“One of the most important things I've learned in fellowship is: learn from everyone,” said Asad John Torabi, MD. “Sonographers, techs, nurses, the cath lab team, and any staff with clinical experience.”
Torabi, a third-year cardiovascular disease fellow, has certainly taken his own advice.
“He is a very caring physician who remains humble despite his superb knowledge and clinical skills,” said Elisabeth von der Lohe, MD, the director of the interventional cardiology fellowship.
He is also an “absolute team player,” a great role model for junior fellows, and an all-around wonderful person, she added.
Torabi, who is Persian-American, is from northwest Indiana. He’s done the Indiana University “trifecta”–medical school, internal medicine residency, and fellowship–for the “full Hoosier experience,” he said.
Torabi said that his love of hemodynamics led to his pursuit of cardiovascular medicine. “I wanted to do it from the first day of medical school,” he said.
Later, he chose to stay at IU for his fellowship because of its clinical focus and to be close to his family.
“The faculty are also fantastic from Dr. Harvey Feigenbaum, the father of echocardiography, to Dr. John Miller in electrophysiology,” he said. “We also have a very supportive program director in Dr. Deepak Bhakta for the general fellows, and Dr. Elisabeth Von der Lohe for interventional cardiology.”
Torabi said the proudest accomplishment of his fellowship so far is a case report on Brugada syndrome he submitted to JAMA Cardiology along with his co-fellow, Mark Kauth, MD.
“Not only was the case accepted as a clinical challenge, but one of the Brugada brothers commented on the paper,” he said.
Next year, Torabi will complete another year of advanced interventional cardiology training. During this time, he will focus on developing his coronary, peripheral, and structural skills to open blocked arteries and replace damaged heart valves.
Deepak Bhakta, MD, director of the cardiovascular disease fellowship, said Torabi is “continually professional and patient-focused.”
“[He is] always applying best practices and a thoughtful manner of care for patients, and addressing their needs. He has volunteered to assist with educational endeavors and performed superbly in this realm,” Bhakta said. “He is the definition of a committed clinician, educator and medical professional.”
