Cara Baker, D.O.
CVF3
Hometown: Voorhees, New Jersey
Medical School: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Pennsylvania Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Why ChristianaCare: I chose ChristianaCare for the high volume and medically complex patient experience. Paired with a smaller fellowship size, Christiana offers the perfect combination of a personalized feel with a fast-paced learning environment.
Samir Mehta, D.O.
CVF3
Hometown: Colonia, New Jersey
Medical School: Rowan University School of Osteopathic medicine
Residency: ChristianaCare
Why ChristianaCare: Having been a resident here, it has been an honor to be able to continue in my training as a fellow. All of our attendings are superb mentors and they’ve served that role for me since the first day of my intern year. There is a great sense of family that exists in the hospital among trainees and attendings. The volume here is unmatched, the support is amazing, and our patient population provides us with a varied pathology that will ensure you are ready for whatever the world has to offer once you conclude training.
Jay Patel, M.D.
CVF3
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
Medical School: State University of New York Medical University Alan and Marlene Norton College of Medicine
Residency: Tufts Medical Center
Why ChristianaCare: The fellowship program at Christiana feels more like a family than just a training program. Everyone, from the faculty to the fellows and the other staff in the hospital are warm, welcoming and foster a healthy and vibrant environment for learning and growing. The hospital itself is the backbone of the state which allows for great exposure to the bread and butter and more niche cardiac pathologies.
Salma Khatoon, M.B.B.S.
CVF2
Hometown: Hyderabad, India
Medical School: Deccan College of Medical Sciences
Residency: Long Island Jewish Forest Hills Hospital Fellowship: University of Alabama, Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology
Why ChristianaCare: I am impressed with the program’s strong emphasis on clinical education and fellow’s hands-on exposure opportunities. The program’s ability to blend community-based and tertiary care experience offers an extremely well-rounded clinical foundation. Most appealing to me is the caliber of the faculty and the genuinely supportive mentorship environment, ideally complemented by the collaborative learning environment. I seek ChristianaCare’s dedication to patient care and education makes it the best place for me to continue to grow as a future cardiologist.
Soumiya Ravi, M.B.B.S.
CVF2
Hometown: Chandigarh, India
Medical School: Dayanand Medical College
Residency: University of Arizona College of Medicine
Why ChristianaCare: I’ve always sought a training environment that not only offers exposure to diverse pathologies but also surrounds me with mentors and colleagues who are genuinely invested in my growth and long-term goals-so I can be prepared to take on anything in the real world. I can truly say that I’ve found that here. Additionally, the program’s smaller size fosters a close-knit community and allows for personalized mentorship that encourages open dialogue and supports continuous growth.
Athul Rajesh, M.D.
CVF2
Hometown: Newtown, Pennsylvania
Medical School: Drexel University College of Medicine
Residency: Lankenau Medical Center
Why ChristianaCare: Christiana offers the ideal mix of high-volume clinical exposure, strong mentorship. and a diverse patient population. I value the program’s hands-on training, supportive faculty, and collegial culture-an environment where I know I can grow into a well-rounded cardiologist.
Ryan Kovacik, D.O.
CVF2
Hometown: Ringoes, New Jersey
Medical School: Philadelphia School of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Lankenau Medical Center
Why ChristianaCare: The breadth and complexity of cardiac conditions treated at Christiana will give me the experience I need to become a well-rounded cardiologist. The program combines high-level clinical training with a collaborative atmosphere that makes it a great place to learn and grow. Outside of work, Delaware is a great place to raise a family, with easy access to everything the Northeast has to offer.
Abdulmojeed Ekiyoyo, M.D.
CVF1
Hometown: Hyattsville, Maryland
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine
Residency: Thomas Jefferson University Hospital
Why ChristianaCare: I chose ChristianaCare because of my excellent interview day experience interacting with the fellows and attendings. The culture here is really familal, collegial, and supportive which makes for a great training program. The high clinical volume and broad exposure to cardiovascular disease available here provide outstanding opportunities to gain experience across all areas of cardiology. I also appreciate the location, which offers easy access to many cities along the East Coast, making it a great place to spend fellowship.
Vincent Mack, D.O.
CVF1
Hometown: Brick, New Jersey
Medical School: Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: ChristianaCare
Why ChristianaCare: During my training at ChristianaCare I was drawn to the varied pathology that comes with having such a large catchment area. I saw a great mix of the bread and butter as well as more rare pathology. But more importantly than that, everyone I met was exceptionally kind and wanted me to be the best version of myself and offered to help in any capacity possible. ChristianaCare is more than a residency training program, it became my family. I am honored and ecstatic to be able to continue my journey here as a fellow. The opportunity to grow here at Christiana has been and will continue to be my greatest pleasure.
Azka Naeem, M.D.
CVF1
Hometown: Lahore, Pakistan
Medical School: King Edward Medical University
Residency: Maimonides Medical Centre
Why ChristianaCare: Coming to ChristianaCare was a decision that was based on how collegial the environment was and how supportive and mindful people were of each other, and of course the spectrum of cardiology you get to see here which is required for both your professional and personal growth. The encouraging environment and mentorship is something I am definitely looking forward to.
Dylan Souder, D.O.
CVF1
Hometown: Hammonton, New Jersey
Medical School: Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: Lehigh Valley Health Network
Why ChristianaCare: I heard so many great stories about working at Christiana. When I visited for my interview day I got a sense of the supportive culture and knew that Christiana is a hospital that I would be proud to work at. I’m also very excited to complete my cardiology training close to home and my family.
“One of the best parts of the program is that we see and care for a very comprehensive and wide variety of cardiac pathologies. From prevention to advances heart failure therapies, structural interventions, we see it all!” –Vikash Rambhujun
“You would be hard pressed to find another place that so perfectly blends what a training program requires: a collegial atmosphere among trainees and attendings to facilitate learning and a diversity and volume in pathology to rival the best. An absolute gem!”- M. Abubakar Shakir
“Wonderful place to train in a collegial and academic environment. One aspect that cannot be undermined is how receptive the program leadership and faculty is to fellow feedback. Furthermore, the faculty is very supportive and wants to see all the fellows succeed in their careers after fellowship.”-Hussain Azizi
“The collegiality amongst the fellowship program and cardiology department here at ChristianaCare is truly palpable. The excitement to come into work each day to collaborate with one another and be able to see an manage such a wide variety of pathologies makes our training an incredible experience.”- Shilpa Singh