Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program
The Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program in the Division of Pediatric Cardiology is dedicated to preparing pediatric cardiologists for academic positions at institutions throughout the United States and the world. The program aims to provide a complete clinical experience in all aspects of pediatric cardiology as well as to develop independence in clinical or laboratory research related to the subspecialty.
Our ACGME-accredited fellowship program combines clinical experience with a wide variety of educational programs, including weekly conferences and lecture series, to enhance the learning experience for fellows with varying areas of interests.
Curriculum
The clinical portion of fellowship consists of 24 months of experience including clinical service, CVICU, outpatient clinics, catheterization, electrophysiology, echocardiography, and adult congenital heart disease. Twelve months of the program are reserved for scholarly activity. Scholarly activity begins in the first year.
Typical lecture schedule:
Monday AM:
- Echocardiogram case review (weekly)
Tuesday AM:
- Dr. Jonas Surgical Textbook Book Club with Dr. Sinha (monthly)
- ACHD conference (biweekly)
Tuesday PM (12-4): Block education
- General cardiology clinical case lecture (weekly)
- Catheterization conference (biweekly)
- Echocardiogram/advanced cardiac imaging (biweekly)
- Inpatient service case discussion (weekly)
- Morbidity and mortality conference (weekly)
Thursday AM:
- Electrophysiology lecture (weekly)
Friday AM:
- Cardiovascular surgery and catheterization conference (weekly)
Sample Block Schedule
Stipends & Benefits
This page provides access to information on stipends and benefits for medical residents & fellows.
Additionally, each medical fellow receives:
- Funding of the ABP General Pediatrics Certifying Exam
- At least $1,500 for professional development
- At least $300 annually in education funds
- MN medical license, or MN residency permit if ineligible for a MN license
- AAP membership with subspecialty section membership
Prospective Fellows
We appreciate your interest in the University of Minnesota's Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program and look forward to reviewing your application. Our program participates in the National Resident Match Program (NRMP) and will accept applications only through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). Please contact the Program Director, Dr. Shanti Narasimhan (silv0099@umn.edu) and fellowship coordinator, Michelle Stepka (mstepka@umn.edu) if you have any questions not answered here on the webpage.
Please Note:
- Applicants must have completed an ACGME accredited residency program by the fellowship start date.
- We accept only applicants who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents (green card holders), or those who have a J-1 Visa.
- 3 letters of recommendation are required, preferably to include one from the residency program director.
The University of Minnesota demonstrates a commitment to leveraging the transformative power of equity and diversity to advance excellence in teaching, learning and community engagement. Applications from individuals who self-identify as members of underrepresented groups are particularly welcome.
Kishore Raja, MBBS
raja0161@umn.edu
Fellowship dates: 2021-2024
Hometown: Salem, India
Medical School: Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital, India
Residency: University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Fl
Hobbies: Playing Basketball, Travelling. Someday would like to get a private pilot license.
Fun Fact: I can Mirror write.
Publication Links:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36514992/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29263012/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30430036/
Natalia Betancourt-Guzman
betan046@umn.edu
Fellowship dates: 2022-2025
Medical School: Universidad Central del Caribe School of Medicine, Puerto Rico
Pediatrics Residency Program: Hospital Pediátrico Universitario, Centro Médico, Universidad de Puerto Rico
Fellowship: Cardiology
About me: I am a Puerto Rican who loves trying new foods, cooking, spending time with my family and my dog (a funny frenchie named Pelota), going to the beach, watching sunsets and sports. I also enjoy playing beach tennis and brisca cards.
Publication Links:
https://www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/S0735-1097%2823%2903855-X
Farida Karim
karim166@umn.edu
Fellowship dates: 2022-2025
Medical School: Jinnah Medical & Dental College, Pakistan
Residency: Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital Pensacola, University of Florida
Fellowship: Pediatric Cardiology – University of Minnesota
Career interest: Interventional Cardiology and single ventricle physiology
Hobbies: Roller coasters, zip-lining, parasailing, snorkeling, water rafting, hiking, and traveling. I play table tennis and foosball
Publication Links:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35876081/
DOI: 10.1017/S1047951122002049
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33200055/
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.10941
Josue Maldonado Custodio
maldo176@umn.edu
Fellowship dates: 2022-2025
Medical School: University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine
Pediatric Residency Program: Hospital San Lucas/Ponce Health Science University
Fellowship & Additional Training: He practiced General Pediatrics in Houston Texas for 2 years, before starting his Pediatric Cardiology fellowship in 2022.
He likes books, movies, video games, anime, playing chess, spending time with family and his 3 cats.
Tobias Donlon
donlo003@umn.edu
Fellowship dates: 2023-2026
Medical School: University of Minnesota Medical School
Pediatric Residency Program: University of Minnesota Medical School
Michael White
whit3546@umn.edu
Fellowship dates: 2023-2026
Medical School: Chicago Medical School at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine & Science
Pediatric Residency Program: Loyola University Medical Center
Julia Steinberger, MD, MS
Professor & Division Director, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
stein055@umn.edu
Shanti Narasimhan, MBBS, FASE
Professor & Fellowship Program Director, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
silv0099@umn.edu
Varun Aggarwal, MBBS, FAAP
Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
aggar134@umn.edu
Matthew Ambrose, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
ambr0049@umn.edu
John Bass, MD
Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
bassx001@umn.edu
Elizabeth Braunlin, MD, PhD
Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
braun002@umn.edu
Juan Carlos Samayoa , MD
Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
samay008@umn.edu
Bradley Clark, MD
Associate Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
Director, Pediatric Electrophysiology
Associate Fellowship Director
clarkb@umn.edu
Ryan Greene, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
gree2930@umn.edu
Gurumurthy Hiremath Mallikarjun, MD
Associate Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
Director, Congenital Cardiac Catheterization
hiremath@umn.edu
Erick Jimenez, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
jimen191@umn.edu
Stacie Knutson, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
holm0484@umn.edu
Jamie Lohr, MD
Associate Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
Co-Director, Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program
lohrx003@umn.edu
Daniel Peck, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
peck0194@umn.edu
Syed Peer, MD
Associate Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
smpeer@umn.edu
Nathan Rodgers, MD, MHA
Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
rodge184@umn.edu
Kavisha Shah, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
kshah@umn.edu
Pranava Sinha, MD, MBA
Division Chief, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
sinha228@umn.edu
Ben Smith, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
smi01800@umn.edu
Lisha Thomas, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
thom8195@umn.edu
Ben Smith, MD
Graduated 2023
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Minnesota
Amr El-Bokl, MD, MPH
Graduated 2023
Current Position: Harvard/Boston Children’s Electrophysiology Fellowship
Ryan Greene, MD
Graduated 2022
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Minnesota
Rupesh Natarajan, MD
Graduated 2022
Advanced Fellowship in Pediatric Interventional Cardiology, Children’s Hospital of Michigan, Detroit, MI
Current Position: Assistant Professor, West Virginia University
Erick Jimenez, MD
Graduated 2021
Advanced Fellowship in Pediatric Electrophysiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Minnesota
Hani Siddeek, MD
Graduated 2021
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Pediatric Cardiologist, University of Utah
Mark McGill, MD
Graduated 2020
Current Position: Pediatrician, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, St. Luke's University Health Network
Keiran Leong, DO
Graduated 2019
Advanced Fellowship in Pediatric Critical Care, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD
Current Position: Assistant Professor, Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
Lerraughn Morgan, DO
Graduated 2019
Current Position: Pediatric Cardiologist, Valley Children's Healthcare, Madera, CA
Contact Us
Fellowship Program Director
Shanti Narasimhan, MBBS, FASE
Professor
silv0099@umn.edu
Fellowship Coordinator
Michelle Stepka
mstepka@umn.edu
(612) 624-4912
For more information on our other medical fellowship programs, click here.