Michael Apolinario, M.D.

Hometown: Neillsville, Wisconsin

Medical school: Medical College of Wisconsin

Residency: Mayo Clinic

Clinical/Research interests: Cardiac amyloidosis and imaging.

Favorite things to do in Phoenix/Scottsdale: Basketball, golf, running, and restaurants.

Why Mayo: Mayo Clinic is a leader in medical innovation and delivery of patient care—this is something I wanted to be a part of and model the way I practice for the rest of my career. I was fortunate to complete my Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Medicine training at Mayo Clinic Arizona.

Future plans: Non-invasive cardiologist.

Michael Liu, M.D.

Hometown: Bethesda, Maryland

Medical school: Einstein College of Medicine

Residency: Mayo Clinic

Clinical/Research interests: Electrophysiology

Favorite things to do in Phoenix/Scottsdale: Trying out restaurants and bubble tea.

Why Mayo: I prioritized strong clinical training and moved to Arizona for residency. I chose to stay for fellowship because of its outstanding faculty, and I was involved in several research projects in electrophysiology.

Deepa Mandale, M.B.B.S.

Hometown: Mumbai, India

Medical school: Government Medical College

Residency: Interfaith Medical Center

Clinical/Research interests: Echocardiography and POCUS.

Favorite things to do in Phoenix/Scottsdale: I like to hike and run. We have loads of places to do these things.

Why Mayo: I had worked in different health care systems in three different countries. I was doing echo research at Mayo and saw outstanding training. It’s great blend of patient care, education, and research.

Sean Smith, M.D..

Hometown: Springville, Utah

Medical school: Creighton University School of Medicine

Residency: Mayo Clinic

Clinical/Research interests: Echocardiography and congenital heart disease.

Favorite things to do in Phoenix/Scottsdale: Go hiking/camping, ski up in Flagstaff, play golf or disc golf, swim, and eat out. The city has everything. 

Why Mayo: I had moved to Phoenix for the third and fourth years of medical school. There was a track through Creighton to come down here at the time, and my wife and I loved the area and were hoping to stick around. Looking at the programs available to us locally, Mayo was a no-brainer, and I was lucky to be accepted into the internal medicine residency. Sticking around for fellowship was also an easy choice, given the excellence in research and teaching that comes with training at Mayo Clinic, and I’ve been extremely happy with my experience here and would choose it again every time.

Clinical/Research interests: Non-invasive cardiologist at Intermountain Health in Utah.

Mohamed Allam, M.D. 

Hometown: Damanhur, Egypt

Medical school: Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University

Residency: Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital

Clinical/Research interests: Outcomes after transcutaneous aortic valve replacement and cardiac imaging.

Favorite things to do in Phoenix/Scottsdale: Soccer, tennis, and reading.

Why Mayo: Mayo Clinic offers a collegial academic environment where clinical practice, education, and cutting-edge research are all united to achieve Mayo’s core value: the needs of the patient come first. I feel fortunate to be part of such a diverse and all-inclusive community with colossal support and endless opportunities to learn and contribute to the field of cardiology.

Future plans: Interventional cardiology.

Beani Forst, M.D.  

Hometown: Johannesburg, South Africa, and Vancouver, Canada

Medical school: University of Medicine & Health Sciences

Residency: Creighton University

Clinical/Research interests: Global health and underserved populations.

Favorite things to do in Phoenix/Scottsdale: Camping, hiking, lake swimming, and snowboarding in the winter.

Why Mayo: For the mentors, education, and the limitless opportunity the institution provides and caters to.

Future plans: Heart failure and transplant.

Christopher Kanaan, M.D.

Hometown: Mission Viejo, California

Medical school: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

Residency: Cleveland Clinic Foundation

Clinical/Research interests: Electrophysiology, imaging, and interdisciplinary.

Favorite things to do in Phoenix/Scottsdale: Pickleball, tennis, gym, and the food scene.

Why Mayo: The breadth of clinical cases, the collegiate environment, the emphasis on research, teaching, and the sun!

Future plans: Electrophysiology fellowship

Nikita Rafie, M.D.

Hometown: San Diego, California

Medical school: University of Missouri – Kansas City School of Medicine

Residency: Mayo Clinic

Clinical/Research interests: Echocardiography

Favorite things to do in Phoenix/Scottsdale: Exploring new restaurants and finding hidden culinary gems in the city.

Why Mayo: Easy . . . the people! Everyone is very supportive and education is emphasized while maintaining fellow autonomy.

Future plans: Advanced echocardiography fellowship

Mahmoud Abdelnabi, MBBCh, MSc

Hometown: Alexandria, Egypt

Medical school: Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University

Residency: Texas Tech Health Science Center

Clinical/Research interests: My research interests are diverse including include diagnosis and risk stratification in coronary artery disease, structural heart disease interventions, and artificial intelligence in cardiovascular diagnostics and decision-making. I am passionate about combining clinical excellence with innovative research to improve patient outcomes.

Favorite things to do in Phoenix/Scottsdale: I enjoy exploring hiking trails around the Valley, and exploring smaller towns in Arizona. The scenic views and warm weather make outdoor activities enjoyable year-round.

Why Mayo: I chose Mayo Clinic for its commitment to patient-centered care, education, and innovative research which aligns perfectly with my values and long-term career goals.

Future plans: I am planning to pursue an academic career in interventional/structural cardiology, focusing on research, patient care, teaching, and global health initiatives.

Omar Baqal, M.B.B.S.  

Hometown: Srinagar, Kashmir, India

Medical school: Alfaisal University College of Medicine

Residency: Mayo Clinic

Clinical/Research interests: Persistent atrial fibrillation and sudden cardiac death.

Favorite things to do in Phoenix/Scottsdale: Playing soccer at the Scottsdale Sports Complex, trying new brunch and gelato places, and day trips to Flagstaff.

Why Mayo: The widely recognized culture of respect and well-balanced training with a nice blend of clinical experience, academics, and research (the three shields of Mayo Clinic!).

Future plans: Electrophysiology fellowship.

Eiad Habib, M.B.B.S. 

Hometown: Cairo, Egypt

Medical school: Alfaisal University College of Medicine

Residency: Mayo Clinic

Clinical/Research interests: Electrophysiology and ventricular tachycardia.

Favorite things to do in Phoenix/Scottsdale: Volleyball, soccer, food scene, and exploring all the nature and hiking trails around us!

Why Mayo: World-class training with experts in the field, plentiful research opportunities, a collegial environment, and wonderful mentorship. I was fortunate enough to do my residency training in internal medicine at Mayo Clinic in Arizona and decided to stay for a fellowship. I was inspired by how the team works relentlessly to embody the motto of Mayo Clinic: “The needs of the patient come first.”

Future plans: Electrophysiology fellowship.

Ramzi Ibrahim, M.D. 

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona

Medical school: Ross University

Residency: The University of Arizona

Clinical/Research interests: Epidemiology and large-scale data research.

Favorite things to do in Phoenix/Scottsdale: Exploring new restaurants and finding hidden culinary gems in the city.

Why Mayo: Unparalleled clinical resources and extensive research infrastructure. 

Girish Pathangey, M.D.

Hometown: Scottsdale, Arizona

Medical school: Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine

Residency: Dartmouth Health

Clinical/Research interests: Preventative, coronary artery disease, cardiac/peripheral interventions, and mechanical circulatory support.

Favorite things to do in Phoenix/Scottsdale: Enjoy hiking in the Valley, Sedona, and the Grand Canyon; playing basketball, swimming, and lifting; and exploring local restaurants, rooftops, breweries, and architecture with our co-fellows.

Why Mayo: Chosen Mayo Clinic for its world-class educators, balanced clinical experiences, ample research opportunities, and supportive environment that fosters growth among co-fellows and attendings.