Fellow Research Track

The purpose of the research track is to increase academic research proficiency and outcomes of cardiovascular medicine fellows at LAC+USC. Fellows with an interest are invited to enroll in this pathway.

The process begins in the first year of fellowship, during which time fellows will use research time to identify a research mentor and project, and will begin to compose a research proposal.

In the second year, fellows will enroll in the “Level 1” research elective. Fellows will be allotted 3 months of dedicated research time to work on their projects with the objective of a first author research presentation at a national meeting. Fellows will be provided with financial support to achieve this goal.

In the third year, fellows will enroll in the “Level 2” research elective. Fellows will again be assigned 3 months of dedicated research time to continue to develop their project with the objective of a first author research manuscript publication. Fellows will continue to receive financial support to achieve this goal.

 
 

Dr. Elkayam and fellow, Jena Pizula

 
 

Fellows’ Prior Works

  • Wesley Ghasem, Christiane Abouzeid, Brett G Toresdahl, Ankit B Shal. “Updated Blood Pressure Guidelines: Implications Athletes”. Guidelines/Clinical Trials/Meta-Analysis (WJ Kostis, Section Editor). Published 05 July 2022

  • Uri Elkayam, Priya Bansal, and Anil Mehra. “Catheter-Based Interventions for the Management of Valvular Heart Disease During Pregnancy”. Journals of the American College of Cardiology. 2022 Jun, 1 (2) 1–20

  • LM Raj, RV Matthews, DM Shavelle. “Treatment of Mitral Valve Stenosis Following Mitral Clip Implantation in a Patient with AML”. o Abstract presentation (virtual) at American College of Cardiology Scientific Session in Chicago, IL on March 28, 2020

  • LM Raj, F Fleischman, AO Mehra, DM Shavelle. “Valve-in-Valve Treatment of Early Edwards Sapien Valve Degeneration”. Oral presentation at Cardiovascular Research Technologies Meeting in Washington D.C., on March 3, 2019

  • LM Raj, R Upadyhay, L Clavijo, H Tun, AO Mehra, A Hindoyan, RV Matthews, DM Shavelle. “Factors Associated with Use of Bare Metal Stents in Patients with ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction”. LM Raj, R Upadyhay, L Clavijo, H Tun, AO Mehra, A Hindoyan, RV Matthews, DM Shavelle. Cardiovascular Revascularization Medicine. May 2020. Accepted.

  • LM Raj, SD Maidman, B Adhyaru. “Inpatient Management of Acute Decompensated Heart Failure”. Postgraduate Medical Journal, Volume 96, Issue 1131, Pages 33-42. Jan 2020.

  • LM Raj, AO Mehra, DM Shavelle. “Mixed Aortic Valve Disease Treated with Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in High Risk Patient Presenting with Acute Decompensated Heart Failure”. Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions, Volume 94, Issue 2, Pages 296-300. April 2019.

  • LM Raj, DM Shavelle, AO Mehra. “Interpretation of a Coronary Angiogram”. LM Raj, DM Shavelle, AO Mehra. Heart, Volume 105, Issue 13, Pages 998-1048. March 2019.

  • Patel, Sumit, Summers, John, & Shinbane, Jerold. (2019, under review). MRI and Cardiac Implantable Electronic Devices. Shellock, Frank (Ed). MRI Bioeffects, Safety, and Patient Management (pp. pending).

  • Zhang, J., Basrawala, H., Patel, S., Girn, T., Eyvazian, V., Wang, L., Ostrzega, E. (2020) Gastrointestinal Distension Masquerading as ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction. JACC Case Reports.

  • Zhang, J., Patel, S., Clavijo, L., & Laughrun, D. (2019). Successful Implementation of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation Support as a Bridge to Heart-Lung Transplantation in an Eisenmenger’s Syndrome Patient With Paradoxical Coronary Embolism. Journal of Investigative Medicine High Impact Case Reports.

  • Lee, C, Chau, E, Patel, S, et al. (2019). A rare systemic etiology of heart failure and liver dysfunction. Clin Case Rep.

  • Serena Ghanshani, MD, Sumit Patel, MD, Anilkumar Mehra, MD. Drinking Can Break Your Heart: A Case of Severe Alcohol Withdrawal Precipitating Takotsubo Cardiomyopathy” 10/2019. Poster, ACP Regional Conference

  • Alex O. Gong, Peter Z. Xu, Sumit Patel, Ajay Vaidya, Eugene Depasquale. Cardiac Sarcoidosis Diagnosed in a Patient with Presumed Methamphetamine Cardiomyopathy and Recurrent Sustained Ventricular Tachycardia.” ESC HF 2020 (accepted, event cancelled due to COVID-19 outbreak).

  • Alex O. Gong, Peter Z. Xu, Leah Raj, Sumit Patel, Ajay Vaidya, Eugene Depasquale. “A Pentad to Rule Them All, A Story of the Perils of West Nile in a Heart Transplant Recipient.” ISHLT 2020 (accepted).

  • Rusia A, Kita K, Shah SD, Roy D, Zhang Y, Nattiv J, Doshi N, Tun H, Clavijo LC, Doshi RN. Anticoagulation Patterns in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention in an Academic Center. The Journal of Innovations in Cardiac Rhythm Management. 2019. 10(8): 3785-3789

  • Nattiv J, Banankahah P, Liu GS, Genyk PA, Vucicevic D, Vaidya AS, Pandya K, Salimbangon A, Li JP, Kingsford PA, DePasquale EC, Wolfson AM. Outcomes Using Veno-Arterial Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation as a Bridge to Heart Transplantation Following the UNOS Allocation Policy Change. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020 April, 39 (4 Supplement) S272.

  • Nattiv J, Liu GS, Banankhah P, Genyk PA, Kingsford PA, Li JP, Vucicevic D, Chand RR, Salimbangon AD, Rahman J, Pandya K, Wolfson AM, Vaidya AS, DePasquale EC. Intermediate Survival Outcomes After Heart Transplantation Using Donor HCV NAT Positive Hearts. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020 April, 39 (4 Supplement) S119.

  • Nattiv J, Liu GS, Banankhah P, Genyk PA, Kingsford PA, Li JP, Chand RR, Vucicevic D, Pandya K, Rahman J, Wolfson AM, DePasquale EC, Vaidya AS. Long-Term Survival After Heart Transplantation in Patients With Chagas Cardiomyopathy. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020 April. 39 (4 Supplement) S481-482.

  • Nattiv J, Liu GS, Banankhah P, Genyk PA, Li JP, Kingsford PA, Chand RR, Salimbangon AD, Vucicevic D, Pandya K, Rahman J, Wolfson AM, DePasquale EC, Vaidya AS. Comparison of Six-Month Outcomes in Patients Bridged to Heart Transplantation With An Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Before and After the UNOS Allocation System Change. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020 April. 39 (4 Supplement) S262.

  • Nattiv J, Liu GS, Banankhah P, Genyk PA, Kingsford PA, Li JP, Salimbangon AD, Vucicevic D, Chand RR, Rahman J, Pandya K, Wolfson AM, DePasquale EC, Vaidya AS. Comparing Six-Month Outcomes for Patients in the New Heart Allocation Status 1-3 Categories Versus the Prior 1A Classification. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020 April. 39 (4 Supplement) S272.

  • Genyk PA, Liu GS, Nattiv J, Banankhah P, Kingsford P, Li JP, Wolfson AM, Vucicevic D, DePasquale EC, Vaidya AS. Heart Transplantation Outcomes in Adults With Postpartum Cardiomyopathy. . The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020 April. 39 (4 Supplement) S223-224.

  • Genyk PA, Liu GS, Nattiv J, Banankhah P, Li JP, Kingsford P, Wolfson AM, Vucicevic D, Vaidya AS, DePasquale EC. Heart Transplant Outcomes in Patients Who Receive Hepatitis B Virus (HBV) Positive Donor Hearts. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020 April. 39 (4 Supplement) S168.

  • Genyk PA, Nuno SB, Hashmi S, Nattiv J, Banankhah P, Liu GS, Wolfson AM, Vucicevic D, Vaidya AS, DePasquale EC. Heart Transplant Outcomes in Patients with Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020 April. 39 (4 Supplement) S228.

  • Genyk PA, Nattiv J, Liu GS, Banankhah P, Kingsford PA, Li JP, Wolfson AM, Vucicevic D, Vaidya AS, DePasquale EC. Heart Transplantation Outcomes in Patients with Marfan Syndrome: UNOS Registry Analysis. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020 April. 39 (4 Supplement) S225.

  • Genyk PA, Nattiv J, Liu GS, Vucicevic D, Pandya K, Chand RR, Li JP, Banankhah P, Kingsford PA, Vaidya AS, DePasquale EC. Outcomes of Heart Transplantation in Adults with Congenital Heart Disease Since UNOS Allocation System Change: UNOS Registry Analysis. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020 April. 39 (4 Supplement) S172.

  • Kingsford PA, Li JP, Wolfson AM, Nattiv J, Liu GS, Genyk PA, Banankhah P, Chand RR, Vucicevic D, Pandya K, Hashmi S, Nuno SB, Vaidya AS, DePasquale EC. Heart Transplantation Outcomes in Multiorgan Transplants. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020 April. 39 (4 Supplement) S262.

  • Li JP, Kingsford PA, Liu GS, Nattiv J, Genyk PA, Wolfson AM, Vucicevic D, P Banankhah, Salimbangon A, Fong M, Pandya K, Grazette L, Depasquale EC, Vaidya AS. Comparison of Six-Month Outcomes in Patients with Cardiac Amyloidosis Before and After the UNOS Allocation System Change. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020 April. 39 (4 Supplement) S270-271.

  • Li JP, Kingsford PA, Pandya K, Fong M, Grazette L, Nattiv J, Liu G, Banankhah P, Vucicevic D, Chand RR, Kiankhooy A, Wolfson AM, Vaidya AS, DePasquale EC. Comparison of Six-Month Outcomes in Restrictive Cardiomyopathy Patients Before and After UNOS Allocation System Change. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020 April. 39 (4 Supplement) S262-263.

  • Li JP, Pandya K, Kingsford PA, Nattiv J, Liu GS, Vucicevic D, Genyk PA, Wolfson AM, Banankhah P, Vaidya AS, DePasquale EC. Comparison of Six-Month Outcomes in Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Patients Before and After UNOS Allocation System Change. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020 April. 39 (4 Supplement) S263.

  • Li JP, Kingsford PA, Grazette L, Nattiv J, Liu GS, Genyk PA, Lum C, Vucicevic D, Pandya K, Fong M, Banankhah P, DePasquale EC, Vaidya AS. Heart Transplant Outcomes for Patients with Myocarditis. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020 April. 39 (4 Supplement) S261. Page 3

  • Liu GS, Wolfson AM, Nattiv J, Genyk PA, Vucicevic D, Chand RR, Pandya K, Li JP, Kingsford PA, Banankhah P, Vaidya AS, DePasquale EC. Comparison of Six-Months Outcomes in Patients Bridged to heart Transplant with Inotropes Before and After UNOS Heart Allocation Policy Change. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020 April. 39 (4 Supplement) S172-173.

  • Liu GS, Wolfson AM, Nattiv J, Genyk PA, Vucicevic D, Nuno SB, Hashmi S, Pandya K, Li JP, Kingsford PA, Banankhah P, DePasquale EC, Vaidya AS. Post-Transplant Outcomes for Patients Based on Their Duration of Smoking Cessation at the Time of Heart Tranplant (HT) Listing. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020 April. 39 (4 Supplement) S263.

  • Liu GS, Wolfson AM, Genyk PA, Vucicevic D, Pandya K, Fong M, Nattiv J, Li JP, Kingsford PA, Banankhah P, DePasquale EC, Vaidya AS. Outcomes of HIV-Positive Patients Post-Cardiac Transplantation. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020 April. 39 (4 Supplement) S81.

  • Liu GS, Wolfson AM, Nattiv J, Genyk PA, Vucicevic D, Chand RR, Pandya K, Rahman J, Li JP, Kingsford PA, Banankhah P, DePasquale EC, Vaidya AS. Heart Transplant Outcomes for Patients with Cardiac Sarcoidosis. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2020 April. 39 (4 Supplement) S143.

  • Nattiv J, Liu GS, Banankhah P, Rahman J, Pandya K, Woflson AM, DePasquale EC, Vaidya A. Recurrent Reactivated Chagas Disease Mimicking Acute Cellular Rejection in a Transplant Patient Previously Treated With Trypanocidal Therapy. Journal Of The American College of Cardiology. 2020 Mar, 75 (11Supplement 1) 3337.

  • Nattiv J, Liu G, Banankhah P, Rahman J, Pandya K, Woflson AM, DePasquale EC, Vaidya A. The Impact of the Revised United Network Of Organ Sharing (UNOS) Heart Allocation Policy On Transplant Waitlist Times and Post Transplant Mortality. Journal Of The American College of Cardiology. 2020 Mar, 75 (11 Supplement 1) 1076.

  • Genyk P, Liu GS, Nattiv J, Vaidya A , DePasquale EC. Heart Transplantation Outcomes in Adults with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy. Journal Of The American College of Cardiology

  • Liu G, DePasquale EC, Rahman J, Pandya K, Vucicevic D, Wolfson AM, Chand R, Nattiv J, Banankahah P, Genyk P, Li J, Kingsford P, Vaidya A. Post-Transplant Outcomes for Patients Based on Duration of Smoking Cessation At Time Of Heart Transplant (HT) Listing. Journal Of The American College of Cardiology. 2020 Mar, 75 (11 Supplement 1) 935.

  • Liu G, DePasquale EC, Rahman J, Pandya K, Vucicevic D, Wolfson AM, Nattiv J , Chand R, Banankahah P, Genyk P, Kingsford P, Li J, Vaidya A. Comparison Of Six-Months Outcomes In Patients Bridged To Heart Transplant (HT) With Inotropes Before And After UNOS Heart Allocation Policy Change. Journal Of The American College of Cardiology. 2020 Mar, 75 (11 Supplement) 938.

  • Pizula J, Nattiv J, Vaidya A. New Onset Ischemic Cardiomyopathy From Coronary Dissection as the Presenting Sign of Ascending Aortic Dissection in a Patient with Bicuspid Aortopathy. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2020 Mar, 75 (11 Supplement 1) 2493.

  • Nattiv J, Basrawala H, Tang J, Mehra A, Shavelle DM. A Rare Case of Culture Negative Bartonella Endocarditis Resulting in Septic Coronary Embolism Presenting as ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction. Circulation. 2019; 140: A16480.

  • Basrawala H, Baghdasaryan P, Girn HS, Nattiv J, Tun H, Clavijo L, Shavelle DM, Garg P. Progression of Asymptomatic Carotid Artery Stenosis and the Incidence of Stroke. Circulation. 2019; 140: A12661.

  • Nattiv J, Liu GS, Banankhah P, Genyk PA, Kingsford, PA, Li JP, Vucicevic D, Chand RR, Salimbangon D, Rahman J, Pandya K, Woflson AM, Vaidya AS, DePasquale EC. Intermediate Survival Outcomes After Heart Transplantation Using Donor HCV NAT Positive Hearts. International Society for Heart Lung Transplant 40th Anniversary Meeting and Scientific Sessions. Control Number 4468. Apr 22-25, 2020. Montreal, Canada. (Affected by COVID-19).

  • Nattiv J, Liu GS, Banankhah P, Genyk PA, Kingsford, PA, Li JP, Vucicevic D, Chand RR, Salimbangon D, Rahman J, Pandya K, Woflson AM, Vaidya AS, DePasquale EC. Long-Term Survival Outcomes after Heart Transplantation in Patients with Chagas Cardiomyopathy. International Society for Heart Lung Transplant 40th Anniversary Meeting and Scientific Sessions. Control Number 4525. Apr 22-25, 2020. Montreal, Canada. (Affected by COVID-19).

  • Nattiv J, Liu GS, Banankhah P, Genyk PA, Kingsford, PA, Li JP, Vucicevic D, Chand RR, Salimbangon D, Rahman J, Pandya K, Woflson AM, Vaidya AS, DePasquale EC. Comparison of Six-Month Outcomes in Patients Bridged to Heart Transplantation with an Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump before and after the UNOS Allocation System Change. International Society for Heart Lung Transplant 40th Anniversary Meeting and Scientific Sessions. Control Number 4554. Apr 22-25, 2020. Montreal, Canada. (Affected by COVID-19).

  • Nattiv J, Liu GS, Banankhah P, Genyk PA, Kingsford, PA, Li JP, Vucicevic D, Chand RR, Salimbangon D, Rahman J, Pandya K, Woflson AM, Vaidya AS, DePasquale EC. Comparing Six-Month Outcomes for Patients in the New Heart Allocation Status 1-3 Categories versus the Prior 1A Classification. International Society for Heart Lung Transplant 40th Anniversary Meeting and Scientific Sessions. Control Number 4573. Apr 22-25, 2020. Montreal, Canada. (Affected by COVID-19).

  • Nattiv J, Liu GS, Banankhah P, Genyk PA, Kingsford, PA, Li JP, Vucicevic D, Chand RR, Salimbangon D, Rahman J, Pandya K, Woflson AM, Vaidya AS, DePasquale EC. Outcomes Using Veno-Arterial Extra-Corporeal Membrane Oxygenation as a Bridge to Heart Transplantation Following the UNOS Allocation Policy Change. International Society for Heart Lung Transplant 40th Anniversary Meeting and Scientific Sessions. Control Number 4573. Apr 22-25, 2020. Montreal, Canada. (Affected by COVID-19).

  • Nattiv J, Liu GS, Banankhah P, Rahman J, Pandya K, Woflson AM, Vaidya AS, DePasquale EC. The Impact of the Revised United Network of Organ Sharing (UNOS) Heart Allocation Policy on Transplant Waitlist Times and Post Transplant Mortality. American College of Cardiology’s 69th Annual Scientific Sessions. Mar 28-30. Chicago, IL. Control Number: 17814.

  • Nattiv J, Liu GS, Banankhah P, Rahman J, Pandya K, Woflson AM, Vaidya AS, DePasquale EC. Recurrent Reactivated Chagas Disease Mimicking Acute Cellular Rejection in a Heart Transplant Patient Previously Treated with Trypanocidal Therapy. American College of Cardiology’s 69th Annual Scientific Sessions. Mar 28-30. Chicago, IL. Control number: 17851.

  • Nattiv J, Basrawala H, Tang J, Mehra A, Shavelle DM. A Rare Case of Culture Negative Bartonella Endocarditis Resulting in Septic Coronary Embolism Presenting as ST-Segment Elevation Myocardial Infarction. American Heart Association Scientific Sessions 2019. Nov 16-18: Philadelphia, PA

  • Xu PZ, Fong M. “An Insidious Case of Giant Cell Myocarditis Masquerading as Severe Coronary Artery Disease” Poster presentation. ACC Conference. Mar 16-18, 2019; New Orleans, LA, USA.

  • Liu GS, Li DJ. The Root of the Problem: A Case of Acute Heart Failure due to Syphilis. 2019 Southern Regional Society of General Internal Medicine; Houston, TX

  • Banankhah P. Six-month outcomes for patients bridged to heart transplantation with extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation before and after the heart allocation policy change. ISHLT 2020

  • Banankhah P. Effect of duration on veno-arterial extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation support and mortality following the UNOS allocation policy change. ISHLT 2020

  • Banankahah P. Ventricular Septal Rupture is a Rare Complication of Cardiac Sarcoidosis. Abstract accepted for ASE 2020.

  • Lee C, Chao A, Balasubramanian S, Singh N, Yau S, Konecna E, Baydur A, Doshi R, Borok Z, Konecny T. Subclinical Pulmonary Obstruction and Ventricular Arrhythmogenesis. Chest 2019 Annual Meeting

  • Cardiac Tamponade Secondary to IVC Filter Retrieval. Margolin E, Kwan W, Kanjanuthai S, Sohn J. JACC: Case Reports. 2(6): 873-876

  • PVRI: Getting the Units Right and Why it Matters. Kwan W, Shavelle D, Laughrun D. 2019. Clinical Cardiology. 42(3):334-338

  • Increasing Utilization of The Wellness Center in the Ambulator Care Setting. Kwan W. 2019. Committee of Interns and Residents Research Fair, LAC+USC Medical Center