Cardiology

Goals and Mission

The NUMC General Cardiology Fellowship Training Program focuses on training leaders in Cardiovascular Disease, who are committed to excellence in academic medicine. The training should not only provide the fundamental skills necessary to enable the osteopathic physician to become an exemplary clinician, scientist, and teacher, but it should instill the utmost respect for the patient, stressing the critical importance of a compassionate and caring doctor-patient relationship. The training program emphasizes the development of particular skills that will foster a lifelong enthusiasm for clinical and/or basic science research that will lead to improved understanding of disease processes, and ultimately, toward advancements in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cardiovascular disease.

The mission of the Fellowship Training Program in Cardiovascular Diseases is to provide an academically and clinically rigorous training program in general cardiology as well as advanced training in clinical cardiology sub-specialties and cardiovascular research. The aims of the program are to provide the trainee with the basic and clinical knowledge, procedural skills, clinical judgment, professionalism and interpersonal skills, and abilities necessary to continue to hone these skills through the course of a long career, as required of a leader in cardiovascular medicine. The curriculum is designed to provide a broad clinical exposure in acute and chronic cardiovascular care occurring in the inpatient and outpatient settings, as well as extensive experience in non-invasive and invasive cardiac procedures. Fellowship training will prepare fellows to function not only as outstanding cardiologists, but also as either sub specialists in a clinical area or investigators in the field of cardiovascular research.

The NUMC program is deeply committed to providing the best training in cardiovascular disease. A standard of excellence is achieved and maintained by strictly adhering to the complying with the ACGME Standards in Residency Training in Cardiology, which is based upon and incorporates the standards and recommendations of the American College of Cardiology. The program is closely maintained by review, audit and input from the program director, attending physicians and fellows.

Program Goals and Objectives

First Year

Be able to conduct a complete and comprehensive history; especially cardiovascular history and be able to confidently assess the patients’ needs for further testing and treatment.
Perform a complete and comprehensive physical examination especially of the cardiovascular system, which includes thorough palpation and auscultation of the heart and blood vessels and categorize the cardiac and vascular abnormalities based upon the examination.
Understand and recognize the osteopathic abnormalities associated with pathology of the cardiovascular system.
Understand the basic electrocardiogram and be adept at interpreting the vast majority of the electrocardiographic abnormalities that are clinically encountered.
Recognize the chest radiographic manifestations of diseases of the heart and great vessels and understand the normal structures of the heart and cardiac silhouette.
Know the indications and usefulness of the echocardiographic and Doppler studies of the heart and be able to recognize the normal structures seen on two-dimensional and M-Mode echocardiography. A fundamental understanding of ultrasound imaging and Doppler flow including color signal definitions should also be attained. The common abnormalities of the echocardiographic examination should also be attained. Perform a hands-on echocardiographic study with attainment of all the views used in the study to degree that it is interpretable.
Understand the indications, contra-indications and basic interpretations of exercise and ambulatory electrocardiography and arrhythmia monitoring.
Have a fundamental understanding of the radiopharmaceuticals used in nuclear cardiology and a basic ability to recognize normal and abnormal findings, along with the indications for the various studies.
Understand the basics of the electrophysiologic examination and its indications and contraindications.
Recognize the more common arrhythmias and their evaluation and treatments.
Understand the fundamentals of artificial pacing, its indications and usefulness. Additionally, a basic recognition of pacemaker malfunction; and uses and operation of defibrillators should be attained.
Understand the indications and contra-indications of cardiac catheterization. And be able to interpret the basic cardiac angiogram and hemodynamic tracings.

Second Year

Have adequately attained all of the requirements of the first year of training as noted above.
Perform a highly accurate cardiovascular history such that the diagnostic skills are approaching the accuracy of the attending cardiologist.
Perform a highly accurate cardiovascular physical examination with the ability to comprehensively determine the presence and nature of any cardiac structural abnormalities and vascular pathology. Recognition of essentially all the murmurs and heart sounds should be mastered
Interpret with high accuracy essentially all the electrocardiographic abnormalities encountered in clinical practice.
Perform an exercise stress study independently and be able to provide an accurate interpretation of the findings.
Accurately interpret any ambulatory arrhythmia study encountered in clinical practice.
Interpret essentially all of the abnormalities of the echo and Doppler study.
Interpret most of the cardiac nuclear studies typically encountered in Clinical practice.
Understand the basic findings of the electrophysiology study. Accurately read most cardiac angiograms. Thoroughly understand the hemodynamics of most of the cardiac abnormalities typically encountered in clinical practice.
Understand the array of pacemaker parameters and settings used for the cardiac abnormalities encountered.
Know the indications and usefulness of the transesophageal echocardiography of the heart and be able to recognize the normal structures seen. Recognition of the common abnormalities of the transesophageal echocardiographic examination should also be attained. Perform a hands-on transesophageal echocardiographic study with attainment of all the views used in the study to the degree that it is interpret able.

Third Year

Have adequately attained all of the requirements of the second year of training.
Have mastered all of the facts of invasive and non-invasive testing, and clinical findings, and be able to understanding it to a depth that he/she can provide teaching of all of the material at a student and resident level.
Have completed a scholarly activity.
Proficiently teach and mentor fellow physicians.

Sample Schedule

Program Administration:

Program Director: Roman Zeltser, MD, FACC
Email – rzeltser@numc.edu
Assistant Program Director: Amgad N. Makaryus, MD, FACC, FACP, FASE, FSCCT
Email – amakaryu@numc.edu
Assistant Program Director: Daniel Chikvasvili MD, PhD, FACP
Email –dchikvas@numc.edu
Program Coordinator: Veronica Cruz
Email – vcruz1@numc.edu

Prerequisite Training / Selection Criteria:

All fellow trainees selected for the cardiovascular disease fellowship training program are required to have graduated from an Allopathic or Osteopathic Medical school and must have completed an ACGME or AOA accredited three year residency program in internal medicine within last 3 years. All fellows must be eligible to be licensed to practice medicine in the state of New York. We do not sponsor Visa Candidates. All applications must be submitted via ERAS, at least 3 LoRs required. We participate in the NRMP match, 2 spots per year

Program Certification:

ACGME and AOA accredited
Upon completion of the Cardiology Fellowship Training Program , fellows will be eligible to sit for the ABIM Certification Exam in Cardiovascular Disease

Faculty Roster

Roman Zeltser, MD- Clinical Cardiology, Program Director
Amgad Makaryus, MD- Echocardiography, Cardiac CT/MRI, Chairman of Cardiology
Daniel Chikvashvili, MD- Nuclear Cardiology
Ofek Hai, DO- Non Invasive Cardiology
Samy Selim, MD-Invasive Cardiology/Vascular Medicine
Kent Stephenson, MD- Electrophysiology
Paul Macarro, MD-Electrophysiology
Lawrence Ong, MD-Invasive Cardiology

Current Fellows Roster:

3rd Year Fellows:

Castillo, Andres
Residency: NUMC

Leventhal, Devora
Residency: Mount Sinai South Nassau

2nd Year Fellows

Alvarez Betancourt, Alejandro
Residency: NUMC (Chief)

Berman, Lorin Michelle
Residency: Einstein Medical Center (Chief)

Gardy, Adam
Residency: University of Connecticut

Kelschenbach, Kyle James
Residency: Florida Atlantic University

Staroselsky, Mark
Residency: Rowan University

1st year Fellows:

Cordero Cordero, Dessiree
Residency: BronxCare Health System

Merino, Elena
Residency: Atlantic Health System/Morristown Medical Center

Mohammed, Abdul Qudoos Iqbal
Residency: NUMC

Ramirez Damera, Ramses
Residency: University of Central Florida

Placement of Graduates:

Interventional Cardiology- Deborah H&L Center (NJ), Morristown Medical Center (NJ), Brandon Hospital HCA (FL)
EP- Advocate Medical Center (IL)
Advance Imaging- St. Francis Hospital (NY) Morristown Medical Center (NJ)
Vascular Medicine- Northwell NSUH (NY)
Private/Hospital Practice- NY, CT, SC, Locums, VA, Iowa

Recent Publications:

Clinical Presentation and Risk Stratification of Pulmonary Embolism
Mohammed AQI, Berman L, Staroselsky M, Wenn P, Hai O, Makaryus AN, Zeltser R.
Int J Angiol. 2024 May 13;33(2):82-88. doi: 10.1055/s-0044-1786878. eCollection 2024 Jun.
PMID: 38846996 Review.
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Ensuring fidelity: key elements to consider in disseminating a diabetes telemanagement program for underserved Hispanic/Latinos living with type 2 diabetes
Martinez S, Nouryan CN, Williams MS, Patel VH, Barbero P, Correa Gomez V, Marino J, Goris N, Cigaran E, Granville D, Murray LF, Harris YT, Myers A, Guzman J, Makaryus AN, McFarlane SI, Zeltser R, Pena M, Sison C, Lesser ML, Kline M, DiClemente RJ, Pekmezaris R.
Front Clin Diabetes Healthc. 2024 Feb 16;5:1328993. doi: 10.3389/fcdhc.2024.1328993. eCollection 2024.
PMID: 38436046 Free PMC article.

Dietary Effects of Fasting on the Lipid Panel
Hourizadeh J, Munshi R, Zeltser R, Makaryus AN.
Curr Cardiol Rev. 2024;20(2):82-92. doi: 10.2174/011573403X257173231222042846.
PMID: 38310558 Review.

Real-World Evaluation of a Chest Pain Digital Triage Platform at the Point of Care
Hourizadeh J, Zeltser R, Makaryus AN, Druz R.
South Med J. 2023 Nov;116(11):857-862. doi: 10.14423/SMJ.0000000000001620.
PMID: 37913803

The Clinical Association between Carbon Monoxide Poisoning and Myocardial Injury as Measured by Elevated Troponin I Levels
Patel B, Omeh J, Tackling G, Gupta R, Sahadeo T, Villcant V, Dussie T, Atnas M, Hai O, Zeltser R, Makaryus AN.
J Clin Med. 2023 Aug 25;12(17):5529. doi: 10.3390/jcm12175529.
PMID: 37685595 Free PMC article.

Presence of Permanent Pacemakers: Implications for Elderly Patients Presenting with Traumatic Injuries
Bhuiya T, Omeh D, Munshi R, Berookhim B, Roper A, Vilcant V, Syzdziak E, Hai O, Zeltser R, Digiacomo J, Makaryus AN.
Trauma Surg Acute Care Open. 2023 Jun 13;8(1):e001053. doi: 10.1136/tsaco-2022-001053. eCollection 2023.
PMID: 37342816 Free PMC article.

COVID-19 stressors for Hispanic/Latino patients living with type 2 diabetes: a qualitative study
Williams MS, Cigaran E, Martinez S, Marino J, Barbero P, Myers AK, DiClemente RJ, Goris N, Gomez VC, Granville D, Guzman J, Harris YT, Kline M, Lesser ML, Makaryus AN, Murray LM, McFarlane SI, Patel VH, Polo J, Zeltser R, Pekmezaris R.
Front Clin Diabetes Healthc. 2023 Apr 28;4:1070547. doi: 10.3389/fcdhc.2023.1070547. eCollection 2023.
PMID: 37187937 Free PMC article.

Correction: Farshadmand et al. Utility of Cardiac Power Hemodynamic Measurements in the Evaluation and Risk Stratification of Cardiovascular Conditions. Healthcare 2022, 10, 2417
Farshadmand J, Lowy Z, Hai O, Zeltser R, Makaryus AN.
Healthcare (Basel). 2023 Aug 17;11(16):2323. doi: 10.3390/healthcare11162323.
PMID: 37628563 Free PMC article.

Utility of short-term telemetry heart rhythm monitoring and CHA2DS2-VASc stratification in patients presenting with suspected cerebrovascular accident
Bhuiya T, Roman S, Aydin T, Patel B, Zeltser R, Makaryus AN.
World J Cardiol. 2023 Feb 26;15(2):56-63. doi: 10.4330/wjc.v15.i2.56.
PMID: 36911749 Free PMC article.

Role of Vascular Receptors in the Development of Hypertension in the Elderly Population
Shaulian SY, Makaryus AN, Zeltser R.
Int J Angiol. 2022 Dec 30;31(4):260-266. doi: 10.1055/s-0042-1759650. eCollection 2022 Dec.
PMID: 36588863 Free PMC article.

Utility of Cardiac Power Hemodynamic Measurements in the Evaluation and Risk Stratification of Cardiovascular Conditions
Farshadmand J, Lowy Z, Hai O, Zeltser R, Makaryus AN.
Healthcare (Basel). 2022 Nov 30;10(12):2417. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10122417.
PMID: 36553940 Free PMC article. Review.

Inclusion of Under-Represented Racial and Ethnic Groups in Cardiovascular Clinical Trials
Vilcant V, Ceron C, Verma G, Zeltser R, Makaryus AN.
Heart Lung Circ. 2022 Sep;31(9):1263-1268. doi: 10.1016/j.hlc.2022.06.668. Epub 2022 Jul 16.
PMID: 35850910 Review.