image: SCAI Scientific Sessions 2024
Credit: Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions
LONG BEACH (May 4, 2024) Mariem A. Sawan, MBBS, chief interventional cardiology fellow at Emory University, has been selected as the recipient of the SCAI-Women in Innovations (SCAI-WIN) CHIP Fellowship, the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions announced today.
The $115,000 fellowship opportunity was made possible by support from Abiomed (founding supporter), Boston Scientific, Medtronic, and Shockwave Medical, Inc., and is offered to interventional cardiology (IC) fellows or practicing interventional cardiologists interested in pursuing an additional year of advanced training (beyond traditional IC fellowships) focusing on complex and high-risk coronary intervention (CHIP), chronic total occlusions (CTO), and percutaneous mechanical circulatory support (MCS) training in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Dr. Sawan will pursue her Complex and High-Risk Interventional Procedures (CHIP) fellowship training at Emory University.
“After careful consideration of a highly accomplished group of interventional fellows, Dr. Sawan was selected for her dedication, hard work, and expertise. As a recipient of the 2024-25 SCAI WIN-CHIP Fellowship, Dr. Sawan will have the opportunity to further develop her skills and knowledge in the field of interventional cardiology. This fellowship is a testament to her commitment to excellence and her potential to make significant contributions to the field. We look forward to seeing her continued success and contributions to the field of interventional cardiology,” said Dr. Nadia R. Sutton, MD, MPH, FSCAI, chair of the Women in Innovations committee at SCAI.
Dr. Sawan’s journey to interventional cardiology began during OB/GYN residency, where she originally planned to focus on high-risk fetal maternal medicine. However, captivated by the intricacies of the heart, she redirected her path, transitioning to internal medicine at the University of Maryland in Baltimore, MD. Subsequently, she pursued her cardiology fellowship at Emory University, opting for the Cardiovascular Research Scientist Pathway. This pathway involved two years of basic science research and two years dedicated to clinical cardiology.
"I consider myself very fortunate to have worked in Dr. W. Robert Taylor's lab; his unwavering support and mentorship were invaluable,” Dr. Sawan said.
"During the clinical phase of my fellowship, I found myself naturally drawn to the cath lab—it felt like home," Dr. Sawan continued. "I was fortunate to have two incredibly supportive mentors, Dr. William J. Nicholson and Dr. Wissam A. Jaber, who not only took me under their wings but also believed in me.”
Their encouragement prompted Sawan to apply for the WIN-CHIP fellowship, an opportunity she described as both humbling and deeply appreciated. "It's an incredibly generous award," she said.
Dr. Sawan said the WIN-CHIP fellowship will allow her to pursue her goal of helping a wider range of patients—especially those too sick to undergo open heart surgery—by performing complex, high-risk PCI using advanced methods. She is committed to paying forward the support and guidance she received from her mentors by mentoring future trainees in the same impactful manner.
“This journey would not have been possible without the love and support of my family—my amazing parents, grandmother and sisters—and my best friend, my little daughter, who has a larger-than-life personality,” she said.
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About Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI)
The Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) is a non-profit professional association with over 4,500 members representing interventional cardiologists and cardiac catheterization teams in the United States. SCAI promotes excellence in interventional cardiovascular medicine for both adults and children through education, representation, and the advancement of quality standards to enhance patient care. Follow @SCAI on Twitter for the latest heart health news.