Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program
Rajiv Dhand, MD, FCCP, FACP, FAARC Chairman and Professor, Department of Medicine
Leadership Team
Anne Kassira, MD
Fellowship Program Director
Clinical Assistant Professor
Associate Program Director – Research & Education
Associate Professor
Raj Baljepally, MD
Taylor Beckmann
Junior chief
2nd year fellow
Completed residency at University of Louisville Louisville, KY
CHIEF FELLOWS
Raymond Dieter IV
Chief
3rd year fellow
Completed residency at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville, TN
Greg Desrosiers
Junior Chief - Research
2nd year fellow
Completed residency at UT – Knoxville and Chief year at NCH Healthcare Naples, FL
The power of Teamwork
ACADEMIC YEAR
PUBLICATONS
Fogelson B, Baljepally R, Morvant B, Nowell TC, Heidel RE, Ferlita S, Weston S, Amro A, Spires Z, Ferraro K, Patel P. An Increase in Mean Aortic Valve Gradients the Day After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: The Effects of Evolving Anesthesia Techniques. J Clin Med. 2025 May 8;14(10):3272. doi: 10.3390/jcm14103272. PMID: 40429268; PMCID: PMC12112612.
Feuchtner GM, Lacaita PG, Bax JJ, Rodriguez F, Nakanishi R, Pontone G, Mushtaq S, Buechel RR, Gräni C, Patel AR, Singulane CC, Choi AD, Al-Mallah M, Andreini D, Karlsberg RP, Cho GW, Rochitte CE, Alasnag M, Hamdan A, Cademartiri F, Maffei E, Marques H, Gonçalves Pereira PM, Gupta H, Hadamitzky M, Khalique O, Kalra D, Mills JD, Nurmohamed NS, Knaapen P, Budoff M, Shaikh K, Martin E, German DM, Ferencik M, Oehler AC, Deaño R, Nagpal P, van Assen M, De Cecco CN, Foldyna B, Brendel JM, Cheng VY, Branch K, Bittencourt M, Bhatti S, Polsani Md V, Wesbey G, Cardoso R, Blankstein R, Delago A, Pursnani A, Alsaid A, Bloom S, Kamperidis V, Barbieri F, Aquino M, Danad I, van Rosendael A. AI-Quantitative CT Coronary Plaque Features Associate with a Higher Relative Risk in Women: CONFIRM2-Registry. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. 2025 Mar 31. doi: 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.125.018235. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40162910
Coombes T, Almeida S, Budoff M, Shaikh K. The RUCkus Around Plaque. Journal of cardiovascular computed tomography. 01/01/2025; 19 (1) : 159-161. PMID 39794234
Tran PM, Fogelson B, Heidel RE, Baljepally R. A Comparison of Rural and Urban Differences in Geographic Proximity to Outpatient Stroke Rehabilitation Services in Tennessee. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev. 2024 Sep 18. doi: 10.1097/HCR.0000000000000898. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39298543
Sachs V, Scoma C, Shaikh K, Budoff M, Almeida S. Regional and socioeconomic disparities in calcium scans. Journal of cardiovascular computed tomography. 08/16/2024; 00: 1-4. PMID: 39153865
Fogelson B, Baljepally R, Heidel E, Ferlita S, Moodie T, Coombes T, Goodwin RP, Livesay J. Rural versus urban outcomes following transcatheter aortic valve implantation: The importance of the heart team. Cardiovasc Revasc Med. 2024 May;62:3-8. doi: 10.1016/j.carrev.2023.12.005. Epub 2023 Dec 16. PMID: 38135570
Tran PM, Fogelson B, Sorey AB, Heidel RE, Baljepally R. An Examination of Geographic Proximity to Outpatient Cardiac Rehabilitation in Rural Versus Urban Tennessee Counties. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2025 Jul 21. doi: 10.1097/JCN.0000000000001236. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 40685512
2024 - 2025
ACADEMIC YEAR
PRESENTATIONS
Fogelson B, Baljepally R, Tran PM. An Examination of the Impact of History of Myocardial Infarction on Poor Physical Health Among US Caregivers. Presented at Society of Cardiovascular Angiography and Intervention 2025: Washington, DC May 1-2, 2025
Fogelson B, Heidel E, Ferlita S, Amro A, Weston S, Spires Z, Ferraro K, Patel P, Baljepally R. Increase in Aortic Valve Mean Gradients Day After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation: The Effects of Evolving Anesthesia Techniques. Presented at Cardiovascular Research Technologies 2025: Washington, DC March 8-11, 2025
Shali L, Desrosiers G, Linden K. Situs Inversus Totalis, Anomalous Right and Multi Vessel Disease. Presented at Cardiovascular Research Technologies 2025: Washington, DC March 8-11, 2025
Amro A, Stephens S, Jain N, Baljepally R. Atezolizumab Induced Myocarditis. Presented at Cardiovascular Research Technologies 2025: Washington, DC March 8-11, 2025
Fogelson B, Khan M, Murray J, Baljepally R. Between an Aorta and a Pulmonary Artery: Management of Anomalous Aortic Origin of the Left Coronary Artery. Presented at 2024 Tennessee American College of Cardiology: Nashville, TN November 1-2, 2024
Amro A, Stephens S, Jain N, Baljepally R. Atezolizumab Induced Myocarditis. Presented at 2024 Tennessee American College of Cardiology: Nashville, TN November 1-2, 2024
Dieter R, Shali L, Desrosiers G, Mehmood M. Isolated RV Failure a Case of Lymphocytic Myocarditis. Presented at Tennessee American College of Cardiology: Nashville, TN November 1-2, 2024
Beckmann T, Baljepally R, Green J. Exciting Case of Electrical Storm. Presented at Tennessee American College of Cardiology: Nashville, TN November 1-2, 2024
Shali L, Desrosiers G, Linden K. Situs Inversus Totalis, Anomalous Right and Multi Vessel Disease. Presented at Tennessee American College of Cardiology: Nashville, TN November 1-2, 2024
Jain N, Branca P, Dolacky B, Dolacky S, Duffy M. Health Equity in STEMI Intervention. Presented at 2024 American College of Cardiology Quality Summit: San Antonio, TX September 17-19, 2024
Coombes T, Moodie T, Eigbire G, Livesay J, Baljepally R. PCI Outcomes and Need for Side Branch Stenting with Utilization of Shockwave in Bifurcation Lesions. Presented at Cardiovascular Innovations Foundation 2024: Denver, CO July 18-20, 2024
Livesay J, Shali L, Overly T, Baljepally R. Pumping the Breaks. Careful Consideration When Accelerating Mechanical Support. Presented at Cardiovascular Innovations 2024: Denver, CO July 18-20, 2024
Livesay J, Baljepally R, Linden K, Dieter III R. Weighing Percutaneous Intervention Options of Enlarging Anastomosis of Vein Graft to the Aorta. Presented at Cardiovascular Innovations 2024: Denver, CO July 18-20, 2024
Dr. Ray Dieter received the Fellow of the Year Award for exceptional clinical skills and dedication to teaching as chosen by his peers
Awards
Dr. Morgan Randall, MD and Dr. Kashif Shaikh received the 2024 –2025 Faculty Award for their consistent excellence in teaching and unwavering commitment to their education
Who you’ll meet on Interview Day:
Anne Kassira, MD, FACC
• Fellowship Program Director
• MD: Penn State College of Medicine
• Residency: Cleveland Clinic Foundation
• Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic
• Advanced Fellowship in Cardiovascular Imaging (Echocardiography, Cardiac CT, Cardiac MRI) - Cleveland Clinic
Raj M. Baljepally, MD,
• Associate Program Director - Research and Education
• MD: Gandhi Medical College, Osmania School of Medicine
• Residency: John Hopkins University School of Medicine
• Fellowship: St. Vincent Hospital, University of Massachusetts School of Medicine
• Interventional Cardiology Fellowship: Miriam Hospital, Brown University, Providence, RI
Joseph Liu, MD
• MD: Northwestern University Medical School
• Residency: Keesler Medical Center, Keesler Air Force Base
• Fellowship: Wilford Hall Medical Center
Morgan Randall, MD
• MD: University of Kentucky
• Residency: Medical University of South Carolina
• Fellowships: University of Florida
Taylor Beckmann, DO
• MD: Lincoln Memorial
• Residency: University of Louisville
Chief Fellows
Raymond Dieter IV, MD
• MD: University of TNHSC College of Medicine
• Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Greg Desrosiers. MD
• MD: The University of Queensland, Australia
• Residency: UT –Knoxville and Chief year at NCH Healthcare Naples, FL
Didactics
Post-Fellowship Placement
Class of 2025
Tyler Coombes, MD Academic Knoxville, TN
Nikhil Jain, MD Private Practice San Diego, CA
Laylan Shali, MD Private Practice Dulles, VA
Class of 2024
Justin Harrell, DO Private Practice
Oak Ridge, TN
Michael Kopstein, DO Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Miami, FL
John Taylor, DO Electrophysiology Fellowship Providence, RI
Post-Fellowship Placement
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Class of 2024
Justin Harrell, DO Private Practice Oak Ridge, TN
Michael Kopstein, DO
John Taylor, DO
Class of 2023
James Livesay, DO
Elliott Goodwin, DO
Rachel Goodwin, DO
Class of 2022
Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Miami, FL
Electrophysiology Fellowship Providence, RI
Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Knoxville, TN
Electrophysiology Fellowship Kansas City, MO
Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Kansas City, MO
Emmanuel Isang, MD Academic Knoxville, TN
Lon Abney, MD Private Practice Santa Fe, NM
Class of 2021
William Black, MD
Interventional Cardiology Fellowship University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine, Knoxville, TN
Jenna Johnson, MD Private Practice Columbia, SC
Class of 2020
Jaime Holbert, DO Private Practice Knoxville, TN
Aimee Wehber, MD Academic Knoxville, TN
Class of 2019
Rajiv Sharma, MD Private Practice El Paso, TX
Robert Tonks, MD
Class of 2018
Bryon Cook, MD
Kayleigh Litton, DO
Interventional Cardiology Fellowship University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine Knoxville, TN
Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Carilion Clinic Roanoke, VA
Interventional Cardiology Fellowship University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine Knoxville, TN
Post-Fellowship Placement
Class of 2017
Moses Osoro, MD Private Practice
David Perkel, MD Academic
Class of 2016
Steven Dolacky, MD Interventional Cardiology Fellowship
Madhur Roberts, MD Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellowship
Class of 2015
Umang Shah, MD Interventional Cardiology Fellowship
Harry South, MD Private Practice
Class of 2014
Mitul Afiniwala, MD Private Practice
Janet Eichholz, MD Interventional Cardiology Fellowship
Class of 2013
Jujhar Bains, MD Private Practice
Patricia Crawley, MD Interventional Cardiology Fellowship
Class of 2012
Jeremy Mahlow, MD Electrophysiology Fellowship
Deviprasad Venogupal, MD Electrophysiology Fellowship
Class of 2011
Venkata Aligeti, MD Interventional Cardiology Fellowship
Carmelo Venero, MD Interventional Cardiology Fellowship
Class of 2010
Gayathri Baljepally, MD Academic
Rubinder Dab, MD Private Practice
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Maryville, TN
Knoxville, TN
Albany Medicine College, Albany, NY
Piedmont Heart Institute, Atlanta, GA
Hackensack University Medical Center, Hackensack, NJ
Philadelphia, PA
University Mass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA
Crossville, TN
SUNY Downstate Health Science University, Brooklyn, NY
Saint Vincent Hospital, Indianapolis, IN
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Knoxville, TN
Richmond, IN
Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program
• 9 fellows
• 3 per year
• University Cardiology
• 33 Cardiologists
• 6 Interventional Cardiology
• 4 Electrophysiology
• 1 Structural Heart
• 1 Heart Failure
• 1 Adult Congenital
• 2 Advanced Imaging
• 18 General
• All training is at this facility
Cardiovascular Procedures (annually)
• 31,829 echocardiograms 2,048 TEE’s)
• 2,948 cardiac catheterizations
• 870 PCI’s
• 163 STEMI's
• Structural interventions include:
• 149 TAVR’s
• 27 MitraClip
• 136 Watchman
• 902 cardioversions
• 76,973 ECGs
• 2,469 MPS SPECT
• 3,032 MPS PET (Inpatient & Outpatient)
EP Procedures:
• 493 electrophysiological studies
• 1,054 devices
• 844 atrial fibrillation ablations
Advanced Imaging:
• 729 Cardiac CT
• 409 Cardiac MRI
The University of Tennessee Medical Center
• Opened August 1956
• 710 bed acute care teaching hospital
• Region’s only Academic Medical Center
• UTGSM is the sponsoring institute of 12 residency programs and 19 fellowships
• Level 1 Trauma Center
• Certified Comprehensive Stroke Center
• Aeromedical Service Base
• Magnet recognition for excellence in nursing
• Clerkships for M3 and M4 students
• Health Information Center – Preston Medical Library
• LIFESTAR
• Area’s first emergency response helicopter
• Medical Simulation Center
The Facility – Heart Lung Vascular Institute
• Outpatient office
• Connected to hospital via walkway
• Fellow parking attached to HLVI
• in garage
• Shared fellow’s office with individual desks, call room adjacent to hospital
Cardiac Cath Lab
• 6 Rooms
• 1 Hybrid
• 2 EP
• Close working relationship with Lifestar and area EMS training
The Facility - Academics
• Health Information Center
• In hospital – access 24/7
• Patient access area separate from resident / fellow study area
• Conference rooms
• Computers
• Stacks
• Magazines
• Access to thousands of books / electronic resources through UT Memphis
The Facility - Academics
• UT Center for Advanced Medical Simulation
• 6500 Sq ft
• 1 of 68 in the world (only one in TN) to earn accreditation as Level 1
Comprehensive Accredited Education Institute from American College of Surgeons
Graduate School of Medicine – Residencies
• Anesthesia
Fellowships in Pain Medicine, Perioperative Medicine
Regional Anesthesia/Acute Pain Medicine, Combined
Regional Anesthesia/MBA Fellowship
• Family Medicine
Fellowships in Emergency Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Sports Medicine
• General Dentistry
Fellowship in Dental Operating Room
• Internal Medicine
Residency Programs – Transitional Year and Neurology
Fellowships in Cardiovascular Diseases, Interventional Cardiology, and Pulmonary Disease/ Critical Care Medicine, Hematology Oncology
and Fellowships
• Obstetrics & Gynecology
Fellowship in Maternal-Fetal Medicine
• Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery
Fellowship in Oral/Head and Neck
Oncologic Surgery
• Pathology
Fellowship in Oncologic Surgical Pathology
• Radiology
• Surgery
Fellowships in Hernia and Abdominal
Wall, Advanced GI MIS/Bariatric, Surgical Critical Care and Vascular Surgery
• Urology
ABOUT KNOXVILLE
• 4 general seasons
• Lower cost of living than the national average
• Multiple festivals and weekly concerts
• Exciting Craft Beer Scene with Knoxville Ale Trail
• Food Truck Parks
• Small local airport with access to major airlines and cities
• Multiple farmer’s markets
• www.visitknoxville.com We’re a nature-lovingadventure-seeking-artsykinda-town
The City - Knoxville
• Est population 202,639
• Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area (Knox, Blount, Anderson, Loudon, and Union counties) is 919,553
• Economics
• No state income tax
• 14% below the national cost-of-living average
• Median household income $69,734
FELLOW
Travelling to / from Knoxville
Two major interstates – I-40 and I-75 make car travel convenient McGhee Tyson Airport is easy to get in /out of with reasonable flight rates (about 15 min from hospital)
