Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship Program
Third 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 - Associate Chief Fellow
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 - 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
Second 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.
First Year
Jawad Almajed, MD
Hometown: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Medical School: King Saud University
Residency: University of Utah
Why UH: Great exposure to different cardiovascular presentations, collegial environment with amazing mentors, I also have a lot of friends in Cleveland.
Plan after graduation: Unsure yet, I like everything in Cardiology
Research Interests: Advanced heart failure
Fun Fact: I love traveling and I have been to 5/7 continents of the world, I also have an interest in space and astrophysics.
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: I love classical music, so I'm looking forward to visit the Cleveland orchestra center.
Menatalla Mekhaimar, MD
Hometown: England
Medical School: Weill Cornell-Qatar
Residency: The Mount Sinai Hospital
Why UH: Great program with faculty who enjoy teaching and a friendly environment to learn in.
Plan after graduation: Heart Failure
Research Interests: Treatments to improve mortality in heart failure
Fun Fact: I’ve lived in over 7 cities and counting
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Hiking and all the great food spots
Obiageli Obiako, MD
Hometown: Cleveland, Ohio
Medical School: Wright State Boonshoft School of Medicine
Residency: University of Connecticut
Why UH: Supportive and collegial environment, great mentorship, diverse learning opportunities.
Plan after graduation: Advanced imaging, preventive health
Research Interests: Nuclear imaging, health disparities, prevention
Fun Fact: My new-found passion is home interior design
Favorite things to do in Cleveland: Going to Metroparks and museums, exploring downtown, and trying out different restaurants.
Nikhil Parimi, MD
Hometown: Broadview Heights, Ohio
Medical School: University of Kansas School of Medicine
Residency: University of Kansas Medical Center
Why UH: On my interview day, I could tell that the program genuinely cares about the fellows and their growth, both personally and professionally. They also have excellent resources for research, which makes UH a well-rounded training program.
Plan after graduation: General Cardiology
Research Interests: Imaging, Prevention
Fun Fact: I am working on improving my tennis and golf game.
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Eating at all the great restaurants, enjoying the outdoors.
Sherin Sallam, MD
Hometown: Alexandria, Egypt
Medical School: Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar
Residency: Case Western Reserve University/UH Cleveland Medical Center
Why UH: My home residency program, I clearly like it here!
Plan after graduation: Subspecialty training
Research Interests: Electrophysiology, Imaging
Fun Fact: I have been to 30 countries so far.
Favorite thing to do in Cleveland: Hiking, jet skiing, kayaking, going to the Cleveland Orchestra, UC museums, and pop-up exhibitions.
