Abrazo Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship Program

The cardiology fellowship program aims to develop well-rounded, confident, and caring cardiologists eager to care for those in need in the Phoenix community. We will provide excellent opportunities, education, research, and training within the cardiology setting in all facilities they rotate. Embracing health is the meaning behind Abrazo and we aim to train physicians to reflect on their practical and educational experience to determine how they can better serve those around them. 

The primary site for this program is Abrazo Arizona Heart Hospital where the hospital has earned the Atrial Fibrillation, Cardiac Cath Lab, Chest Pain Center and Heart Failure accreditations from the American College of Cardiology. Arizona Heart has dedicated and committed physician who care for patients with cardiovascular and heart conditions. 

• 24-hour access to Midwestern University’s library resources for research.
• Access to Midwestern University’s simulation lab that includes simulation patients, mannequins and task trainer resources
• Space dedicated to educational activities including computer stations and safe and convenient call rooms.
• Meals provided while on duty
• Elective opportunities including research.
• Use of electronic medical records 

All applicants must apply to the Cardiology Fellowship Program through ERAS (Electronic Residency Application System). It is the applicant’s responsibility to complete all steps outlined on the ERAS website: https://www.aamc.org/services/eras/

Abrazo Health only accepts applications from U.S. Citizens or permanent residents. We do not sponsor visas or any j1types.

We also utilize the NRMP (National Residency Matching Program). For more information on the Match please go to their website: http://www.nrmp.org/

With easy access to both the outdoors and metropolitan areas, Arizona is one of the best places to live in the U.S. Check out the links below to learn about the growing city of Phoenix and the beautiful state of Arizona.

General Guides to Arizona and Phoenix

• Visit Arizona 
• Greater Phoenix Convention and Visitors Bureau
• Downtown Phoenix

Plan Your Weekend

• AZ Central
• Events Calendar
• Dining

Special Attractions

• Arizona Science Center 
• Desert Botanical Garden
• The Heard Museum
• The Phoenix Symphony
• Phoenix Zoo

Our Sports Teams

• Arizona Cardinals
• Arizona Diamondbacks - Major League Baseball
• Cactus League - MLB Spring Training
• Arizona Rattlers - Arena Football
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PGY - 4

Consult – 6 Months
CCU – 3 Months
Echo – 2 Months
Cath – 1 Month

PGY - 5

NUC/ CT – 3 Months
ED – 2 Months
ECHO – 1 Months
CT Surgery/ Vascular – 1 Months
Cath – 3 Months
Elective – 2 Months

PGY - 6

Elective – 12 months

Angeline Iniguez
Program Coordinator
480-228-9851
[email protected]

Salary

Benefits

• Medical and dental insurance
• Life and disability insurance
• Employee retirement plan
• Two white lab coats furnished by the hospital
• Benefits are effective on day one of start date
• Abrazo covers the cost of ACLS and BLS certifications

Nickalaus Gramze, MD Program Director

Angela Franco GME Administrator

Akil Loli, MD Core Faculty | Designated Institutional Officer

Timothy Byrne, DO, FACC Core Faculty

Cherukuri Madhavagopal MD Core Faculty

Nickalaus Gramze, MD - Dr. Gramze is a true Arizona native; born in Phoenix and attending primary through high school in Mesa. He then attended Arizona State University for his undergraduate degree followed by the University of Arizona for medical school. Feeling he should probably explore other places in the world, Dr. Gramze then moved to Houston for further medical training. In Houston, he completed training in internal medicine and pediatrics at the University of Texas before completing cardiology training at Houston Methodist Hospital. Dr. Gramze then pursued further sub-specialty training in advanced cardiovascular imaging and critical care cardiology at Houston Methodist before joining the medical staff there. 

Missing his Arizona friends and family, as well as the amazing Arizona outdoors, Dr. Gramze moved back to Phoenix with the aim of establishing an elite cardiovascular institution in his hometown. His unique skill-set brought him to Abrazo/Biltmore Cardiology where he feels best able to accomplish this challenging goal. He utilizes his expertise in cardiac imaging to provide patients and other cardiologists with precise and accurate diagnoses, utilizing advanced technology, and often avoiding invasive procedures. His clinical interests include valvular heart disease and critical care, where these skills reach their maximum utility.

Certifications:

• Internal Medicine (ABIM)
• Cardiovascular Disease (ABIM)
• Comprehensive Echocardiography (NBE) - Level Three
• Nuclear Cardiology (CBNC) - Level Two
• Cardiovascular Computed Tomography (CBCCT) - Level Three
• Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance (CBCMR) - Level Three
  

Akil Loli, MD - Dr. Akil Loli is an interventional cardiologist. Born in Albania, he attended medical school at University of Tirana Faculty of Medicine, and completed several years of post-graduate education in Albania. After coming to the United States, Dr. Loli completed his residency at Maricopa Medical Center, followed by a fellowship in cardiology at Banner Good Samaritan.

Dr. Loli’s research interests include endothelial dysfunction, aging, and molecular basis of

Board Certifications:

• ABIM Internal Medicine
• ABIM Cardiovascular Disease
• CBNC Nuclear Cardiology
• ABIM Interventional Cardiology
• CBCCT Cardiovascular Computed Tomography

Timothy Byrne, DO, FACC - Timothy Byrne, DO, FACC, is a fellowship-trained interventional cardiologist and market medical director of Cardiac Services for Abrazo Community Health Network and its five hospitals in metropolitan Phoenix. He has a long and distinguished tenure as a clinician, an administrator, and a teacher. During the past three decades, Byrne has earned the distinction as a nationally renowned cardiovascular specialist, researcher and thought leader. He is a national and international speaker and has published dozens of abstracts and articles on cardiovascular issues of the day.

Special Interest

• Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair
• Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
• Diagnostic cardiac catheterization
• Coronary balloon angioplasty and stenting
• CTO including complex PCI and high risk interventional procedures
• Permanent pacemakers
• Peripheral stenting and limb salvage
• Abdominal aortic aneurysm repair

Cherukuri Madhavagopal MD - Dr Cherukuri is Board Certified in both Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology. He is passionate about caring for patients in every aspect of their heart health. He has benn recognized by Phoenix Magazine as a Top Doc for more than 10 years. He has participated in multiple public forums to educate the public about heart disease. In his spare time, he enjoys numerous sporting pursuites and spending time with his family.

• Benson Gunther, DO

Medical School: Rocky Vista University

Favorite Thing about Arizona: Everything that comes with the desert - the weather, wildlife, and the immense beauty of the southwest!

Hobbies: The best thing about me is my family! I love my wife Jade and our 2 girls. We enjoy spending time outside, swimming at the pool, long walks, playing legos and play-doh and reading books together. Besides being a dad, I enjoy photography, skiing, fishing, woodworking, and home improvement projects.

Career Interest: Primary care or hospitalist (maybe considering cardiology fellowship).

• Samer Ibrahim, MD - Dr. Samer Ibrahim grew up in Chicago but has called Phoenix home for over 12 years. He completed his residency training at St. Joseph’s Hospital and has practiced as a Hospitalist/Internist for 9 years.

• Eiei Thwe, MD - Ei Ei graduated from the University of Medicine, Mandalay. After moving to the United States, she successfully ran a franchise business in Illinois while preparing for the post-graduate medical training. She served as a chief resident during her residency training in Internal Medicine at St. Luke's University Healthcare Network - Easton, Pennsylvania. Her special interests in cardiology include advanced cardiac imaging and advanced heart failure/transplant cardiology. She loves to watch movies and TV series while spending time with her friends and family.

Class of 2025

Ahmed Abidali, DO
Inderjeet Bharaj, MD
Troy Coleman, DO
Michael Fu, DO
Benson Gunther, DO
Sajani Jivan, DO
Jasraj Khalon, MD
Yvette Lopez, MD
Kavir Maharaj, DO
Sara Malik, MD
Suraj Narvekar, MD
Daniel Ruesch, DO
Aaron Sidhu, MD
Peter Simonse, DO
Marina Wassef, DO
Craig Yanuszeski, DO

Class of 2024

Andrew Barringer, DO
Jeffrey Crawford, DO
Tasmea Haque, MD
Matthew Keller, DO
Michael Kost, DO
Justen Kozlowski, DO
Ryan McAuliffe, DO
Serene Musallam, MD
Uyen-Nha Nguyen, MD
Ty Pfau, DO
Morgan Reeve, DO
Nikita Satapathy, DO
Sukhdev Singh, MD
Kirk Thorpe, DO
Valerie Martinez Vargas, MD

Class of 2023

Aniket Arora, MD
Shahin Bhagwagar, DO
Geo Cherian, MD
Xiaoxuan Dai, DO
Harmony Dixon, MD
Bryant Kao, DO
Mark Kirk, MD
Leena Malik, MD
Tushar Menon, MD
Nikita Nalam, DO
Thomas Pathityil, DO
Sasikanth Ravi, DO
Sandra Shi, DO
Alec Stampfel, DO
Miranda Stiewig, DO

Class of 2022

Kimball “Tyson” Bailey, DO
Fady Bodagh, MD
O’Shaine Brown, MD
Nina Celaya, MD
Jordan Fisher, MD
Neha Khan, MD
Christopher Lew, DO
Aniket Mody, DO
Haitham Rahman, MD
Jorge Rodriguez-Nylund
Raj Shah, MD
Monider Singh, MD
Daniel Stewart, MD
Samuel Ward, DO
Bilaal Zahoui, DO