Endeavor Health’s Cardiovascular Fellowship Program is a 3-year ACGME accredited program sponsored by the University of Chicago that provides personalized training in cardiovascular medicine within a collaborative, cutting-edge, and innovative academic setting. The program provides comprehensive mentorship and a strong foundation in research and leadership.
Endeavor Health’s Cardiovascular Fellowship Program is a three-year ACGME-accredited fellowship focused on producing well-rounded, highly competent cardiologists. Fellows train predominantly in the Cardiovascular Institute based at Glenbrook Hospital but rotate across multiple facilities, including Evanston and the University of Chicago.
Program highlights:
- 1:1 mentorship with dedicated faculty
- Strong academic foundation paired with personalized professional development
- High imaging and procedural volumes
- Comprehensive training in imaging, interventional cardiology, EP, heart failure and preventive cardiology
- Opportunities in clinical outcomes and AI-based research
Program structure & curriculum
Cardiology consults
Consultative rotations at Evanston and Glenbrook hospitals with diverse and complex cases with graduated autonomy.
Cardiac intensive care units (CICU)
Experience managing high-acuity cardiac patients with full exposure to hemodynamics and advanced mechanical circulatory support (IABP, Impella, ECMO, LVADs) in state-of-the-art Glenbrook CVICU.
Cardiac catheterization lab
Hands-on training in diagnostic angiography and right heart catheterization with opportunities for PCI, intravascular imaging, structural interventions and advanced procedures including PA sensor implants and endomyocardial biopsies.
Echocardiography
Dedicated didactic instruction in echocardiography performance and interpretation. COCATS II training achieved in TTE and TEE, with potential for COCATS III and interventional echocardiography in year three.
Stress testing
Training in nuclear and echo stress testing, with exposure to stress PET scan interpretation. Fellows are eligible for the nuclear cardiology boards.
Electrophysiology
Consultative and outpatient electrophysiology exposure, as well as device management, and procedural exposure to loop recorders and A-fib/VT ablations.
CT/MRI
Early and longitudinal exposure to advanced cardiac imaging, with dedicated time for CT/MRI interpretation in year two and board eligibility in cardiac CTA upon completion of training.
Preventive cardiology & genetics
Rotations with lipidology, weight management, and personalized medicine specialists.
Vascular medicine
Dedicated time in vascular medicine clinics and consults with exposure to a wide range of vascular pathology. Potential to obtain certification in vascular imaging.
Advanced heart failure & transplant
Extensive exposure to advanced heart failure on CVICU and heart failure rotations, and outpatient LVAD, amyloidosis, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy clinics. Additional training at the University of Chicago with focus on transplant cardiology.
Outpatient Cardiology Continuity Clinic
Dedicated ½ day outpatient continuity clinic based at Evanston Hospital throughout the 3-year fellowship.
- Weekly core curriculum lectures, ECG, cath and imaging conferences
- Monthly journal club and fellow board review
- Visiting professor lectures and grand rounds
- Structured didactic curriculum across all three years
- Longitudinal research projects and quality improvement initiatives
- Abstract and manuscript writing
- National and regional conference presentations
- Dedicated mentorship and elective blocks for academic development
Year 1
- Cardiology Consults – 3 blocks
- CICU – 2 blocks
- Echocardiography – 2 blocks
- Nuclear Stress – 2 blocks
- Cardiac Catheterization – 2 blocks
- EP – 1 block
- Preventive Cardiology – 0.5 block
- Elective – 0.5 block
Year 2
- Consults – 3 blocks
- CICU – 1 block
- Cath – 2 blocks
- EP – 1 block
- Advanced HF/Transplant – 1 block
- Echo – 2 blocks
- Nuclear – 1 block
- CT/MRI – 1 block
- Vascular – 0.5 block
- Research/Elective – 0.5 block
Year 3
- Consults/CICU – 4 blocks
- EP – 1 block
- Nuclear – 1 block
- Electives – 7 blocks
We accept applications through the Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS) and participate in the National Resident Matching Program (NRMP).
Eligibility requirements:
- Completion of an ACGME-accredited Internal Medicine residency
- ERAS application
- 3 letters of recommendation
- USMLE scores
- Personal statement
- Dean’s letter and medical school transcript
All materials must be submitted electronically—no mailed applications will be accepted.
For questions, please contact:
Karen Claybourne
cvfellowship [at] northshore.org (cvfellowship[at]northshore[dot]org)
(847) 570-1485
Primary training occurs at Glenbrook Hospital’s new Cardiovascular Institute, opened in 2024. Fellows also rotate at:
- Evanston Hospital
- Skokie Hospital
- University of Chicago Medical Center (Advanced HF & Transplant)
The training environment includes state-of-the-art labs, high-fidelity simulation and a diverse patient population representing both suburban and urban communities.
Amit Pursnani, MD, MSc, FACC, FSCCT
Program Director
Vice Chief of Cardiology (Education/Research/Innovation)
Director, Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship
Director, Advanced Cardiac Imaging
Clinical Associate Professor, University of Chicago Pritzker School of MedicineJordan Z. Harris, MD, FACC
Associate Program Director
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Chicago Pritzker School of MedicineSarah Alexander, MD
Core Faculty
Division of Cardiology, Endeavor HealthTara Atta, MD, FACC
Core Faculty
Senior Clinician Educator, University of Chicago Pritzker School of MedicineLillian Benck, MD
Core Faculty, Advanced Heart Failure
Director of Heart Failure
Division of Cardiology, Endeavor HealthMark Lampert, MD, MBA, FACC, FASE, FASNC, FACP
Vice Chief of Cardiology (Clinical Operations and Quality)
Medical Director, Endeavor Cardiovascular Institute
Clinical Associate Professor, University of Chicago Pritzker School of MedicineJose Nazari, MD, FACC
Core Faculty, Electrophysiology
Associate Director, Cardiac Electrophysiology
Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Chicago Pritzker School of MedicineJonathan Rosenberg, MD, FACC, FSCAI
Core Faculty, Interventional Cardiology
Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Chicago Pritzker School of MedicineAlfonso J. Tafur, MD, MSc, RPVI, FSVM
Core Faculty
Director, Vascular Medicine
Program Director, Vascular Medicine Fellowship
Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
Current fellows
- Matthew Cochran, MD – University of Texas HSC San Antonio / University of Chicago
- Mina Kerolos, MD, PharmD – Chicago Medical School at RFUMS / Rush University Medical Center
- Riya Sam, MD – Pushpagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, India / Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center
- Ayesha Abbasi, MD – King Edward Medical University / Stroger Hospital of Cook County
- Mohammed (Basel) Allaw, MD – Emory University / McGaw Medical Center of Northwestern
- Sadichhya Karki, MD – Kathmandu University School of Medical Sciences / Stroger Hospital of Cook County
- Aneeza Jahmshed, MD – John H. Stroger Hospital of Cook County/King Edward Medical University
- Victor Qiao, MD – University of Illinois College of Medicine/-University of Illinois College of Medicine
- George Tsourdinis, MD – University of Illinois College of Medicine/University of Chicago (Endeavor Health-NorthShore Hospitals)
2025
- Mashaal Farooq Ikram, MD – Private Practice: Cardiovascular Institute of America-Affiliation with UC Davis
- Victor Macrinici, MD – General Cardiology Physician: Endeavor Health
- Nso Agbor Nso, MD – Interventional Cardiology: University of Chicago (Endeavor Health)
2024
- Kifah Hussain: Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellowship: Northwestern University
- Kevin Lee: Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellowship: University of Chicago (Endeavor Health-NorthShore Hospitals)
- Juan Pablo Salazar Adum: Interventional Cardiology Wisconsin Medical College
2023
- Senthil Balasubramanian, MD: Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellowship: University of Chicago (NorthShore)
- Safwan Gaznabi, MD: Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellowship: University Hospital for the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Montefiore Medical Center
- Iva Minga, MD: Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellowship: University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine
2022
- Kaveh Rezaei Bookani, MD: Advanced Imaging Fellowship: Cedar Sinai Medical Center
- Mrinali Shetty, MD: Advanced Imaging Fellowship: Columbia University
2021
- Ali Alsaad, MD: Interventional Fellowship, University of Chicago
- Luis Paz-Rios, MD: Interventional Fellowship: Massachusetts General
2020
- Oscar Garza-Ovalle, MD: General Cardiology Physician: Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon, Pedro de Alba S/N, Niños Héroes Ciudad Universitaria, San Nicolás de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
- Jared Liebelt, MD: General Cardiology Physician NorthShore University HealthSystem
2019
- Omer Iftikhar, MD: Interventional Cardiology Fellowship: Temple University
- Haseeb Saeed, MD: General Cardiology Physician: Sutter Health Sacramento, CA
Life as a fellow
From competitive benefits and built-in wellness resources to a collaborative environment and tech-enabled clinical spaces, our program is designed to help fellows thrive both professionally and personally.
All fellows receive comprehensive medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance coverage.
Fellows have access to modern clinical environments and a dedicated cardiovascular institute equipped with cardiac imaging, catheterization and EP labs, plus high-speed Wi-Fi and EMR integration across training sites. Extensive opportunities and infrastructure to participate in clinical research.
Fellows receive protected time for conferences and are supported in presenting research at national and regional meetings. Dedicated time, resources, and mentorship are provided for research, QI projects and board preparation.
Fellows receive 20 paid vacation days and 5 paid sick days annually. Additional wellness resources and Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) are available to support emotional and physical health.
Free hospital-provided parking is available at all Endeavor Health training sites. Glenview and Evanston locations are easily accessible by public transportation from across the North Shore and Chicago.
Program coordinator:
Karen Claybourne
cvfellowship [at] northshore.org (cvfellowship[at]northshore[dot]org)
(847) 570-1485Address:
2100 Pfingsten Rd., Suite 2830
Glenview, IL 60026
