Courtney Bess, MD
Medical School: Morehouse School of Medicine
Residency: Emory University School of Medicine
Fellowship: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
What made you apply for the CMHC and Women as One Fellowship Program, and what do you hope to achieve from the program’s resources and education?
I applied for the CMHC and Women as One Fellowship Program because it was a program that promoted helping providers develop strategies to prevent, diagnose, treat and manage a spectrum of cardiometabolic disorders. I aim to be a noninvasive cardiologist who is an integral part of transforming and improving cardiometabolic health among individuals by increasing patient awareness emphasizing lifestyle changes to mitigate risk factors, policy changes, and research identifying underlying etiologies perpetuating inequalities that include social determinants of health and healthcare quality and delivery systems. This program will further enhance my knowledge, provide tools that I can utilize in clinical practice and in community engagement activities, and grant me the opportunity to develop relationships with those in the field that may promote future collaborations.
After experiencing the Women’s Cardiometabolic Health and Wellness Masterclass, how is CMHC’s education different from other medical conferences you’ve attended?
CMHC’s education was different from other medical conferences because there was a more advantageous networking opportunity. The conference allowed attendees to easily assimilate themselves into the group and promoted more in-depth conversations which provided the transferring of new ideas, stimulated discussions about the latest innovations and research, and there was assistance with strategically achieving career goals. Additionally, the content of the conference was customized or tailored to those who were attending, and it made the conference quite appealing and interesting.
Lily Nedda Dastmalchi, DO MA
Medical School: Virginia College of Osteopathic Medicine, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine
General Cardiology Fellowship: Temple University Hospital
What do you find to be the most interesting thing about cardiometabolic medicine?
Cardiometabolic medicine is interconnected and brings collegiality and teamwork among various specialties to better treat the patient. It allows us to look at the patient at a broader, more holistic level while taking into account how culture, socioeconomic status, and genetics play a greater role in cardiovascular risk and how to approach treatment.
Who is your CMHC mentor and what piece of personal or professional advice have they given you?
Drs. Pam Taub and Erin Michos have been incredible mentors. They have given me opportunities to help me reach my full potential and have truly exemplified the beauty of being a woman in cardiology and prominent leaders in the field. They have both helped take my ideas and helped them blossom into publications and further connected me to people who would help me achieve my career goals. One of the greatest things about them both is their honesty. They give clear and truthful guidance and feedback about my career endeavors which makes my goals seem more attainable.
Rebecca A. Ocher, MD
Medical Degree: University of California Riverside School of Medicine
Internal Medicine Residency: University of California Los Angeles Health
What made you apply for the CMHC and Women as One Fellowship Program, and what do you hope to achieve from the program’s resources and education?
I applied for the Future Leaders in Cardiometabolic Health Fellowship Program because I attended the Women’s Cardiometabolic Health and Wellness Masterclass in 2022 and learned a great deal from attending. My goal was to attend similar conferences to increase my knowledge in cardiometabolic health as a medicine resident pursuing a cardiology fellowship. Through attending the conferences and participating in the modules, I hope that I will start my fellowship with a strong fund of knowledge in preventive cardiology.
What do you find to be the most interesting thing about cardiometabolic medicine?
I enjoy that cardiometabolic medicine is truly a multidisciplinary field that involves numerous medical subspecialties including cardiology, endocrinology, nephrology and gastroenterology. It has been rewarding to work with and learn from colleagues across all disciplines to improve cardiometabolic health for patients.
Revathy Sampath-Kumar, MD
Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine
Internal Medicine Residency: University of California San Diego Medical Center
Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship: University of California San Diego Medical Center
What made you apply for the CMHC and Women as One Fellowship Program, and what do you hope to achieve from the program’s resources and education?
I am a second-year general cardiology fellow at UC San Diego Health. I aim to be an academic interventional cardiologist treating and preventing coronary artery disease by modifying cardiometabolic risk factors. As a first-generation immigrant woman and the only physician in my family, I have a vested interest in coronary artery disease in women and ethnic minority groups. I aspire to lead a cardiac catheterization lab, teach residents and fellows, and serve on the steering committee for clinical trials. I applied for the Future Leaders in Cardiometabolic Health Fellowship Program to gain the knowledge and skills necessary to manage the breadth of cardiometabolic health from experts in the field. Attending the Women’s Cardiometabolic Health and Wellness Masterclass and the 18th Annual Cardiometabolic Health Congress gave me the opportunity to network with women leaders in cardiology and learn from their experiences.
What do you find to be the most interesting thing about cardiometabolic medicine?
Cardiometabolic medicine is a rapidly evolving field that offers the opportunity to directly impact patient outcomes. I have a vested interest in treating and preventing coronary artery disease in women and ethnic minority groups.
Aarti Thakkar, MD, MPH
Medical School: Duke University School of Medicine
Residency: Johns Hopkins Osler Program
Cardiovascular Fellowship: Duke University School of Medicine
After experiencing the Women’s Cardiometabolic Health and Wellness Masterclass, how is CMHC’s education different from other medical conferences you’ve attended?
I had an incredible experience at the Women’s Cardiometabolic Health and Wellness Masterclass this past month. CMHC leadership and Drs. Taub and Michos did an exceptional job creating a conference that not only highlights cutting-edge medicine and disparities for women but also ensured it was done in a way where attendees are engaged and learning without being overwhelmed. After this conference, I was immediately able to apply some of the concepts I learned in my day-to-day patient care. Furthermore, the structure of CMHC was such that I garnered close relationships with other peers and mentors – both through conference sessions and at Zumba! – such that if questions arise, I have a greater community to turn to.
Tell us something about yourself outside of medicine. What is your favorite hobby, activity, book, or dream vacation destination?
My husband will tell you that my dream vacation is somewhere tropical where I can spend my mornings hiking mountains and my afternoons in the water at the beach. I like to think I am more flexible and enjoy any hobby/vacation that gets me outside and in nature whether it is going for a run, a bike ride, or catching up on my never-ending reading list by the pool.
