On June 10, The Texas Heart Institute (THI) celebrated 13 talented graduates of its internationally recognized cardiology fellowship training program. Texas Heart Institute President and CEO, Dr. Joseph G. Rogers, opened the ceremony with inspirational remarks at the investiture and pinning ceremony.

Dr. Mitch Tan was honored as the Tauber Outstanding Fellow of the Year and Dr. Neil Strickman received the Robert J. Hall Teaching Award. This award honors the fellows’ favorite instructor and is presented each year by the third-year cardiology fellows.

The fellowship has graduated over 490 fellows since the program’s inception in 1962. Fellows originally trained for two years, but now train for three years in the general cardiology program.

The fellowship program is led by Program Director Dr. Stephanie Coulter and Assistant Program Director Dr. George Younis.

The interventional fellows are already cardiology fellowship graduates who elect to take a fourth year of training in interventional cardiology techniques. The program is directed by Dr. R. David Fish.

The electrophysiology (EP) program is an additional two-year training program after completing the 3-year cardiology fellowship, and is directed by Dr. Mohammad Saeed.

Heart failure fellows complete an additional one-year program after general cardiology training. The program attracts fellows from a wide range of backgrounds and experiences, and is directed by Dr. Andrew Civitello.

A long-standing tradition, The Symbol of Excellence pin is presented to each fellow by their mentor in the program and symbolizes the THI commitment to excellence in patient care.

Meet the 2022 graduates and see their immediate plans after graduation.

Meet the 2022 Cardiology Graduates

General Cardiology 

• Javid Alakbarli, MD – Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program – Texas Heart Institute
• Joseph Allencherril, MD – Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program – Texas Heart Institute
• Lauren Golden, MD – Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program – Texas Heart Institute
• Michael Hermelin, MD – Cypress Heart and Vascular Center – Houston, TX
• Sudeep Kuchibholta, MD – Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program – Texas Heart Institute
• Mitch Tan, MD – Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship Program – Texas Heart Institute

Interventional Cardiology

• Robert Bagwell, MD – Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, Main Campus – Houston, TX
• Michael Harms, MD – Kelsey-Seybold Clinic, Main Campus – Houston, TX
• Numan Khan, MD – Younis Cardiology Associates – Houston, TX

Cardiac Electrophysiology (EP)

• George Heberton, MD – Baylor Scott & White Cardiology Consultants of Texas – Dallas, TX
• Austin Howard, MD – Novant Health Heart & Vascular Institute – North Carolina

Heart Failure

• Tamer Amer, MD – Methodist Hospital San Antonio Advanced HF & Transplant Practice – San Antonio, TX
• Salman Bandeali, MD – Texas Heart & Vascular Specialists, PA – Houston, TX

 

The investiture was hosted in the historic Westin Medical Center hotel with the graduates, their families and Texas Heart Institute Professional Staff members and teaching faculty.