Cardiovascular Fellowship

Welcome to AtlantiCare’s Cardiovascular Fellowship Program

AtlantiCare Cardiovascular Fellowship Program is designed to provide comprehensive and hands-on training for the next generation of cardiology specialists. As a community-based teaching hospital, it has a long history of multiple residency programs, including Internal Medicine, Psychiatry, Family Medicine, and Pharmacology. Our program emphasizes a blend of rigorous academic learning with real-world clinical experience. Trainees benefit from exposure to a diverse patient population and a wide spectrum of cardiovascular conditions, ensuring they develop the skills needed to excel in today’s rapidly evolving field.

One of the program’s major strengths is its commitment to individualized mentorship and small-group teaching, which fosters close collaboration between fellows and faculty. This personalized approach allows for tailored guidance, robust feedback, and meaningful professional development. Unique attributes include access to state-of-the-art technology, multidisciplinary collaborative opportunities, and participation in innovative research projects. Our Cardiac Cath, echo and electrophysiology labs are some of the busiest in the region. 

Choosing the AtlantiCare Cardiovascular Fellowship Program means joining a supportive community that prioritizes education, clinical excellence, and lifelong learning. Graduates emerge as well-rounded cardiologists, equipped with the knowledge, procedural expertise, and leadership skills to make a significant impact in the field of cardiovascular medicine.

2027-2028 Interviews

Conducted virtually starting September 2026

How to Apply

Number of Positions

3

Length of the Program

3 Years

Program Start Date

July 1, 2027

Meet the Director

Devender Akula, MD, FACC, FHRS

FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM DIRECTOR

Dr. Akula is a clinical cardiac electrophysiologist and director of the Electrophysiology Lab at AtlantiCare's Mainland Hospital. He is board certified in cardiovascular disease, cardiac electrophysiology, nuclear cardiology and internal medicine.

Read the Message From the Director

Core Faculty

michael link

Michael Link, MD

Core faculty
Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiologist

Board certified: Cardiovascular Disease, Cardiac Electrophysiology, Nuclear Cardiology, and Internal Medicine

vinesh patel

Vin Patel, MD, FACC

Core faculty
Medical Director Ornish Cardiac Rehab Program

Board Certified: Cardiovascular Disease and Echocardiography, board eligible- Nuclear Cardiology

Inga Robbins, MD

Inga Robbins, MD, FACC, FASE

Core faculty
Clinical Cardiologist

Board certified: Cardiovascular Disease and American Society of Echocardiography

jeffrey van hook

Jeffrey Van Hook, DO

Core faculty
Medical Director Structural Heart Disease Program

Board certified: Cardiovascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology, and Internal Medicine

Dr Jing Zheng

Jing Zheng, MD, PhD, FACC, FASE

Core faculty
Medical Director Structural Heart Disease Program

Board certified: Cardiovascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology, and Internal Medicine

Haresh Gandhi

Haresh Gandhi, MD

Core faculty
Clinical Cardiologist

Board certified: Cardiovascular Disease

Elsa Sleiman

Elsa Sleiman, MD

Core faculty
Clinical Cardiologist

Board certified: Cardiovascular Disease

Current Fellows

Shahzad Zia, MD

Birthplace:
Brooklyn, NY

Hometown:
Toms River, NJ

Undergraduate School:
Monmouth University

Medical School:
Ross University

Personal Interests:
Cars, traveling, exploring new and interesting restaurants to eat at, spending time with family

Ross University School of Medicine
Ayesha Samad, MD

Hometown:
Plainville, NY

Undergraduate School:
Pennsylvania State University

Medical School:
Ross University

Personal Interests:
Pilates, yoga, getting 10K steps daily, presenting research at cardiology conferences, fashion modeling, Disney princess movies, traveling to beautiful cities, shopping, spa days, board games with my brother

Ross University School of Medicine
Michael Morgan, DO

Hometown:
Bayonne, NJ

Medical School:
New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine

Personal Interests:
Reading, hiking and watching soccer

New York Institute of Technology
College of Osteopathic Medicine
Guljinder Chera, MD

Birthplace:
Riverside, CA

Hometown:
Riverside, CA

Undergraduate School:
University of California, Riverside

Medical School:
American University of Antigua

Personal Interests:
I enjoy cooking and exploring diverse cuisines, discovering new coffee experiences, and traveling to sunny, beach destinations. I also value spending time with my family and enjoy watching superhero movies.

American University of Antigua
Kalyani Dhar, MD

Hometown:
Queens, NY

Undergraduate School:
Hunter College, City University of New York

Medical School:
Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Personal Interests:
Spending time with my family, dancing with my sister, reading, and going for long walks.

Rutgers Robert Woods Johnson 
Medical School
Bret Cypel, DO

Hometown:
Voorhees, NJ

Medical School:
Rowan School of Osteopathic Medicine

Personal Interests:
Outside of cardiology, Bret enjoys hiking, skiing, and scuba diving. A former Divemaster, he still finds time to be near the water whenever he can. He also enjoys tackling backyard building projects and spending time at home with his wife, Gretchen, his daughter, Ilse, and their dog.

Rowan School of Osteopatic 
Medicine