Alumni success + career outcomes from Tufts Medical Center Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship

Our Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship has a strong history of training skilled clinicians who succeed in both academic and private practice settings. Many graduates become faculty members, researchers and leaders in cardiothoracic anesthesiology.

Recent alumni include:

2025

• Belinda Bejtja, MD – Academic practice
• Michael Pistey, MD – Academic practice
• Alex Wang, DO – Academic practice

2024

• Adham Farroukh, MD – Academic practice
• Theodora Valovska, MD – Academic practice
• Prabhat Yeturu, MD – Academic practice

2023

• Litty John, MBBS – Academic practice
• Majoobah Ghulam, DO – Private practice
• Noreen Tiangco, MD – Academic practice

Our active alumni network offers ongoing mentorship and professional support to current fellows. Graduates consistently secure positions at leading institutions nationwide, reflecting the comprehensive training they receive during the fellowship.

Meet the expert faculty, dedicated fellows + supportive team of the adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship at Tufts Medical Center

The strength of the Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship at Tufts Medical Center comes from the dedicated individuals who make up our program. Our faculty are nationally recognized experts committed to providing personalized mentorship and exceptional clinical training.

Our fellows and residents form a vibrant community of learners driven by curiosity, collaboration and a passion for advancing cardiothoracic anesthesiology. Together, we foster a supportive environment that encourages professional growth, teamwork and leadership development.

With a diverse and experienced team of educators, clinicians and researchers, our program offers a rich academic setting where fellows gain hands-on experience, advance their skills and prepare to become leaders in the field.

Expert faculty + dedicated leadership in adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship

The Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship at Tufts Medical Center is guided by a team of experienced leaders and nationally recognized faculty. Our program director and associate director, along with a diverse group of specialists, provide personalized mentorship and advanced clinical training. This collaborative team is committed to fostering your growth as a skilled clinician, educator and future leader in cardiothoracic anesthesiology.

Program leadership

• Eric Ursprung, MD – Program Director
• Ethan Brovman, MD – Associate Program Director

Faculty members

• Frederick Cobey, MD
• Eric Ursprung, MD
• John M. Fox, MD
• Alberto Furzan, MD
• Ethan Brovman, MD
• Edward Hong, MD
• Bethany Potere, MD
• Richard Thalappillil, MD
• David DeNofrio, MD
• Ayan Patel, MD
• Rachel Carlson, MD
• Houman Amirfarzan, MD

Mentorship + career development in adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship

At the heart of our fellowship is personalized mentorship tailored to your unique career goals. From day one, you’ll receive dedicated guidance through regular advising sessions and progress reviews, ensuring the support needed to excel.

You’ll gain extensive clinical experience managing perioperative care for patients undergoing complex heart surgeries. Throughout your training, you’ll work closely with expert cardiothoracic anesthesiologists, benefiting from direct supervision and valuable clinical guidance.

Our program emphasizes professional development, including advanced echocardiography training to build specialized cardiac imaging skills. Fellows participate in simulation-based crisis management to prepare for cardiac emergencies, along with practical training to improve communication and teamwork in the operating room.

Beyond clinical skills, fellows lead multidisciplinary case conferences, drive quality improvement projects and engage in research mentorship to foster academic growth.

Ongoing career development support helps you navigate job placement and academic advancement. Our strong alumni network includes many graduates who have advanced to leadership roles in departments and professional societies nationwide. Throughout your fellowship, continuous feedback and structured evaluations aligned with ACGME standards ensure your growth and success.

Teaching opportunities + clinician-educator development in cardiothoracic anesthesiology

Teaching is a vital part of the Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship at Tufts Medical Center. Fellows actively contribute to the academic growth of residents, medical students and other learners while developing their own skills as clinician-educators.

Fellows supervise and teach anesthesiology residents, medical students and sometimes nurse anesthesia trainees (SRNAs) during perioperative care. Although fellows primarily manage their own anesthetics, about 25 to 30 percent of their time is devoted to teaching in the operating room and intensive care unit.

To support the transition from learner to teacher, fellows participate in:

• Faculty-led mentorship focused on teaching strategies and learner engagement
• Workshops and feedback sessions to enhance communication, supervision and evaluation skills
• Opportunities to lead educational sessions such as journal clubs, morbidity and mortality (M&M) conferences and departmental didactics

Fellows receive ongoing feedback on their teaching performance and are encouraged to reflect and refine their approach throughout the year. This focus on academic leadership ensures graduates leave well-prepared to provide excellent patient care and inspire the next generation of anesthesiologists.

Research training + scholarly opportunities in adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology

While the fellowship focuses primarily on advanced clinical skills, research and scholarly activity play a vital role in the training experience. Fellows are encouraged to pursue academic projects aligned with their interests, supported by structured mentorship and access to institutional resources.

Incoming fellows are invited to connect with Dr. Frederick Cobey before the program starts to discuss research ideas and opportunities. Throughout the year, fellows are expected to engage in scholarly work and present their findings at national conferences such as the Society of Cardiovascular Anesthesiologists (SCA), the International Anesthesia Research Society (IARS), and the American Society of Echocardiography (ASE).

Primary training sites + hospital affiliations for cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellows

The Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship is primarily based at Tufts Medical Center, a 415-bed tertiary care academic hospital located in downtown Boston. Tufts Medical Center offers a high-volume, complex clinical environment that supports comprehensive training in adult cardiothoracic anesthesiology.

In addition, fellows complete a one-month thoracic surgery rotation at the West Roxbury VA Medical Center, part of the VA Boston Healthcare System. This site provides exposure to a diverse veteran patient population and additional experience in thoracic anesthesiology and minimally invasive procedures.

These affiliations broaden clinical training and prepare fellows to manage a wide range of cardiothoracic cases across different healthcare settings.

Cardiothoracic anesthesiology lectures, conferences + leadership training

A strong academic foundation is central to the Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship at Tufts Medical Center. Our fellows take part in a structured calendar of educational sessions, interdisciplinary meetings and leadership opportunities that deepen knowledge and prepare them for complex, high-acuity care.

Weekly and monthly conferences cover a wide range of clinical and academic topics in cardiac and thoracic anesthesia, echocardiography and perioperative medicine. Core sessions include:

• Cardiac Anesthesia Lecture Series
• Anesthesiology Grand Rounds
• ECMO Morbidity & Mortality and Case Reviews
• Structural Heart Team Meetings
• Boston Combined Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Echo Dinner

Fellows also take on leadership roles through scholarly presentations and teaching. They lead:

• Journal Club (every other month)
• Morbidity & Mortality case reviews (every other month)
• Two department-wide presentations focused on topics within critical care medicine

These opportunities help fellows grow as educators, collaborators and future leaders in the field.

Rotations + hands-on cardiothoracic anesthesiology training in Boston

The Adult Cardiothoracic Anesthesiology Fellowship at Tufts Medical Center is a 12-month, ACGME-accredited program based at our flagship academic hospital in downtown Boston. Fellows rotate through a well-balanced schedule that provides deep experience in cardiac, thoracic and critical care anesthesiology while supporting personalized career development.

The core rotation structure includes:

• Cardiac surgery – 6 months
• Thoracic surgery – 1 month
• Cardiac Surgical Intensive Care Unit (CSICU) – 1 month
• Transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) – 1 month
• Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) – 1 month
• Electives – 2 months

Electives are highly customizable and can include advanced heart failure, perfusion, additional TEE/TTE training, or dedicated research time. Fellows work closely with program leadership to select rotations that align with their goals—whether they’re pursuing academic medicine, private practice or subspecialty training.

This structure promotes both progressive independence and multidisciplinary collaboration. Fellows actively lead perioperative care for high-risk cardiac patients and gain a comprehensive skill set in advanced cardiothoracic anesthesiology.