Meet Our Fellows
First-year fellows
Name: Matthew Asirwatham
Hometown: Buffalo, NY
Med School: Jacobs School of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences (Buffalo)
Residency: UMass Chan Medical School
Hobbies/Interests: Ice hockey and cycling
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? I chose UMass Chan for the value our program places on education. Every attending is kind, patient, and excited to teach. Whether you are on bedside rounds, at lectures or simply passing by the echo lab, everyone wants to share their knowledge.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? My favorite activities in Central Massachusetts are bike rides around the Wachusett Reservoir and walks at Purgatory Chasm with my dog Luna.
Name: Andreas Filippaios
Hometown: Athens, Greece
Med School: National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Greece
Residency: Lahey Hospital and Medical Center
Hobbies/Interests: Trying new cuisines with my fiancee, traveling, appreciating art, and frequenting museums around the state.
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? The program and institution uniquely integrate three foundational pillars of an academic career: superb patient care, ample research opportunities, and innovation which empowers patients and clinicians.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? Some of my favorite activities are going on nature walks with my fiancée and daughter Sophie, trying new restaurants, playing soccer, and discovering beautiful local libraries that we have never been to before!
Name: Majd E. Hemam
Hometown: Damascus, Syria
Med School: American University of Beirut, Lebanon
Residency: Rutgers New Jersey Medical School
Hobbies/Interests: If I am not reading an ECG, I am grilling, swimming, or playing with my kids.
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? I chose UMass for my fellowship training due to its outstanding reputation and comprehensive curriculum. The program's esteemed faculty members are pioneers in the field, and their expertise aligns perfectly with my career aspirations. Moreover, the program offers extensive research opportunities and access to state-of-the-art facilities, allowing me to gain hands-on experience and contribute to cutting-edge advancements in cardiology. The program's location in a renowned medical center provides exposure to diverse cases and patient populations, further enhancing my clinical skills.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? My wife is from Massachusetts, so we were so happy to move back. We love spending time with the kids outdoors, exploring new parks and zoos. We also love going to festivals and state fairs.
Name: Sakeina Howard-Wilson
Hometown: Hillside, New Jersey
Med School: Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: UMass Chan Medical School
Hobbies/Interests: Cooking and traveling; the mitigation of cardiovascular health disparities through education and advocacy
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? I chose UMass Chan for fellowship because I knew I would receive exposure to a wide variety of clinical cases from diverse patient backgrounds and have access to high procedural volumes. I also knew from my experiences in residency that I would be trained by excellent clinician educators in the field.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? There are many restaurants to choose from in the area and there are a multitude of New England coastal towns to visit nearby.
Name: Michael Mankbadi
Hometown: Daytona Beach, FL
Med School: University of Central Florida College of Medicine
Residency: Yale School of Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: Baking, gardening, reading, exploring new food, traveling, tennis, astronomy, and spending time with my dog.
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? Comprehensive clinical training in a supportive learning environment with approachable and expert educators. Diverse patient population which allows for an expansive breadth of pathology and vast opportunities for clinical exposure to both the common and the rare.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? Spending time in nature-hiking, kayaking, and stargazing. Also, exploring the remarkably diverse food scene.
Name: Harun Thimmiah
Hometown: Worcester, MA
Med School: Drexel University College of Medicine
Residency: Medicine-Pediatrics at UMass Chan Medical School
Hobbies/Interests: I’m interested in adult congenital heart disease and structural heart disease, but also enjoy working in the CCU. Outside of medicine, I enjoy spending too much time on home projects or gardening, playing music, attending concerts, and being active outdoors via soccer or tennis
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? After growing up and training in Worcester for residency, I found the city has a large and diverse patient population. Coupling this with a supportive and friendly staff, I knew UMass Cardiology was the right fit for fellowship training.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? The restaurant scene, local hikes, and going to concerts at Mechanics Hall.
Second-year fellows
Name: Jacob Baxter
Hometown: Fayetteville, AR
Med School: LSU Medical School New Orleans
Residency: UMass Chan Medical School / UMass Memorial Medical Center
Hobbies/Interests: Hunting, fishing, hiking, camping, skiing, kayaking, basketball, hanging with my dogs, relaxing with friends and family
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? After doing residency at UMass it is hard to leave. Everyone, including the attendings, pharmacist, fellows, and residents make working at UMass enjoyable. The program is clinically strong and the amount of pathology that walks through the front door is truly exciting. Whether you are on wards service, in the cath lab, or the CCU you never know what is going to show up.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? I love being able to go fly fishing or kayaking within 30 minutes of my house. I also enjoy taking my dogs on hiking trails and seeing abundant wildlife. There are a number of great restaurants in the area that we enjoy eating at as well.
Name: Shantel Brissett
Hometown: Hanover, Jamaica
Med School: University of the West Indies, Mona Campus.
Residency: Harlem Hospital Center
Hobbies/Interests: Exploring new restaurants, live music, relaxing at the beach, travel, spending time with family and friends
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? Strong clinical training with heavy volume, diverse patient population, good exposure to cardiology subspecialties and faculty dedication to teaching.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? New to the area but looking forward to exploring.
Name: Sisira Gorthala
Hometown: Asheville, NC
Med School: SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, NY
Residency: Stony Brook University Hospital
Hobbies/Interests: Global/public health, history, dance, watching movies, finding new restaurants, planning travel, but most importantly spending time with my family and two kids
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship?
I had the advantage of insider information that the people really were just as nice and down to earth as they appeared during interviews. Add to this the amazing volume given no local competition yet good proximity to Boston, dedicated teaching in congenital heart disease and cardio-obstetrics, and close-knit community.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities?
New to the area but already enjoying local farms/farmer's markets, hikes, and access to both mountains and beaches. So much to discover despite a tiny geographical area!
Name: Roozbeh Nikooie
Hometown: Tehran, Iran
Med School: Tehran University of Medical Sciences
Residency: Yale School of Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: Fat biking, traveling & road trips, gym, cars & driving, light off-roading, exploring new foods & restaurants
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? High volume center with robust clinical training, strong cath lab, supportive environment, and plenty of research opportunities
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? Multiple outdoor activities and hiking, exploring beautiful central MA roads, exploring new restaurants, visiting friends in Framingham, Boston, and Connecticut
Name: Tenes Paul
Hometown: Somerville, MA
Med School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: UMass Chan Medical School / UMass Memorial Medical Center
Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with my wife, checking out new restaurants and bars, playing golf, watching Formula 1.
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? Superb clinical and research mentorship from attendings within the division of cardiology, excellent clinical breadth and exposure, supportive working/learning environment.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? Worcester is the place to be! There are tons of new restaurants, bars, and breweries, as well as endless opportunities for outdoor activities.
Third-year fellows
Hometown: Pawtucket, RI
Med School: University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
Residency: UMass Chan Medical School/UMass Memorial Medical Center
Hobbies/Interests: In my spare time, I love to collect antiques. I have a fairly green thumb, thanks to spending my childhood on my grandparents’ farm. I have a special interest in public health, specifically advocating for comprehensive health education within our public schools as a means of health promotion.
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? I trained here for residency and just love the people at UMass Chan. It felt right to train at a place that is familiar, but still full of surprises. UMass Chan certainly has a charm to it! As trainees, we are fortunate to have high volume and acuity with a diverse patient population. Also, I wanted a clinically-oriented program with dedicated faculty and research opportunities.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? Finding awesome restaurants! Great outdoor activities (trails and lakes) with a mix of cultural experiences (museums and concert halls).
Hometown: Hopkinton, MA
Med School: Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Residency: Yale School of Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: Birding, fly fishing, guitar, boat building, skiing, writing
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? Clinically heavy program with extensive procedural exposure
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? I love the proximity to friends and family. Also, Massachusetts has an amazing spread of outdoor activities with mountains, rivers, and coastlines all an easy day trip away.
Hometown: Acton, MA
Med School: Georgetown University School of Medicine
Residency: The Warren Alpert School of Medicine at Brown University
Hobbies/Interests: reading, walking my dog, hanging out with my family and friends, eating oysters and lobster rolls.
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? Every attending I interviewed with was so excited about the program and highlighted their support and accessibility. I felt it was the ideal combination of location, volume and faculty with a nurturing, supportive environment.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? I’ve lived in Eastern and Western Mass, and I’m loving Central so far! Great food, shopping, and beautiful, scenic walks with a reasonable cost-of-living. Easy accessibility to my family in various parts of Mass., and to family and beaches in RI (my former home).
Hometown: Arequipa, Peru
Med School: Universidad Catolica de Santa Maria Facultad de Medicina Humana, Peru
Residency: University of Connecticut School of Medicine
Hobbies/Interests: Playing the guitar and drums, swimming, tennis, soccer
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? Excellent clinical training, exposure to all areas in cardiology, and supportive and approachable faculty.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? My family and I love exploring local restaurants as well as various museums, which are among the best in the country. Central Mass offers amazing fall foliage driving tours with stunning scenery.
Hometown: Easton, MA
Med School: UMass Chan Medical School
Residency: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Hobbies/Interests: Spending time with my wife, two kids, and dog. I also enjoy biking, playing tennis, golf, and basketball.
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? I was a med student here at UMass Chan and thought the faculty was excellent. I am interested in imaging and interventional cardiology and UMass has great echo training and very high STEMI volume.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? Worcester is blossoming with tons of restaurants and breweries, great outdoor activities, and a close proximity to the mountains and Cape.
Research Track
Name: Timothy Cashman
Hometown: Sammamish, WA
Med School: Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai (MD, PhD)
Residency: UMass Chan Medical School (ABIM Research Pathway)
Hobbies/interests: Being active, exploring outside/hiking with my family, cooking baking, history, board games
Why did you choose UMass Chan for your fellowship? I had done residency here and was therefore very familiar with the faculty and fellows. They were a HUGE draw as all of them are inspiring, excellent clinicians and easy to work with. Worcester is also close to both my wife’s and my family and we love the area. The acuity and complexity of the patients is also outstanding.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? Hiking, exploring local farmers’ markets, and trying new restaurants.
Name: Joseph JB Tejan
Hometown: Dallas, TX
Med School: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
Residency: Johns Hopkins Bayview
Hobbies/interests: Playing with my Corgi, trying new board games and restaurants, watching all kinds of sports, especially soccer (Liverpool is my favorite team).
Why did you choose UMass Chan for your fellowship? As a T32 Fellow, I was looking for a program with a combination of strong clinical practice with a robust research program that is continuing to expand and grow.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? Skiing is convenient as 30 minutes away, quirky and fun restaurants (trivia at a Vietnamese restaurant), and fun breweries to try. There are plenty of options in the immediate area as well with easy access to Boston and the rest of New England.