Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship

Ali Aldelhafix, M.D., Class of 2026

Ali Aldelhafix is from Cairo, Egypt, and graduated medical school from Cairo University. In 2017, he became interested in pediatric cardiology after meeting with Ziyad Hijaz. Aldelhafix traveled and worked in the Maldives for a year before coming to the U.S. in 2019 to do research at University of Pittsburg Medical Center. He completed his pediatric residency at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia.

Fun facts: Aldelhafix loves watching soccer with his son, and both of them are Liverpool fans, "obviously for Mo Salah." He was called the "locked-out resident" in his residency program because he was locked out of his Airbnb and went to his interview without a suit.

Future plans: Love all flavors of pediatric cardiology.

Clementine Knight, M.D., Class of 2027

Clementine Knight is originally from Massachusetts but has lived all over the U.S. on her very non-traditional path to medicine. Before going to medical school, she graduated from Brown University with a business degree; worked in product development, market research and fashion; and earned a culinary diploma from Le Cordon Bleu. After a post-baccalaureate program at University of Vermont, she completed medical school at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City. Pediatric residency took her back to UVM before the call of further opportunities in pediatric cardiology spurred a transfer to St. Louis. She completed her SSM Health/Saint Louis University School of Medicine residency training at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital, where she stayed to continue fellowship training in pediatric cardiology. 

Fun facts: In her spare time, Knight takes her dog on walks and hikes, is an avid crossword and jigsaw puzzler, and drinks a lot of coffee. 

Abinash Pandey, M.D., Class of 2026

Abinash Pandey is from Kathmandu, Nepal. He graduated medical school from Nepalgunj Medical College in Banke, Nepal, in 2015, and he worked as a general practitioner in rural Nepal for five years. He developed an interest in pediatrics and decided to pursue a pediatric residency in the United States. In 2020, he started pediatric residency in Woodhull Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. While rotating in Hassenfeld Children's Hospital at NYU Langone, he developed an interest in pediatric cardiology. He is currently in his third year of pediatric cardiology fellowship at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital. 

Fun facts: Pandey enjoys going outdoors in nature, hiking and climbing when he can. He loves cooking and trying new recipes. He spends most of his free time trying to recreate different recipeds from YouTube classes.

Future plans: Looking forward to a career in general pediatric cardiology

Stephen Ream, M.D., Class of 2027

Stephen Ream is a St. Louis native. He completed an undergraduate degree and medical school at Saint Louis University before heading to Columbus, Ohio, for combined internal medicine and pediatrics training at The Ohio State University and Nationwide Children's Hospital. Clincally, he is interested in congenital heart disease across the lifespan, and he intends to pursue advanced fellowship in adult congenital heart disease. 

Fun facts: Outside the hospital, Ream is a proud husband and father  and a passionate Billiken basketball fan. He appreciates good craft beer and coffee, and he's an avid fan of live music and motorsports. 

Future plans: An adult congenital heart disease fellowship and a career in pediatric and adult congenital cardiology

Rochelle Rubinstein, M.D., Class of 2028

Rochelle Rubinstein was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She stayed close to home for an undergraduate degree from Touro University before earning her medical degree from New York Medical College. She completed her pediatric residency at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital at Westchester Medical Center, where her interest in pediatric cardiology continued to grow. She first fell in love with the field in medical school, and she's grateful for the mentors who helped guide her along the way. She's excited for fellowship training in St. Louis.

Fun facts: Outside of work, Rubinstein enjoys painting, exploring nature and spending time with her nieces and nephews.

Erin Skelley, M.D., Class of 2028

Erin Skelley is from North East, Pennsylvania, a small town nestled on Lake Erie. She attended college and medical school in Erie before moving to Lansing, Michigan, for her pediatrics residency at Sparrow Hospital. There, her interest in pediatric cardiology was first piqued. She is currently interested in general cardiology but open to changing her mind during fellowship.

Fun facts: In her free time, Skelley likes to read (sci-fi, fantasy) and enjoys the fiber arts (knitting, crochet). She is moving to St. Louis with her two cats, Captain and Catsby.

Erica Bonura, M.D. 

Erica was born and raised in the heart of Badger Country in Fitchburg, Wisconsin, before attending the University of Wisconsin for undergrad and medical school. Wisconsin wasn’t cold enough, so she moved to Rochester, Minnesota, for pediatric residency at the Mayo Clinic. She was initially drawn to pediatric cardiology for the complex anatomy and physiology, often in very sick patients. As a fellow she loved the variety of clinical settings, getting to see patients thriving in clinic one day and then help guide a family through their post-operative ICU stay the next. She’s developed a clinical interest in heart failure and transplantation. In addition to her clinical responsibilities, Erica finds joy in medical education for which she’s won multiple teaching awards during fellowship. Outside of medicine, Erica and her husband love to check out the numerous amazing local places to eat. They have two Australian shepherds who are always up to explore different parks and dog friendly restaurants. 

Future Plans: Advanced fourth-year fellowship at Washington University in St. Louis