Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program WELCOME TO THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
DEPARTMENT OF MEDICINE Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program
Rajiv Dhand, MD, FCCP, FACP, FAARC Chairman and Professor, Department of Medicine
Leadership Team
Baljepally, MD
Anne Kassira, MD
Raj
Tyler Coombes, MD
3rd year fellow
Completed residency at the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine Knoxville, TN
CHIEF FELLOWS
Raymond Dieter IV 2nd year fellow
Completed residency at the Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville, TN
The power of Teamwork
2023 - 2024
ACADEMIC YEAR
PUBLICATONS
Taylor J, Assaf SN, Assaf AN, Heidel E, Mahlow W, Baljepally R. Obstructive Sleep Apnea as a Predictor of Inducible Atrial Flutter During Pulmonary Vein Isolation in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: Clinical Significance and Follow-Up Outcomes. Cardiol Res. 2023 Jun;14(3):183-191. doi: 10.14740/cr1491. Epub 2023 May 26. PMID: 37304914; PMCID: PMC10257505
Taylor J, Livesay J, Litton K, Cox J, Mahlow W. Inferior ST-elevation Myocardial Infarction Following an Atrial Flutter Ablation. Clinical Cardiology Journal. 07/05/2023; 3 (3) : 0-0
Moodie TR, Taylor J, Shepple B. A Case of Cutibacterium acnes Pericardial Effusion After Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery. Cureus. 2023 Aug 7;15(8):e43095. doi: 10.7759/cureus.43095. PMID: 37680428; PMCID: PMC10482544
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. Cardiovascular revascularization medicine: Including molecular interventions. Cardiovasc Revasc Med 12/16/2023; 57 : 1-6. PMID 38135570
2023 - 2024
ACADEMIC YEAR
PRESENTATIONS
Fogelson B, Harrell J, Ferlita S, Heidel E, Shaikh K, Smith L, Baljepally R. Predicting Acute Coronary Syndrome in Patients Admitted with Severe Trauma Using Coronary Artery Calcium. Presented at 2024 Cardiovascular Research Technologies: Washington, DC March 9-12, 2024
Livesay J, Shali L, Baljepally R. When Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement is the Only Road to Recovery. Presented at 2024 Cardiovascular Research Technologies: Washington, DC March 9-12, 2024
Shali L, Baljepally R, Livesay J, Taylor J. Congenital Absence Left Main Coronary Artery. Presented at 2024 Cardiovascular Research Technologies: Washington, DC March 9-12, 2024
Shali L, Taylor J, Villarosa A. Predictive Ability of More Than 3-day Pre-atrial Fibrillation Ablation Cardiac Computer Tomography In Detection Of Left Atrial Thrombus. Presented at Society of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography 2023: Boston, MA July 27-30, 2023
Kopstein M, Livesay J, Taylor J, Baljepally R. Plaque Rupture Cannot Hide from OCT. Presented at Cardiovascular Innovations Foundation 2023: Austin, TX July 19-22, 2023
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 received the 2023 – 2024 Faculty Award for his consistent excellence in teaching and unwavering commitment to their education
Who you’ll meet on Interview Day:
(INCLUDING NEXT THREE SLIDES)
Raj M. Baljepally, MD,
• Fellowship Program Director
• 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
Anne Kassira, MD, FACC
• Associate Program Director – Education
• 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
Joseph Liu, MD
• MD: Northwestern University Medical School
• Residency: Keesler Medical Center, Keesler Air Force Base
• Fellowship: Wilford Hall Medical Center
Tyler Coombes, MD
Chief Fellows
• MD: American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine, Sint Maarten
• Residency: University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine
Raymond Dieter IV, MD
• MD: University of TNHSC College of Medicine
• Residency: Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Post-Fellowship Placement
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
Class of 2023
James Livesay, DO
Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Knoxville, TN
Elliott Goodwin, DO Electrophysiology Fellowship Kansas City, MO
Rachel Goodwin, DO Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Kansas City, MO
Class of 2022
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 Interventional Cardiology Fellowship University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine Knoxville, TN
Class of 2018
Bryon Cook, MD Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Carilion Clinic Roanoke, VA
Kayleigh Litton, DO Interventional Cardiology Fellowship University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine Knoxville, TN
Class of 2017
Post-Fellowship Placement
(continued)
Moses Osoro, MD Private Practice Maryville, TN
David Perkel, MD Academic Knoxville, TN
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
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
• 30 Cardiologists
• 6 Interventional Cardiology
• 4 Electrophysiology
• 1 Heart Failure
• 1 Adult Congenital
• 1 Cardiology Oncology
• 2 Advanced Imaging
• 15 General
• All training is at this facility
Cardiovascular Procedures (annually)
• 28,392 echocardiograms (1,857 TEE’s)
• 7,117 cardiac catheterizations (850 PCI’s)
• Structural interventions include:
• 140 TAVR’s
• 33 MitraClip
• 94 Watchman
• 902 cardioversions
• 77,401 ECGs
• 2,771 stress tests (50/50 inpatient PET/outpatient SPECT)
EP Procedures:
• 493 electrophysiological studies
• 986 devices
• 432 atrial fibrillation ablations
Advanced Imaging:
• 634 Cardiac CT
• 389 Cardiac MRI
• 2,417 Cardiac PET/Myocardial Blood Flow
The University of Tennessee Medical Center
• Opened August 1956
• 710 bed acute care teaching hospital
• Region’s only Academic Medical Center
• 19 ACGME accredited specialty and subspecialty programs
• 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 and Fellowships
• Anesthesia
Fellowships in Pain Medicine, Perioperative Medicine and Regional Anesthesia/Acute Pain Medicine
• Family Medicine
Fellowships in Emergency Medicine, Hospice and Palliative Medicine and Sports Medicine
• General Dentistry
Fellowship in Dental Operating Room
• Internal Medicine
Fellowships in Cardiovascular Diseases, Interventional Cardiology, and Pulmonary Disease/ Critical Care Medicine, Hematology Oncology
• Transitional Year
• Neurology
• 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 Abdominal Wall Reconstruction, 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 196,823
• Knoxville Metropolitan Statistical Area (Knox, Blount, Anderson, Loudon, and Union counties) is 1 ,156,861 million
• Economics
• No state income tax
• 15% below the national cost-of-living average
• Median household income $64,650
• Demographics
• Median age 33.5
• 32.3 Male / 34.7 Female
• 74.95% Caucasian, 16.44% Black, 0.15% Native American, 1.68% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, Two or more races 5.09%, other race 1.67%
FELLOW LIFE OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL
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)
