
Pediatric Cardiology Fellows 2021
Fourth-Year Fellows
Emily Backes, M.D.
Sub-specialty: Electrophysiology
Medical School: The University of Texas Medical Branch
Residency: Medical College of Wisconsin
Fellowship: Baylor College of Medicine
Lindsay Eilers, M.D.
Sub-specialty: Interventional Cardiology
Medical School: The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Residency: Eastern Virginia Medical School
Fellowship: Baylor College of Medicine
Vincent Gonzalez, M.D.
Sub-specialty: Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Medical School: Ohio State University
Residency: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Fellowship: Baylor College of Medicine
Mira Trivedi, M.D.
Sub-specialty: Quality Improvement and Advanced Non-Invasive Imaging
Medical School: Wright State University Boonshoft School of Medicine
Residency: University of Pittsburgh
Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh
Anna Venardos, M.D.
Sub-specialty: Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Medical School: Texas Tech University
Residency: Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Fellowship: Baylor College of Medicine
Kevin Wilkes, M.D.
Sub-specialty: Advanced Non-Invasive Imaging
Medical School: Louisiana State University in Shreveport
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine
Fellowship: Baylor College of Medicine Medical School: Louisiana State University in Shreveport
Talha Niaz, MBBS
Sub-specialty: Advanced Non-Invasive Imaging
Medical School: Punjab Medical College
Residency: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Fellowship: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
Jessie Yester, M.D., Ph.D.
Sub-specialty: Heart Failure, Cardiomyopathy and Transplant
Medical School: Virginia Commonwealth University
Residency: University of Pittsburgh
Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh
Third-Year Fellows
Maria Gutierrez, M.D.
Medical School: Universidad Peruana Cayetano Heredia
Residency: University of Alabama
Sonia Kaushal, M.D.
Medical School: New York University School of Medicine
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine
Melodie Lynn, M.D.
Medical School: University of North Texas
Residency: Emory University
Jillian Olsen, M.D.
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania
Residency: University of Washington – Seattle Children’s Hospital
Amna Qasim, M.D.
Medical School: Aga Khan University
Residency: University of Texas Medical Branch
Doaa Shahbah, M.D.
Medical School: Zagazig University College of Medicine
Residency: Cleveland Clinic
Stephen Williams, M.D.
Medical School: University of Texas Houston
Residency: University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center
Second-Year Fellows
Michael Bruno, M.D.
Medical School: University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Residency: Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Ryan Byrne, M.D.
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
Residency: Vanderbilt University
Patrick Connell, M.D., Ph.D.
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
Graduate School: Rice University (Bioengineering)
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine
Edward “Teddy” Jones, M.D.
Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine
Ruthie Morrison, M.D.
Medical School: University of Tennessee
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine
Michelle Pelka, M.D.
Medical School: Chicago Medical School
Residency: UCLA
First-Year Fellows
Ryan Bishop, M.D.
Medical School: University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
Residency: University of Texas Southwestern
Julie Lovin, M.D.
Medical School: Wake Forest School of Medicine
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine
Ran Xiao, M.D.
Medical School: University of Illinois College of Medicine - Peoria
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine
Natalie Craik, M.D.
Medical School: Baylor College of Medicine
Residency: Phoenix Children’s
John Shabosky, M.D.
Medical School: University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
Residency: Baylor College of Medicine
Hanna “John” Tadros, M.D.
Medical School: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland Medical University of Bahrain
Residency: University of Florida – Gainesville
Map of Hometowns
Our pediatric cardiology fellows come to us from all around the globe.
Fellow Life
Our fellows provide information about why they chose the program, life in Houston and other interesting facts about themselves.
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
The faculty, staff, and trainees of the Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program at Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children’s Hospital believe that diversity, equity, and inclusion are fundamental to our success. All diversity, including diversity of race, ethnicity, experience, age, gender, geographic origin, sexual orientation, and religion, is celebrated within our program. We aim to recruit and retain diverse individuals and create an environment of unity in which our members learn and benefit from one another while equipping themselves to provide high-quality, culturally competent care to every patient.