Twelve early-career interventional cardiologists selected for emerging leader mentorship program

WASHINGTON, DC (February 23, 2015) – Today the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) announced the selection of 12 early-career interventional cardiologists to participate in the 2015-17 Emerging Leader Mentorship (ELM) Program, a collaborative program developed in 2010 by SCAI in partnership with the American College of Cardiology (ACC) and Cardiovascular Research Foundation (CRF). These promising young physicians will participate in an intense, hands-on, two-year mentorship program to improve and refine their skills as leaders in medicine, ambassadors for their specialty and advocates for their patients.

“The challenges facing physicians today are continually evolving and, for the most part, they are not addressed in medical school or during training,” said Srihari S. Naidu, MD, FSCAI, ELM program co-chair, former SCAI Trustee, and director of the cardiac catheterization laboratory at Winthrop University Hospital in Mineola, NY. “We created the ELM program to enhance the leadership skills of physicians we will need to call upon in the coming decades to confront the rapidly changing healthcare environment, with its increased clinical demands, limited resources, fast-emerging technologies, stricter regulations and expectations for around-the-clock communication. The ELM program provides a unique learning platform for young interventional cardiologists who are already excelling clinically and are excited to expand their leadership skills through immersion and active participation in the workings of SCAI, ACC and CRF.” 

This year’s Emerging Leaders were carefully selected by a steering committee representing all three organizations, from a group of approximately 100 applicants. They are a diverse group of adult and pediatric interventional cardiologists from both academic and private practices. All were chosen for their leadership potential and motivation to excel both regionally and nationally in the areas of clinical care, scholarship, education and/or advocacy. 

“SCAI is committed to ensuring that promising young interventional cardiologists have the opportunities and mentorship available to keep our specialty innovative and our pipeline filled with active and engaged leaders,” said Thomas Tu, MD, FSCAI, ELM program co-chair and interventional cardiologist at the Louisville Cardiology Medical Group in Kentucky.

ELM Fellows meet throughout the program for training sessions designed to help them expand leadership skills, enhance presentation skills, foster relationships, keep up-to-date on emerging trends and develop their professional niche. In addition, they are given responsibilities and opportunities to make meaningful contributions to the field of interventional cardiology. Throughout the two years, mentors selected to match their interests, talent and aspirations will assist them, with the overriding goal of ongoing, perpetual contributions to the field even long after the program is completed.

“SCAI founded the ELM program to identify and nurture the next generation of physician leaders. Now in its third cycle, the program has a proven track record for preparing young physicians to confront today’s challenges and excel in medicine,” said Charles Chambers, MD, FSCAI, 2014-15 SCAI president. “This includes not only the selected ELM Fellows but also the dozens of highly qualified individuals from around the world who applied to the program. We value the opportunity to work with all of these young leaders as they forge their own innovative paths in interventional cardiology.”

The 2015-17 ELM class includes:

• Saif Anwaruddin, MD, FSCAI, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, and Co-Director, Transcatheter Valve Program, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Ehrin Armstrong, MD, Director, Interventional Cardiology, Denver VA Medical Center and Eastern Colorado Healthcare System, Denver, CO
• Adnan Chhatriwalla, MD, FACC, Medical Director, Structural Intervention, Saint Luke’s Cardiovascular Consultants and Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute, Kansas City, MO
• Payam Dehghani, MD, FSCAI, Director, Adults with Structural Heart Disease Clinic, and Assistant Professor, University of Saskatchewan, Regina
• Bryan Goldstein, MD, Assistant Professor, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, and Attending Physician, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
• Dharam Kumbhani, MD, FACC, Assistant Professor, University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, and Staff Physician, University Hospital and Parkland Memorial Hospital, Dallas
• Jordan Safirstein, MD, FSCAI, Assistant Director, The Gagnon Cardiovascular Institute and Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, Morristown, NJ
• Rahul Sakhuja, MD, MPP, MSc, Associate Director, Vascular Medicine/ Endovascular Intervention Program, and Medical Director, Structural Heart Disease Program, Wellmont CVA Heart Institute, Kingsport, TN
• Arnold Seto, MD, FACC, FSCAI, Chief of Cardiology, Long Beach VA Medical Center, Long Beach, CA
• Binita Shah, MD, MPH, FSCAI, Attending Physician, NYU Langone Medical Center, Bellevue Hospital Center, and VA NY Harbor Healthcare System, New York City
• Rajesh Swaminathan, MD, Director, Interventional Cardiology Research, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Cardiac Catheterization and Endovascular Laboratory, New York-Presbyterian Hospital-Weill Cornell Medical Center, New York City
• Molly Szerlip, MD, FSCAI, Director of Valve Service, The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano, and Program Director, Advanced Structural Interventional Fellow, Dallas

The SCAI ELM Program, in partnership with ACC and CRF, is currently supported by educational grants from Abbott Vascular; ABIOMED, Inc.; Boston Scientific; GE Healthcare Cardiovascular; Guerbet; St. Jude Medical; and The Medicines Company.

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About SCAI

The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions is a 4,300-member professional organization representing invasive and interventional cardiologists in approximately 70 nations. SCAI's mission is to promote excellence in invasive/interventional cardiovascular medicine through physician education and representation, and advancement of quality standards to enhance patient care. SCAI's public education program, Seconds Count, offers comprehensive information about cardiovascular disease.