Get to know our fellows
Our fellows are a diverse group from a variety of backgrounds with unique experiences and interests. We look forward to getting to know you as well!
PGY 4
Michael Abiragi, MD
Hometown: Grosse Pointe, MI
Residency: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health in West Michigan? I am very excited for the opportunity to learn from excellent cardiologists and to grow as a clinician alongside my future co-fellows. I was extremely impressed during the interview day by how highly the current fellows speak of their experience at Corewell Health in West Michigan, and I am thrilled to be joining this outstanding and supportive program.
What are your clinical interests? I am currently open-minded regarding future career path but I am interested in general cardiology, interventional cardiology and cardiac critical care.
Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with my fiancee, family, and friends. I also like to exercise and play sports, read, and listen to podcasts.
Levi Fry, MD
Hometown: Kalamazoo, MI
Residency: University of Michigan
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health in West Michigan? I completed my clinical years during medical school at Corewell Health in West Michgian where I was able to do my cardiology rotation. In addition to the breadth of pathology, high clinical volume, and excellent facilities, it was the emphasis placed on my education by all cardiology faculty that drew me back to Corewell Health in West Michigan.
What are your clinical interests? Currently I am keeping an open mind, but do have clinical interests in general cardiology, interventional and advanced imaging.
Hobbies: My hobbies include working out, scuba diving, exploring new restaurants and breweries, card/board games, and golfing.
Connor Kerndt, DO
Hometown: Traverse City, Michigan
Residency: Corewell Health - Grand Rapids/Michigan State University
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health in West Michigan? Having trained here for residency, I saw the culture of collegiality here at Corewell in West Michigan firsthand and knew I wanted to stay here. Having the opportunity to learn from world-class cardiologists who are deeply invested in our education, was an opportunity I could not pass up. The staff, facilities, and infrastructure are set up for us to succeed and achieve our career aspirations. I could not be more excited to learn cardiology here.
What are your clinical interests? I am keeping an open mindset going into my first year with an inclination towards general cardiology or electrophysiology.
Hobbies: In my non-hospital hours I like to spend my time with my wife and two French bulldogs exploring West Michigan. I also enjoy weight-lifting, basketball and golf.
Lucas Rich, MD
Hometown: Clawson, MI
Residency: University of Michigan
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health in West Michigan? I am excited about continuing training with a great group of co-fellows and faculty who are supportive and invested in our education. Further, Corewell Health in West Michigan has the institutional framework to provide excellent training including procedural volume, a continuum of clinical complexity and access to subspecialty training. All of this in the city of Grand Rapids which provides the accessibility of a large city while being surrounded by beautiful parks, trails and a short trip to Lake Michigan.
What are your clinical interests? My interests are general cardiology and medical education.
Hobbies: I enjoy playing soccer and exploring trails with my wife, Lizzie, and our dog, Lemma.
PGY 5
M. Umar Ahmed, MD
Hometown: Farmington Hills, MI
Residency: Spectrum Health/Michigan State University
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health: The opportunity to work with and learn from brilliant and supportive attendings and co-fellows at an institution that exposes me to complex and critically ill patients and their management.
Clinical interests: Advanced heart failure, cardiogenic shock, infiltrative cardiomyopathies
Hobbies: Reading, hiking, trying new restaurants
Anthony Dils, MD
Hometown: Saginaw, Michigan
Residency: University of Michigan
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? Being from Michigan, I was looking for a program close to home that would provide me with the opportunity to take care of very ill patients with a broad range of pathologies. On my interview day, and every day since joining the Corewell Health in West Michigan team, I have found the physicians, advanced practice providers, and nurses to be kind, supportive, and dedicated to providing outstanding care to patients. It's an excellent place to be!
Clinical interests: I am particularly interested in general cardiology, preventive cardiology, and cardiac imaging.
Hobbies: I enjoy spending time with my wife and son. We like to do outdoor activities including hiking, playing sports, and exploring West Michigan. We are first time homeowners and enjoy doing DIY house renovations in our spare time.
Ibrahim M. Khaleel, MD
Hometown: Oak Brook, IL
Residency: University of Michigan
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? While I am very excited to experience the breadth and depth of medical care Corewell Health in West Michigan is able to provide, I am most excited to be training in an environment of outstanding, compassionate and driven individuals who will make this experience invaluable.
Clinical interests: Within cardiovascular disease, I am particularly interested in multi-modality cardiac imaging and structural/interventional cardiology.
Hobbies: I am very excited to experience the west side of Michigan with trips to the lake, walking through the various parks and getting to know the Grand Rapids downtown area.
Scott Winsor, MD
Hometown: Milford, MI
Residency: Wake Forest University
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? I am excited to work with the incredible cardiovascular teams at Corewell Health in West Michigan. The amazing support staff, nurses, advanced practitioners and doctors that I have interacted with have all been so kind and supportive, starting from the interview day all the way to orientation week. The people here at Corewell Health in West Michigan really have created a fantastic environment to learn and grow as a fellow. I am also so excited to be back in Grand Rapids and enjoy all of the great things the city has to offer.
Clinical Interests: My clinical interests include preventative cardiology, interventional cardiology and cardiogenic shock.
Hobbies: I love spending time with my wife and our three kids. We enjoy going out together as a family trying new restaurants or breweries and having fun outdoors by playing sports, hiking or exploring new parks. We also love to find a great new movie or TV show. In my spare time I also love to play the guitar, get in some video game time with friends and listen to podcasts.
PGY 6
Mahrukh Akram, MBBS
Hometown: Rawalpindi, Pakistan
Residency: Spectrum Health/Michigan State University
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I completed my Internal Medicine Residency here at Spectrum Health and was able to work with the Cardiology faculty and fellows in a number of different settings - the broad range of clinical pathologies we see here and the friendly environment meant I didn't want to go anywhere else for fellowship!
What are your clinical interests? I am currently keeping an open mind and exploring the various sub-specialties Cardiology has to offer, including interventional, imaging and electrophysiology.
Hobbies: In my free time I enjoy cooking and reading. There is also a lot of natural beauty to explore and appreciate around Grand Rapids.
Mazin Habhab, MD
Hometown: Dearborn, MI
Residency: Indiana University
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? I chose Spectrum Health because of the incredible training and friendly faculty. The emphasis on fellow education and hands on training is unmatched and truly makes this place unique. In addition, Grand Rapids is a fun and easy to live in city, with many amenities and delicious restaurants.
What are your clinical interests? I am interested in cardiovascular imaging and interventional cardiology.
Hobbies: My hobbies include working out, reading, hanging out with friends and watching sports.
Patrick Kurecka, MD
Hometown: Saginaw, MI
Residency: University of Wisconsin-Madison
What excites you about your residency/fellowship at Corewell Health? Corewell Health in West Michigan was a perfect match for my personal and career goals. Most important to me was a good culture that promoted learning and a supportive environment. Even though I interviewed virtually, I felt that the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship was still able to make its culture shine. It was obvious to me that this was a place where people are both passionate about cardiology and patient care, but also genuinely support each other, have mutual respect, and enjoy their relationships together even outside of the hospital. Corewell Health is on the cutting edge of cardiology and training here would allow me to get experience in all aspects of cardiology, from advanced imaging to transplant. In addition, moving back from Wisconsin to my home state of Michigan allowed me to be closer to family, and the city of Grand Rapids is a fantastic place to live.
What are your clinical interests? Advanced cardiac imaging
Hobbies: Computers, technology, video games, podcasts and reading.
Amy Rechenberg, MD
Hometown: Hebron, IL
Residency: Spectrum Health/Michigan State University
Why did you choose Spectrum Health for your residency/fellowship? Initially, friends drew me to Grand Rapids with its big-city benefits, yet small-town feel and being surrounded by nature. What helped seal the deal of me choosing Spectrum for IM residency was the inviting people, impressive hospital and offered fellowships. During my residency, I was blown away by the support and encouraging mentors I gained within medicine and unintentionally in cardiology. Even during the many surges of COVID, the cardiology department consistently displayed their passion and emphasis on teaching. Curiosity was welcomed and I always felt comfortable asking questions. There was no doubt that if I trained as a cardiology fellow at Spectrum, I would graduate with the ability and confidence to address any case sent my way. Now as a fellow, I'm realizing the importance of the outstanding volume of cases and hands on experience we gain as well as the program's unwavering collegial environment. I love where I'm at and honestly do not believe there is a better program.
What are your clinical interests? I have a long list of interests within cardiology. Areas that currently come to the forefront are Advanced Imaging, Interventional, Clinical Cards, EP, Critical Care and Preventative.
Hobbies: I enjoy kayaking with my puppy and husband, attempting new winter activities with my sister (ex-luge in Muskegon), bonfires with friends, trying new foods and drinks and going on adventures!
Graduates
Class of 2024
Hassan Saleh
- Interventional Cardiology Fellowship - University of Louisville, Louisville, KY
Ryan Ber
- Interventional Cardiology Fellowship - Ascension Providence/MSUCHM, Southfield, MI
Joseph Banno
- Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship – University of Alabama, Birmingham, AL
Trisha Gomez
- Interventional Cardiology Fellowship – Corewell Health/MSU, Grand Rapids, MI
Class of 2023
Rajus Chopra:
- Clinical Cardiologist - Corewell Health in West Michigan
Eesha Purohit:
- Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiology Fellowship - Corewell Health- Grand Rapids/MSU
Marvin Kajy:
- Interventional Cardiology Fellowship - Corewell Health - Grand Rapids/MSU, Grand Rapids, MI
Class of 2022
Malav Parikh:
- Interventional Cardiology Fellowship, Spectrum Health/Michigan State University
- Interventional Cardiologist - Academic Cardiology Associates - Rochester Hills, MI
Lahdan Refahiyat:
- Interventional Cardiology Fellowship - Spectrum Health/Michigan State University
- Interventional Cardiologist - Carson Tahoe Medical Group - Nevada
Christopher Madison:
- Advanced Imaging Fellowship - Spectrum Health/Michigan State University
Class of 2021
Stephen Wilkinson:
- Interventional Cardiology Fellowship - Spectrum Health/Michigan State University
- Interventional Cardiologist - Intermountain Health, Provo, UT
David Bryska:
- Interventional Cardiology Fellowship - University of Illinois - Chicago, IL
- Interventional Cardiologist – University of Michigan Health-West, Grand Rapids, MI
Jose Rios Salcido:
- Interventional Cardiology Fellowship - Spectrum Health/Michigan State University
- Interventional Cardiologist - West Michigan Cardiology, Grand Rapids, MI
Class of 2020
Adnan "Alex" Kassier:
- Interventional Cardiology Fellowship - Ascension Borgess, Kalamazoo, MI
- Structural Heart Fellowship - Ascension Borgess, Kalamazoo, MI
- Interventional & Structural Heart Cardiologist - Mercy Hospital, Springfield, MO
Jose "Joe" Tan:
- Advanced Imaging Fellowship - Spectrum Health, Grand Rapids, MI
- Advanced Imager - Corewell Health in West Michigan
Manivannan Veerasamy:
Cardiologist - The Heart Center of Northeast Georgia Medical Center, Gainesville, GA
