington, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Seattle
Area of Expertise: General pediatric cardiology
2004 Graduates
Jeffrey Frazer, MD (2001-2004)
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee
Residency: University of Arizona, Tucson, Ariz.
Research Interests: Delineating the metabolic and physiologic alterations in cardiovascular function induced by deletion of the gene for the voltage-dependent chloride channel CIC-3
Additional Training: Interventional Cardiology, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Children’s Hospital of San Diego, University of California, San Diego
Current Position: Associate Professor, University of California, Pediatric Cardiology, San Diego
Area of Expertise: Interventional cardiac catheterization
Post Fellowship Training:Interventional Cardiology, Children’s Hospital of San Diego, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of California, San Diego