There are 3 fellows each year with their own areas of interests and plans for the future. The program gives them a firm grounding in general cardiology, but also allows them the flexibility to focus on a specific sub-specialty, if desired.
Welcome: Chief Fellow, Kent Feng, MD
Welcome to the Kaiser Permanente (KP) Northern California (NC) Cardiology Fellowship Program! Thank you for your interest in our fellowship.
There are several important aspects to our program that I think should be highlighted: the quality of training, the emphasis and investment on each fellow’s professional development, the commitment of the program leadership to continual improvement, and the great camaraderie of the group.
The structure of the KPNC system is such that patients in need of specialty cardiovascular care are funneled through our two cardiac specialty hubs (San Francisco and Santa Clara). Because of this and the fact that KPNC has over 4 million members, there is an enriched, diverse population of patients with cardiovascular diseases that we see routinely in our hospitals and clinics. During our training, we get exposed to all aspects of cardiology: invasive procedures including cardiac device implantation, cardiac imaging including cardiac CT and MRI, innovative structural heart interventions, and subspecialty care including adult congenital heart disease and pulmonary hypertension. As a result, the program graduates well-rounded cardiologists capable of caring for patients with a wide variety of cardiovascular conditions.
Professional development is prioritized by the fellowship program. Our program director, Jonathan Zaroff, and the faculty are invested in each fellow. For those interested in clinical research, the Division of Research has some of the largest research databases in the world and houses leaders in the fields of clinical informatics, epidemiology, and health care delivery science. The program is also committed to cultivating other interests, such as medical education, quality improvement, and health leadership.
The leadership prioritizes communication with the fellows and is highly receptive to feedback. Fellow-driven initiatives and suggestions are implemented promptly. Change can truly happen rapidly, allowing the fellows to take ownership of our program’s development.
Lastly, the great camaraderie of our fellow and attending groups is a truly unique aspect of our program. Whether it is clinically supporting each other in the hospital or enjoying ourselves at the happy hours, fellows and attendings are colleagues in truest sense of the word.
Thank you again for taking the time to learn about our program. If you choose to join us, you will receive outstanding preparation for a career in general cardiology or a solid foundation on your path to sub-specialty training. Every year our fellows secure desirable employment opportunities and/or positions in advanced training programs both in the Bay Area and around the country. We all look forward to meeting you and please reach out if you have any questions!
Current Fellows

Kent Feng, MD
3rd Year Cardiology Fellow

Kent Feng, MD
3rd Year Cardiology Fellow
UNDERGRADUATE
Duke University
MEDICAL EDUCATION
University of California, San Francisco
RESIDENCY
Duke University
CAREER ASPIRATIONS
I am primarily interested in general cardiology, though have done research in the realm of heart failure as well. In terms of research, I am interested in uptake of evidenced-based care. Lastly, but certainly not least, I am invested in medical education and would love to continue working with residents and fellows after my training is over.
HOW I THRIVE
Traveling to different countries is what my wife and I always look forward to. However, we are also avid foodies, and both enjoy a nice meal at the great restaurants in and around San Francisco as well as baking/cooking up a storm at home.
WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
There's no question that one of the top reasons why I chose Kaiser for fellowship is because the environment engenders collaboration between colleagues. There's tremendous amount of support between fellows and with faculty as well. The clinical and procedural volume are also high lights to this fellowship that cannot be overstated.
See profile on My Doctor Online

Salvador Hernandez, MD
3rd Year Cardiology Fellow

Salvador Hernandez, MD
3rd Year Cardiology Fellow
MEDICAL EDUCATION
Universidad de Guadalajara, Centro Universitario de Ciencias de la Salud. Guadalajara, Mexico
RESIDENCY
University of California, Los Angeles – Olive View Internal Medicine Residency
CAREER ASPIRATIONS
I am interested in general cardiology, heart failure, cardiac imaging, access to care, and global cardiovascular health. I envision myself working in a place where I can make a difference focused on patients understanding of their medical condition, and helping to train the physicians of the future.
HOW I THRIVE
I thrive by traveling and discovering new cultures, also, like to explore local hiking trails. I enjoy cooking, baking and enjoying quality time with friends and family.
WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
I love the size of the program, and the focus on fellow education and training. I saw a lot of research opportunities working with one of the largest patient databases. Also, from the day of my interview, I realized I would be in a place where they would care about me as a person and not only a fellow.
See profile on My Doctor Online

Diana Tobler, MD
3rd Year Cardiology Fellow

Diana Tobler, MD
3rd Year Cardiology Fellow
UNDERGRADUATE
Sonoma State University
MEDICAL EDUCATION
Oregon Health and Science University
RESIDENCY
University of California, San Francisco
CAREER ASPIRATIONS
I am interested in general cardiology, heart failure, and pulmonary hypertension. Outside of my clinical work I am passionate about understanding how to improve patient outcomes and health care delivery, specifically as it relates to patients who are traditionally underserved in our current healthcare structure.
HOW I THRIVE
I live my best life through staying active and traveling. I love running and hiking and recently got a dog who is always looking for an adventure and makes sure I don’t slack off! I love to travel as a way to experience different cultural and natural perspectives and of course to make new connections. I usually try to travel internationally, but during the pandemic I am embracing local traveling and camping more.
WHAT I LIKE BEST ABOUT THE FELLOWSHIP
Patient care is everyone’s top priority, and fellow education and experience come in a close second. Everyone is working hard to ensure patients receive the best care possible, which is easy to do in such an integrated and collaborative system. Staff and leadership are also deeply invested in fellows having the richest educational experience possible; the program is small enough for the experience to be individualized but large enough to be collaborative and supportive.
See profile on My Doctor Online

Andrew Tai, MD
2nd Year Cardiology Fellow

Andrew Tai, MD
2nd Year Cardiology Fellow
Undergraduate
University of California San Diego
Medical Education
New York Medical College
Residency
Kaiser Permanente San Francisco
Career aspirations
General Cardiology vs Advanced Cardiac Imaging
How I thrive
I enjoy hiking and being outdoors playing tennis, spikeball, or climbing.
What I like best about the fellowship
I am excited to be training at KP SF because of the many amazing faculty I have worked with during my residency. Working in a an integrated health care system at a high volume referral center presents many educational opportunities from the sheer volume of procedures and interesting cases. I am looking forward to also the opportunity to participate in resident education.
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Steven Hamilton, MD
2nd Year Cardiology Fellow

Steven Hamilton, MD
2nd Year Cardiology Fellow
Medical Education
The University of the West Indies, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Mona Campus, Jamaica
Residency
Jersey Shore University Medical Center (Saint Francis)
Career aspirations
I have a strong interest in advanced heart failure/transplant and to a lesser extent interventional cardiology. Additionally, I am passionate about medical education and quality improvement; it is my desire to continue along this line beyond fellowship training.
How I thrive
Lawn tennis, jogging, cooking and baking. I am a cerevisaphile and enjoy a wide variety of selections. Volunteering with the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity has afforded me the humbling opportunity to serve the community beyond being a physician.
What I like best about the fellowship
Dr. Zaroff, my interviewers and the fellows were welcoming, professional and really sold the program during the recruitment process. It was clear that this is a family-oriented, high-quality patient-centered and evidence-based medicine system. As someone who has an interest in research and clinical outcomes, Kaiser’s high-quality research database was appealing. This was capped off by Kaiser’s integrated health care approach bringing it all together.
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Michael Girouard, MD
1st Year Cardiology Fellow

Michael Girouard, MD
1st Year Cardiology Fellow
Undergraduate
Williams College
Medical Education
Harvard Medical School
Residency
University of California, San Francisco
Career Aspiration
I am interested in general and preventative cardiology with a focus on caring for underserved populations. Outside of clinical care, I hope to combine my interests in high-value care, quality improvement, and healthcare delivery to improve access across the spectrum of cardiovascular care.
How I Thrive
I thrive by exploring new neighborhoods, restaurants, theater, and live music around San Francisco with my partner. I also love staying active and enjoy cycling, skiing, and hiking.
What I Like Best About the Fellowship
I was drawn to Kaiser for its unique integrated care delivery model, which offers a high-volume clinical environment that emphasizes superb patient care and innovative population health. At the same time, there is a deep commitment to fellow education and personalized career development from an incredible faculty. I also appreciate the supportive and collegial culture across the Kaiser community.

Alix Fairman, MD
1st Year Cardiology Fellow

Alix Fairman, MD
1st Year Cardiology Fellow
Undergraduate
University of Pennsylvania
MPH
George Washington University
Medical Education
Ross University School of Medicine
Residency
Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara
Career Aspirations
General Cardiology, Cardio-Obstetrics and Women's Heart Health, Prevention
How I Thrive
Spending quality with the people I love, surfing, running, exploring the California Coast with my husband and daughter, and mindfulness-based stress reduction
What I Like Best About the Fellowship
I am most drawn to the spirit and people of KPSF. I feel proud to train among this group of brilliant educators, passionate clinicians, and fun-loving fellows. The faculty are not only best-in-class in both patient care and research, but people you want to surround yourself with and sit next to at happy hour. The leadership is wholeheartedly invested in the success, happiness, and growth of the fellows. It is a place that makes you excited to show up and work hard for each other and our patients.
See profile on My Doctor Online

Kaiwen Sun, MD
1st Year Cardiology Fellow

Kaiwen Sun, MD
1st Year Cardiology Fellow
Undergraduate
Cornell University
Medical Education
University of Nebraska College of Medicine
Residency
UCSF
Career Aspirations
Advanced heart failure, general cardiology
How I Thrive
I spend my free time hiking, finding new places to eat and traveling. I am also obsessed with soccer and try to find time to watch whenever I can.
What I Like Best About the Fellowship
I was looking for a clinically-oriented fellowship program that provides ample opportunity to care for the full spectrum of cardiovascular disease, all within a supportive training environment.