Contact

Department

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Aakash M. Shah, MD

PGY III

Personal Statement:

Dr. Shah was born in Danbury, CT and raised in West Caldwell, NJ. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in Neuroscience from Georgetown University in 2016 where he also played Club Tennis. He received his medical degree from Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in 2021. He graduated with a distinction in research for his translational work at the University of Maryland, which investigated the effects of cardiac stem cells in both porcine and rodent ischemia reperfusion injury models. During medical school, he also contributed to research assessing health disparities, resident operative experience, and outcomes in heart transplantation. He plans to practice academic medicine following residency as he desires to mentor aspiring surgeons and to improve patient care. His professional interests in cardiothoracic surgery include congenital heart surgery and valvular heart disease. Outside of the hospital, he enjoys spending time with friends and family, distance running, playing tennis, and skiing.


Education

University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA), San Antonio, TX
Integrated Cardiothoracic Surgery Resident (2021-2027)

Rutgers New Jersey Medical School (NJMS), Newark, NJ
Distinction in Research, Doctor of Medicine (2016-2021)

Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.
Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience (2012-2016)

Research

August 2021 – Present University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX – Aaron Abarbanell, MD, MSCR Researcher

  • “The Impact of Race and Socioeconomic Factors on the Outcomes of Congenital Heart Disease”
  • Scoping review to summarize studies pertaining to this question and to determine if an association exists between race/socioeconomic factors and CHD morbidity and mortality

June 2019 – June 2020 University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD – Sunjay Kaushal, MD, PhD Research Assistant

  • Translational medicine focused on small and large animal models and with the goal of stimulating tissue regeneration using different cell-based preparations, including neonatal cardiac progenitor cells (nCPCs)
  • Projects investigated effects of nCPC-based therapy in cardiac catheter-induced distal LAD myocardial infarction porcine model & in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury rat model
  • Analyzed the immunologic and clinical profiles of COVID-19 patients on ECMO and assessed their response to mesenchymal stem cells

January 2019 – May 2021 Rutgers Health and RWJBarnabas – Justin Sambol, MD and Arash Salemi, MD Clinical Research Assistant

  • Multi-institutional team dedicated to expanding the current clinical cardiovascular research
  • Projects include assessing CT surgery resident operative experience, healthcare disparities, LVAD and transcatheter aortic valve outcomes, and Medicare utilization and reimbursement of cardiac procedures

Awards & Accomplishments

  • Weiss-Lambert Research Contribution Recognition Award (2020)
  • Joseph and Marguerite DiSepio Endowed Scholarship Fund (2020)
  • Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA)
  • Honor Medical Society (2019)
  • Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS) (2019)
  • Ashish K. Bhattacharya, M.D. ’90 Endowed Scholarship (2019)
  • Richard H. Wong, M.D. ’79 Endowed Scholarship (2017)

Affiliations

  • Columnist for News Section of Artificial Organs Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)
  • American Heart Association (AHA)
  • American Medical Association (AMA)
  • Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA)
  • Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS)

Publications

Gupta A, Meeter A, Shah A, Kaye R, Paskhover B. Nasal Valve Repair (NVR) Utilization and Economic Impact in the U.S. Medicare Population: 18-year Trends. Am J Otolaryngol. 2021; 43(2):103365.

Singh AK, Goerlich CE, Shah AM, Zhang T, Tatarov I, Ayares D, Mohiuddin MM. Cardiac Xenotransplantation: Progress in Preclinical Models and Prospects for Clinical Translation. Transpl Int. 2022; 35: 10171.

Shah AM, Han JJ. Competition brings out the best in people, and this year’s KidneyX Summit did not disappoint. Artificial Organs. 2021;45(12):1439-1440.

Han JJ, Shah AM, Shin M, Mokadam NA. Highlights in heart and lung failure from the annual EACTS Meeting. Artificial Organs. 2022;46(3):518-520.

Shah AM, Han JJ. First porcine to human heart transplantation performed in the United States. Artificial Organs. 2022;46:543-545.

Abdullah M, Morales D, Shah AM, Levy L, Saha P, Mishra R, Sharma S, Kaushal S. Intracoronary Administration Of Neonatal Cardiac Mesenchymal Cells Promotes Cardiac Functional Recovery In A Porcine Model Of Acute Myocardial Infarction. Circulation. 2020;142:A16665. Virtual Poster Presentation at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, Dallas, TX, 11/14-11/16/20.

Agarwal N, Gupta R, Agarwal P, Matthew P, Wolferz Jr. R, Shah A, Adeeb N, Prabhu AV, Kanter AS, Okonkwo DO, Hamilton DK. Descriptive analysis of state and federal spine surgery malpractice litigation in the united states. Spine. 2018;43(14):984-990.

Boyajian GP, Ghazi A, Holmes SD, Shah AM, Levy LE, Toursavadkohi S, Ghoreishi M, Taylor BS. Performance of a Novel Risk Score for Acute Type A Dissection Repair. Poster Presentation at American Association for Thoracic Surgery Aortic Symposium meeting, New York, NY, 4/23-4/24/20.

Buziashvili, D, Tower JI, Sangal NR, Shah AM, Paskhover, B. A longitudinal study of age-related facial bone loss in black individuals. JAMA Facial Plast Surg. 2019;21(4):292-297.

Dhaduk N, Shah A, Siddiqui E, Okoh A, Sambol J. Trends in Demographics, Interventions, and Outcomes in Pediatric Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. Virtual Poster Presentation at Eastern Cardiothoracic Surgical Society annual meeting, Manalapan, FL, 10/7-10/10/20.

Dodson V, Subramaniam M, Majmundar N, Swantic V, Shah A, Levison S. Leukemia Inhibitory Factor in Mouse Model for Pediatric Traumatic Brain Injury. Oral Presentation at American Association of Neurological Surgeons annual meeting, Boston, MA, 4/25-4/29/19.

Gunasekaran M, Mishra R, Saha P, Fu X, Abduallah M, Arfat MY, Shah A, Sharma S, Kaushal S. Human Neonatal Cardiac Mesenchymal Stem Cells Demonstrates Superior Cardiac Regenerative Abilities Compared to Other Stem Cells. Circulation. 2020;142:A17093. Virtual Poster Presentation at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, Dallas, TX, 11/14-11/16/20.

Gunasekaran M, Mishra R, Saha P, Shah A, Davidson L, Arfat MY, Abdullah M, Fu X, Li D, Sharma S, Kaushal S. Immune Evasion by Human Neonatal Cardiac Mesenchymal Stem Cells Demonstrates Therapeutic Application in Myocardial Infarction. Circulation. 2020;142:A16596. Virtual Poster Presentation at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, Dallas, TX, 11/14-11/16/20.

Gunasekaran M, Mishra R, Saha P, Shah A, Davidson L, Fu X, Arfat MY, Abdullah M, Sharma S, Kaushal S. Immune Response Following Allogenic Cardiac Progenitor Cells Transplantation in Rat Myocardial Infarction Model. Circulation. 2020;142. Virtual Poster Presentation at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, Dallas, TX, 11/14-11/16/20.

Gupta R, Moore JM, Amorin A, Shah A, Maragkos G, Liu JK, Gandhi CD. Multimodal endovascular embolization and surgical resection for glomus jugulare and tympanicum paragangliomas: a single center’s experience. Poster Presentation at Congress of Neurological Surgeons annual meeting, Boston, MA, 10/07-10/11/17.

Gupta R, Shah AM, Al-Mufti F, Gandhi CD. Management of complications following embolization for intractable epistaxis. In: Gandhi CD, Prestigiacomo CJ, eds. Complication Avoidance Management in Cerebrovascular and Endovascular Neurosurgery. Springer. 2017.

Kim C, Gupta R, Shah A, Mahill E, Prabhu AV, Agarwal N. An assessment of neurological surgeons’ digital footprints. World Neurosurg. 2018;113:172-178.

Mishra R, Gunasekaran M, Saha P, Fu X, Arfat MY, Abdullah M, Davidson L, Shah A, Sharma S, Kaushal S. miR-34a Expression in Cardiac Neonatal Mesenchymal Stem Cells is Essential for Heart Regeneration. Circulation. 2020;142:A16827. Virtual Poster Presentation at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, Dallas, TX, 11/14-11/16/20.

Okoh AK, Chan O, Schultheis M, Gupta M, Shah A, Gold J, Russo MJ, Lee L, Camacho M. Association between Increased Risk Donor Social Behaviors and Recipient Outcomes after Heart Transplantation. Clin Transplant. 2020;34(3):e13787.

Okoh AK, Dhaduk N, Shah AM, Gold J, Fugar S, Kassotis J, Chen C, Lee LY, Russo MJ. Health and Healthcare disparities and their impact on resource utilization and costs after transcatheter aortic valve replacement. Innovations. 2021;16(3):262-266.

Okoh AK, Fugar S, Schultheis M, Fowler A, Shah A, Selevany M, Kaplon S, Camacho M, Karanam R, Lee L, Russo M. Healthcare and health disparities and their impact on resource utilization and cost after transcatheter aortic valve replacement: A Nationwide Analysis of Real-World Data. Poster Presentation at Eastern Cardiothoracic Surgical Society annual meeting, Naples, FL, 10/16-10/19/19.

Okoh AK, Kassotis J, Shah AM, Siddiqui E, Dhaduk N, Hirji S, Gold J, Mehta H, Ruberwa J, Soliman F, Tayal R, Russo MJ, Lee LY. Change in renal function and its impact on survival in chronic kidney disease patients bridged to heart transplantation with an LVAD. ASAIO. 2021. In-press.

Okoh AK, Shah A, Kang N, Almaz B, Resnick J, Ghaffar A, Chen C, Haik B, Cohen M, Russo MJ. Outcomes after transcatheter mitral valve-in-valve replacement in patients with degenerated bio prosthesis: A single center experience. J Invasive Cardiol. 2020;32(2):49-54.

Patel K, Siddiqui E, Shah A, Ahlawat S. National Incidence and Mortality for Upper Gastrointestinal Bleeding After Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement. Presented virtually at American College of Gastroenterology annual meeting, Nashville, TN, 10/23-10/28/20.

Saha P, Mishra R, Sharma S, Shah A, Davidson L, Gunasekaran M, Fu X, Arfat M, Abdullah M, Li D, Kaushal S. Intravenous Injection of Neonatal Cardiac Mesenchymal Stem Cells is a Viable Alternative Route to Treat Acute Myocardial Infarction. Circulation. 2020;142. Virtual Poster Presentation at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, Dallas, TX, 11/14-11/16/20.

Shah A, Clausi MG, Subramaniam M, Majmundar N, Levison SW. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) reduces injury and aids neurologic recovery after closed head injury. Poster Presentation at Summer Student Research Program (SSRP) – Annual Poster Symposium, Newark, NJ, 07/26/17.

Shah A, Majmundar N, Liu JK. Endoscopic endonasal transdorsum posterior clinoidectomy to access the posterosuperior compartment of the cavernous sinus. Poster Presentation at American Association of Neurological Surgeons annual meeting, New Orleans, LA, 4/28-5/2/18.

Shah A, Majmundar N, Subramaniam M, Clausi MG, Levison SW. Leukemia Inhibitory Factor (LIF) reduces injury and aids neurologic recovery after concussive head injury. Poster Presentation at American Association of Neurological Surgeons annual meeting, New Orleans, LA, 4/28-5/2/18.

Shah A, Sangal N, Paskhover B. Population-Based Comparison of Rare Head and Neck Malignant Epithelial Tumor Variants. Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery. 2018;159(15). Poster Presentation at American Academy of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery Foundations annual meeting, Atlanta, GA, 10/7-10/10/18.

Shah A, Siddiqui E, Okoh A, Singh S, Salemi A, Waxman S. Trends In The Utilization of Coronary Revascularization In The United States Medicare Population. Presented virtually at Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions scientific sessions, 5/14-5/16/20.

Shah A, Woods R, Harris B. Morphological detection of TDP-43 aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases using scFvs. Poster Presentation at Georgetown University Symposium of Undergraduate Research, Washington, DC, 05/16.

Shah AM, Abdullah M, Davidson L, Saha P, Gunasekaran M, Mishra R, Sharma S, Kaushal S. Intravenous administration of neonatal mesenchymal stem cells mediates functional recovery in a renal ischemia-reperfusion injury rodent model. Circulation. 2020;142:A16501. Virtual Poster Presentation at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, Dallas, TX, 11/14-11/16/20.

Shah AM, Siddiqui E, Abdullah M, Sambol J. Readability Assessment of Online Patient Education Materials on Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG). Poster Presentation at International Coronary Congress annual meeting, New York, NY, 12/6-12/9/19.

Shah AM, Siddiqui E, Cuenca C, Drotar P, Okoh A, Salemi A, Waxman S, Sambol J. Trends in the Utilization and Reimbursement of Coronary Revascularization in the United States Medicare Population from 2010-2018. Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 2021; 98(2):E205-E212.

Shah AM, Siddiqui E, Dhaduk N, Boyajian G, Sambol J. Comprehensive Trends in Medicare Reimbursement for Cardiac Surgery Procedures: 2000-2020. Virtual Poster Presentation at the Society of Thoracic Surgeons annual meeting, Austin, TX, 1/30-2/2/21.

Shah AM, Siddiqui E, Dhaduk N, Okoh A, Sambol J. The Changing Landscape of Concomitant Procedures with Surgical Aortic Valve Replacements. Virtual Poster Presentation at Eastern Cardiothoracic Surgical Society annual meeting, Manalapan, FL, 10/7-10/10/20.

Shah AM, Siddiqui E, Holmes SD, Okoh A, Abdullah M, Deatrick K, Kaushal S, Sambol J. Trends in the Traditional Cardiothoracic Surgery Resident Operative Experience for Cardiac Cases: An Analysis of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Case Logs. Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2020;161(3):1064-1075.

Shah AM, Siddiqui E, Okoh A, Abdullah M, Deatrick K, Kaushal S, Sambol J. Trends in the Cardiothoracic Resident Operative Experience for Cardiac Cases: An Analysis of Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education Case Logs. Selected for plenary session and presented virtually at American Association for Thoracic Surgery annual meeting, 5/22-5/23/2020.

Sharma S, Mishra R, Saha P, Gunasekaran M, Shah A, Abdullah M, Kaushal S. Anti-inflammatory And Immuno-modulatory Properties of Neonatal MSC. Circulation. 2020;142:A16995. Virtual Poster Presentation at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, Dallas, TX, 11/14-11/16/20.

Siddiqui E, Shah A, Dhaduk N, Okoh A, Waxman S. Understanding Trends in Medicare Reimbursement for Cardiovascular Procedures. Presented virtually at Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics Symposium of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation. 10/14-10/18/20.

Siddiqui E, Shah A, Okoh A, Singh S, Waxman S, Salemi A. Utilization of Aortic Valve Replacement In The United States Medicare Population And Its Impact On Reimbursement. Presented virtually at Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions scientific sessions, Atlanta, GA, 5/13-5/16/20.

Siddiqui E, Shah A, Sambol J, Waller AH. Readability Assessment of Online Patient Education Materials on Atrial Fibrillation. Cureus. 2020;12(9):e10397.

Siddiqui E, Shah A, Sambol J. Readability Assessment of Online Patient Education Materials on Aortic Valve Replacement. Poster Presentation at International Coronary Congress annual meeting, New York, NY, 12/6-12/9/19.

Siddiqui E, Shah A, Waller AM, Sambol J. Readability Assessment of Online Patient Education Materials on Atrial Fibrillation. Circulation. 2019;140:A12155. Poster Presentation at American Heart Association Scientific Sessions, Philadelphia, PA, 11/16-11/18/19.

Siddiqui E, Shah AM, Para A, Baredes S, Park CW. Risk Assessment of Hypertension in Carotid Body Surgeries: A National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) Analysis. Laryngoscope. 2020;130(8):2008-2012.