
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) 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.

Benjamin Smith, MD
smi01800@umn.edu
Fellowship dates: 2020-2023
Hometown: Northern Wisconsin
Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee
Residency: University of Vermont
Hobbies: In my free time I enjoyed checking out the food-scene in the Twin Cities, hiking, kayaking, and downhill skiing.
Publication Links:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.

Amr El-Bokl, MD, MPH
aelbokl@umn.edu
Fellowship dates: 2020-2023
Amr studied medicine at University of Iowa Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, after obtaining his MPH at University of Iowa. He graduated pediatric residency from the University of Minnesota.

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.

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

Lisha Thomas, MD
Assistant Professor, Division of Pediatric Cardiology
thom8195@umn.edu
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
Keiran Leong, DO
Graduated 2020
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
Mark McGill, MD
Graduated 2020
Current Position: Pediatrician, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, St. Luke's University Health Network
Lerraughn Morgan, DO
Graduated 2020
Current Position: Pediatric Cardiologist, Valley Children's Healthcare, Madera, CA

Fellowship Program Director
Hear from our Department Head
Contact Us
Fellowship Coordinator
Michelle Stepka
mstepka@umn.edu
(612) 624-4912