Skip to main content

Advanced Heart Failure Fellows

Heart Failure and Transplant Fellows

  • Antoinette Birs, MD

    Antoinette Birs, MD

    Hometown: West Palm Beach, Florida
    Undergraduate: University of Florida
    Medical School: University of Central Florida
    Residency: University of Washington
    Cardiology Fellowship: University of California, San Diego

    Favorite aspects of the program:  UCSD is a very strong, high-volume, clinically focused program that has multiple training sites and a diverse patient population. I was extremely impressed with the tight knit community and camaraderie amongst the fellows and faculty and was intrigued by the variety of innovative research opportunities and numerous on-going projects. Of course, it is also hard to ignore the natural beauty of the city. 

    Career interests: Advanced Heart Failure and Transplantation
    Research interests: Coronary Allograft Vasculopathy, Infiltrative and Inherited Cardiomyopathies
    Research publications: view publications

    Hobbies: Hiking, Biking, Running and practicing Yoga

  • Gurjaspreet Bhattal, MD

    Gurjaspreet Bhattal, MD

    Hometown: Chandigarh, India
    Undergraduate: University of California Davis
    Medical School: University of Central Florida College of Medicine
    Residency: University of Florida Gainesville
    Cardiology Fellowship: Baylor University Medical Center Heart Hospital Plano

    Favorite aspects of the program: UCSD is one of the highest volume heart transplant centers in the country which allows for training in diverse disease pathology and complexity. The faculty are highly invested in the training of the fellows both clinically and as research mentors. The rotations include a robust inpatient service with direct management of ECMO patients, clinic at VAMC, and a diverse array of outpatient clinics including genetic cardiomyopathy, cardio-oncology, cardio-obstetrics, pulmonary hypertension, LVAD, and transplant clinics. Finally, the location of UCSD in the beautiful La Jolla allows for time-off well-spent at the beaches and the numerous hiking trails.

    Career interests: Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant
    Research interests: Cardiogenic Shock Outcomes and Mechanical Circulatory support
    Research publications: view publications

    Hobbies: Singing, Writing Poetry, Raising House Plants

  • Serafim Perdikis, MD

    Serafim Perdikis, MD

    Hometown: Sayville, NY
    Undergraduate: SUNY at Buffalo
    Medical School: New York Medical College
    Residency: Brooke Army Medical Center
    Cardiology Fellowship: Naval Medical Center San Diego

    Favorite aspects of the program: UCSD is a high volume heart transplant center and a leader in donation after cardiac death, which offers additional treatment options to patients with advanced heart failure. I also appreciate the ability to take a lead role in management of patients on mechanical circulatory support, as well as ECMO. We also have an incredible group of mentors who are outstanding clinician educators. San Diego is also a wonderful place to live and work, it offers a broad range of activities and has very beautiful beaches and nature trails. It is also a very dog friendly city, so your best friend can join you anywhere!

    Career interests: Advanced heart failure and mechanical circulatory support
    Research interests: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Amyloidosis. Chagas disease
    Research publications: view publications

    Hobbies: Photography, running (recently started 1/2 marathons), and spending time with my family

Recent Graduates

  • Alumni

    Alumni

    • Quan Bui
    • Antonio Duran
    • Jason Duran
    • Jose Benjamin Cruz Rodriguez
    • Nitin Kabra
    • Behram Mody
    • James Ampadu
    • Felice Lin
    • Kim Hong
    • Ily Kristine Yumul
    • Nicholas Wettersten
    • Adam M Mizeracki
    • Paul Kim