Meet Our Fellows
First-year fellows
Name: Majd Al Deen Alhuarrat
Hometown: Al Balqa', Jordan
Med School: University of Sharjah, UAE
Residency: Albert Einstein College of Medicine - Jacobi Medical Center
Hobbies/Interests: Stamp collecting, reading novels, running, drawing, and spending time with family.
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? UMass Chan's well-balanced program, integrating academic pursuits in research and scholarly activities with comprehensive clinical training, coupled with an environment enriched by experts in the field, resonated with me and led me to choose it as my next home in my training journey.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? Some of my favorite activities include exploring the vibrant local arts scene, hiking picturesque trails in the region's beautiful parks, and enjoying the diverse culinary offerings in the area.
Name: Julia Berkowitz
Hometown: Newton, MA
Med School: Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth
Residency: Brown Internal Medicine Residency
Hobbies/Interests: I am interested in women's cardiovascular disease, cardio-obstetrics, and quality
improvement. Outside of medicine, I love to explore new foods and restaurants with my husband, go on walks
and hiking trails with our dog Winston, and enjoy the performing arts.
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? I was impressed by the warmth of the faculty and
fellows, supportive working environment, the high and diverse clinical volume, and opportunities for research.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? I am new to the area but am excited to explore
the restaurant scene, local hikes, and enjoy the fall foliage.
Name: Philip M. Cook
Hometown: Chaska, MN
Med School: KCPCOM at Nova Southeastern University
Residency: UMass Chan Medical School
Hobbies/Interests: I enjoy golfing, going to the movie theater, traveling, and enjoying a night out for dinner
with my wife and friends.
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? I chose UMass because of the people and opportunities.
People at UMass treat each other with respect working towards a common goal. There are so many great
cardiologists excited to teach and who have made a mark in their field. I feel that UMass can help me
maximize my potential given the breadth of knowledge in the different fields of cardiology.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? I enjoy going to Armsby Abbey for a meal, hiking
in some of the nearby trails, and golfing at Green Hill Golf Course.
Name: Anna Gubala
Hometown: Maynard, MA
Med School: UMass Chan Medical School
Residency: UMass Chan Medical School
Hobbies/Interests: Soccer, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, beach volleyball, playing Nintendo Switch,
relaxing with friends and family.
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? UMass fosters a collaborative and friendly work
environment in which everyone is both approachable and excited to teach. As a tertiary care referral center for central and western MA, the clinical training is robust with a high patient volume and many interesting cases.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? Exploring hiking trails, leaf peeping, and easy
access to both the Cape in the summer and White Mountains in the winter.
Name: Sam Karmiy
Hometown: Newton, MA
Med School: Tufts University School of Medicine
Residency: Tufts Medical Center
Hobbies/Interests: Skiing, hiking, and travel.
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? I chose UMass because of the high volume of cardiology presentations, the diversity of the patient population, and the extensive exposure to all modalities of cardiac imaging. I also wanted to remain close to my family in Massachusetts.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? Exploring the nearby hiking, restaurants, and New England towns.
Name: Michael D. Murphy
Hometown: Barrington, Rhode Island
Med School: Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University
Residency: UMass Chan Medical School
Hobbies/Interests: Snowboarding/Skiing, hiking/camping, running, biking, golf, ice hockey, board games,
chess in particular.
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? I already knew that I loved it at UMass from my time in
residency working with great peers and mentors. I consider the community of Central Massachusetts to be my community and the people that I want to continue to serve. My family lives nearby and being near to them is the most important reason for me.
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? All of the above hobbies are accessible from
Central Mass. Snowboarding and hiking are easy to get to north of Worcester, or even locally at Wachusett and others. I bike to work every day and there are trails in the area for running and biking. There are many great golf courses. I play on the unofficial UMass hockey team. There are otherwise great restaurants and breweries in the region with proximity to Boston and Providence and the coast as well.
Name: Samshita Yalamanchili
Hometown: Methuen, MA
Med School: Albany Medical College
Residency: UMass Chan Medical School
Hobbies/Interests: Painting, hiking, kayaking, and eating too much pizza.
Why did you choose UMass Chan for fellowship? As someone born and raised in Massachusetts, it has always been important to care for my own community. UMass has a very high clinical volume due to its location in the second largest city in New England making for excellent training in common cardiac conditions but our wide catchment area also allows us to see rare pathology. During my residency at UMass, I had the opportunity to work with our cardiology department and everyone was truly warm and welcoming. Our attendings prioritize teaching and are actively invested in fostering our growth as clinicians. The fellows create an incredibly supportive work environment and I had to officially join the team!
What are your favorite Central Massachusetts activities? Trying out new breweries/restaurants, apple picking in the fall, visiting family and friends.
Second-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.
Third-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.
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.