International Scholar Program

We are dedicated to training future and global healthcare leaders in the field of heart and vascular health. Our scholars accelerate our groundbreaking physician-initiated research and spread the lessons learned across the globe. 

Since 2017, our International Scholar program has brought practicing physicians from countries around the world for a one- or two-year period to work directly with Minneapolis Heart Institute® physicians and advance MHIF physician-initiated cardiovascular research.

Research scholars bring a wealth of diversity and knowledge to our team. They help design and conduct clinical studies of all types under the supervision of a physician serving as the primary investigator. Research scholars also assist MHIF research teams in disseminating important research findings by publishing articles in peer-reviewed journals and submitting abstracts and challenging cases for publication and/or presentation at scientific conferences, bringing global exposure to MHIF’s research. To date, the International Scholar program has welcomed scholars from China, Japan, Brazil, Hungary, Turkey and Greece.

International Scholars Program - Minneapolis Heart Institute

Instrumental Success

“The International Scholar program has been instrumental in the success of MHIF’s Center for Coronary Artery Disease. They bring a wealth of knowledge, but also tremendous drive and motivation that is critical in moving often challenging projects forward. The research work of the international scholars has been published in the top interventional journals and has helped advance the contemporary practice of interventional cardiology.”


— Dr. Emmanouil Brilakis, Chairman, Center for Coronary Artery Disease

International Scholar Alumni

Center for Coronary Artery Disease
Judit Karacsonyi, MD
Spyridon Kostantinis, MD
Ilias Nikolakopoulos, MD
Athanasios (Thanasis) Rempakos, MD
Bahadir Simsek, MD
Peter Tajti, MD
Evangelia Vemmou, MD
Iosif Xenogiannis, MD


Congenital Heart Research
Mariana De Oliveira Nunes, MD

Cardiovascular Imaging Research Center
Miho Fukui, MD, PhD
Go Hashimoto, MD
Hideki Koike, MD, PhD
Bernardo Lopes, MD
Davide Margonato, MD
 

Valve Science Center
Yu Du, MD, PhD
Hiro Niikura, MD
Atsushi Okada, MD, PhD
Asa Phichaphop, MD
Hiro Sato, MD, PhD
Liang Tang, MD
Cheng Wang, MD, PhD

Give the Gift of Hope
4 photos of families smiling

The Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation® (MHIF) strives to create a world without heart and vascular disease. To achieve this bold vision, we are dedicated to improving the cardiovascular health of individuals and communities through innovative research and education.

Thanks to the generosity of donors like you, we can continue this life-saving work. Please make a gift to support lasting change in the lives of individuals we serve and future generations to come.

Register for our free Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day Event!

Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day 2025
Heart Valve Disease Awareness Day 2025

"From Basics to Breakthroughs: Heart Valve Health and Vitality" is a free-to-attend educational event designed to inform local community members about the latest breakthroughs in valvular heart disease. Join us on Saturday, February 22nd, at the Lafayette Club in Minnetonka Beach, MN.