Our Team

cardiac alliance
Management Team
portrait photo of

Dr Marcelo Cardarelli MD, MPH

Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgeon

Marcelo.Cardarelli@cardiac-alliance.org

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and graduated from University of Buenos Aires. Completed his original training in cardiac surgery in Argentina, with fellowships at Texas Heart Institute, Children Hospital of Philadelphia and Boston Children Hospital. Currently working at Inova Children Hospital in Virginia, USA. Currently Dr Cardarelli volunteers as a surgeon on our trips and he’s in charge of the Foundation research initiatives. He commented:

“I feel so incredibly lucky that I get to work with truly talented people from all over the world, travel to places I only dreamt of and on top of it produce valuable research about our work.”

photo of doctor

Dr Sri Rao MD

Pediatric Cardiologist, Interventional Cardiologist Development coordinator
Sri.Rao@cardiac-alliance.org

Sri became involved with international medical work during his pediatric residency in New York City. This continued throughout his pediatric cardiology fellowship where he first worked with Dr. Novick at the International Childrens Heart Foundation in 2004. Sri has continued working with Novick Cardiac Alliance and travels whenever possible and is on the Clinical Management team.
male physician wearing

Dr Vitaly Dedovich MD

PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL CARDIAC SURGEON

vitaly.dedovich@cardiac-alliance.org

Dr. Vitaly Dedovich, MD, graduated from the Belarusian state medical university in 2002 and completed his training in pediatric general and cardiac surgery in Belarusian Pediatric surgical centre, followed by fellowship in Christian-Albrecht-University, Kiel, Germany. In 2011-2017 he was chief of the department of the congenital heart surgery at the Belarusian cardiac centre.

Vitaly joined NCA staff in January, 2018 and now works full time sharing his knowledge and skill with colleagues in Low and Middle Income Countries

doctor william novick

Dr William Novick MD, MS

CEO, CMO Senior Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgeon
Bill.Novick@cardiac-alliance.org

Dr Novick is a graduate of University of Alabama School of Medicine and completed his General Surgical Residency at the Graduate Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania before entering the Cardiothoracic Residency at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.
profile photo of

Elizabeth Novick RN, BSN

Treasurer, Social Media Director

liz.novick@cardiac-alliance.org

Elizabeth Novick is married to Founder, William Novick. She worked as a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit nurse for 15 years in the United States and in Low and Middle Income Countries. Dr. Novick and Elizabeth have 2 children together. Elizabeth is a full time Mother and manages the social media exposure for Novick Cardiac Alliance.

closeup photo of

Frank Molloy RN, NP, MSc

PICU Nurse Practitioner and Educator

Frank.Molloy@cardiac-alliance.org

Frank qualified as a Paediatric RN in Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, London, UK 1987. He has subsequently gained 27 years of experience in acute Pediatric Cardiac care. In 2004 Frank completed a Masters degree in Paediatric Intensive Care (Advanced Nursing Practice) at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College University of London. Frank worked full time for the organisation for many years and has participated multiple volunteer trips to multiple destinations worldwide. He is currently working in Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children as a Cardiac ICU Nurse Practitioner and volunteers when possible.

profile photo of

Jean Towne

DIRECTOR OF LOGISTICS

Jean.Towne@cardiac-alliance.org

Jean began working with Dr. Novick at the International Children’s Heart Foundation in 2010 as Medical Team Coordinator. She has worked as Special Events Coordinator for the National Kidney Foundation of West Tennessee and Marketing Manager with Memphis magazine and a newspaper publisher, Contemporary Media, Inc.Jean is a native Memphian and enjoys spending time with her husband, Richard, and two young children.She is an avid bibliophile and averages 52 books per year (though she is not necessarily proud of all of them).Jean has worked as Director of Logistics with The Novick Cardiac Alliance since its inception.

young female doctor

Martina Pavanic RN, BSc

Nursing Director Operating Room
Martina.Pavanic@cardiac-alliance.org

Martina has over 24 years’ experience working as an operating room nurse, specializing in pediatric cardiac OR . She received a Nursing Diploma at the Mlinarska Nursing School, Zagreb, Croatia in 1996 and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at University of Memphis, Loewenberg School of Nursing in 2015. She received her training in the operating room at hospital Rebro, KBC Zagreb between 1996-2000. Martina has dedicated her career to improving the care that children with heart disease receive in Low and Middle Income Countries.
female physician wearing

Stacey D. Marr RN, NP, MSc

PICU Nurse Practitioner and Educator
Stacey.Marr@cardiac-alliance.org

Stacey is a Paediatric Nurse Practitioner specializing in PICU. Stacey initially qualified as a nurse in 1994 and has since completed a higher diploma in Children’s Nursing, a BSc in Paediatric intensive care (PICU) a MSc in Strategic Leadership and Clinical Expertise and a PG CERT in Clinical education. In the last 20 years Stacey has worked in Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, the Evelina London Children’s Hospital and has dedicated much of her time to working on projects in Low and Middle Income Countries
closeup photo of

Frank Molloy, RN, NP, MSc

PICU Nurse Practitioner and Educator
Frank qualified as a Paediatric RN in Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, London, UK 1987. He has subsequently gained 27 years of experience in acute Pediatric Cardiac care. In 2004 Frank completed a Masters degree in Paediatric Intensive Care (Advanced Nursing Practice) at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College University of London. Frank worked full time for the organisation for many years and has participated multiple volunteer trips to multiple destinations worldwide. He is currently working in Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children as a Cardiac ICU Nurse Practitioner and volunteers when possible.
profile photo of

Jean Towne

Jean began working with Dr. Novick at the International Children’s Heart Foundation in 2010 as Medical Team Coordinator. She has worked as Special Events Coordinator for the National Kidney Foundation of West Tennessee and Marketing Manager with Memphis magazine and a newspaper publisher, Contemporary Media, Inc.Jean is a native Memphian and enjoys spending time with her husband, Richard, and two young children.She is an avid bibliophile and averages 52 books per year (though she is not necessarily proud of all of them).Jean has worked as Director of Logistics with The Novick Cardiac Alliance since its inception.
young female doctor

Martina Pavanic, RN, BSc

Nursing Director Operating Room
Martina has over 24 years’ experience working as an operating room nurse, specializing in pediatric cardiac OR . She received a Nursing Diploma at the Mlinarska Nursing School, Zagreb, Croatia in 1996 and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at University of Memphis, Loewenberg School of Nursing in 2015. She received her training in the operating room at hospital Rebro, KBC Zagreb between 1996-2000. Martina has dedicated her career to improving the care that children with heart disease receive in Low and Middle Income Countries.
cardiac alliance

Founding Board

photo of doctor

Dr William Novick MD, MS

CEO, CMO SENIOR PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL CARDIAC SURGEON
bill.novick@cardiac-alliance.org

Dr Novick is a graduate of University of Alabama School of Medicine and completed his General Surgical Residency at the Graduate Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania before entering the Cardiothoracic Residency at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

profile photo of

Elizabeth Novick RN, BSN

TREASURER, SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR
elizabeth.novick@cardiac.alliance.org

Elizabeth Novick is married to Founder, William Novick. She worked as a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit nurse for 15 years in the United States and in Low and Middle Income Countries. Dr. Novick and Elizabeth have 2 children together. Elizabeth is a full-time mother and manages the social media exposure for Novick Cardiac Alliance.

female doctor wearing

Stacey D. Marr RN, NP, MSc

PICU NURSE PRACTITIONER AND EDUCATOR
stacey.marr@cardiac-alliance.org

Stacey is a Paediatric Nurse Practitioner specializing in PICU. Stacey initially qualified as a nurse in 1994 and has since completed a higher diploma in Children’s Nursing, a BSc in Paediatric Intensive Care (PICU) a MSc in Strategic Leadership and Clinical Expertise and a PG CERT in Clinical Education. In the last 20 years Stacey has worked in Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, the Evelina London Children’s Hospital and has dedicated much of her time to working on projects in Low and Middle Income Countries.

portrait photo of

Dr Marcelo Cardarelli MD, MPH

PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL CARDIAC SURGEON
marcelo.cardarelli@cardiac-alliance.org

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and graduated from University of Buenos Aires. Completed his original training in cardiac surgery in Argentina, with fellowships at Texas Heart Institute, Children Hospital of Philadelphia and Boston Children Hospital. Currently working at Inova Children Hospital in Virginia, USA. Currently, Dr Cardarelli volunteers as a surgeon on our trips and he’s in charge of the Foundation research initiatives. He commented: “I feel so incredibly lucky that I get to work with truly talented people from all over the world, travel to places I only dreamt of and on top of it produce valuable research about our work.”

profile photo of

Kathleen Fenton MD

PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL CARDIAC SURGEON
kathleen.fenton@cardiac-alliance.org

A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, Dr. Kathleen Fenton completed her undergraduate studies at Johns Hopkins University and earned her medical degree cum laude at University of Maryland.

She did her residency in general surgery at the University of Louisville, during which took two years’ sabbatical to do full time research in fetal cardiac surgery with Dr. Frank Hanley.

closeup photo of

Humberto Rodriguez-Saldana MD

PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL CARDIAC SURGEON
humberto.rodriguezs@cardiac-alliance.org

Dr. Rodriguez Graduated from Universidad Autonomy de Nuevo Leon, Mexico in 1989 and following this completed 1 year of social service medical practice. He completed his general surgery residency at Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social in Monterrey in 1994. He then went on to complete his cardiothoracic surgical training at Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social in 1997 and completed a Congenital Cardiac Surgical Fellowship at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis TN.

profile photo of

Jean Towne

DIRECTOR OF LOGISTICS
jean.towne@cardiac-alliance.org

Jean began working with Dr. Novick at the International Children’s Heart Foundation in 2010 as Medical Team Coordinator. She has worked as Special Events Coordinator for the National Kidney Foundation of West Tennessee and Marketing Manager with Memphis magazine and a newspaper publisher, Contemporary Media, Inc.Jean is a native Memphian and enjoys spending time with her husband, Richard, and two young children.She is an avid bibliophile and averages 52 books per year (though she is not necessarily proud of all of them).Jean has worked as Director of Logistics with The Novick Cardiac Alliance since its inception.

closeup photo of

Frank Molloy RN, NP, MSc

PICU NURSE PRACTITIONER AND EDUCATOR
frank.molloy@cardiac-alliance.org

Frank qualified as a Paediatric RN in Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, London, UK 1987. He has subsequently gained 27 years of experience in acute Pediatric Cardiac care. In 2004 Frank completed a Masters degree in Paediatric Intensive Care (Advanced Nursing Practice) at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College University of London. Frank worked full time for the organisation for many years and has participated multiple volunteer trips to multiple destinations worldwide. He is currently working in Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children as a Cardiac ICU Nurse Practitioner and volunteers when possible.

profile photo of

Karen Bowtell RN, PGDip

PICU CLINICAL EDUCATOR
karen.bowtwell@cardiac-alliance.org

Karen Bowtell is a Registered Nurse and Clinical Educator. She gained her nursing degree in 1995 from Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane Australia. She then went on to complete a Post Graduate Diploma in Pediatric Intensive care at University of Melbourne, Australia.

profile photo of

Martina Pavanic RN, BSc

NURSING DIRECTOR OPERATING ROOM
martina.pavanic@cardiac-alliance.org

Martina has over 24 years’ experience working as an operating room nurse, specializing in Pediatric Cardiac OR . She received a Nursing Diploma at the Mlinarska Nursing School, Zagreb, Croatia in 1996 and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at University of Memphis, Loewenberg School of Nursing in 2015. She received her training in the operating room at hospital Rebro, KBC Zagreb between 1996-2000. Martina has dedicated her career to improving the care that children with heart disease receive in Low and Middle Income Countries.

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Pavel Shauchenka MD

PEDIATRIC CARDIAC INTENSIVIST
pavel.shauchenka@cardiac-alliance.org
male doctor holding

Evgeni Suslin MD

PEDIATRIC CARDIAC INTENSIVIST
evgeni.suslin@cardiac-alliance.org

Eugene is dual certified as a Pediatric Intensivist and Pediatric Anesthesiologist. He graduated from the Belarusian State Medical University in 2001 and then went onto complete two fellowships in Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care at the Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel and the Polsko-Americansky Institute of Pediatrics.

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Siarhei Liauchonak MD

PEDIATRIC CARDIAC ANESTHESIOLOGIST
siarhei.liauchonak@cardiac-alliance.org
male doctor wearing

Dr Sri Rao MD

PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGIST, INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGIST DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
sri.rao@cardiac-alliance.org

Sri became involved with international medical work during his pediatric residency in New York City. This continued throughout his pediatric cardiology fellowship where he first worked with Dr. Novick at the International Childrens Heart Foundation in 2004. Sri has continued working with Novick Cardiac Alliance and travels whenever possible and is on the Clinical Management team.

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David Weiduwilt BME, CE

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER
david.weiduwilt@cardiac-alliance.org
female doctor holding

Farzana Shah NP, MSc

PICU CLINICAL EDUCATOR
farzana.shah@cardiac.alliance.org

Farzana completed her nursing degree at Drexel University and has worked in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia since 2008. Farzana began working with Dr. Novick at the International Children’s Heart Foundation in 2012. Farzana has led teams in Iraq and Ecuador and she is dedicated in bringing quality cardiac care to children in Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC).

male doctor with

Brian Forsberg MPH, CCP, FPP

CHIEF PERFUSIONIST
brian.forsberg@cardiac-alliance.org

Brian is a graduate of Drexel University with a Bachelor of Science in Perfusion Technology (2005) and The University of Oklahoma with a Master of Public Health (2010). Brian is board certified in Cardiovascular Perfusion by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (2006) and has received Fellowship in Pediatric Perfusion from American Society of Extracorporeal Technology (2014).

male doctor wearing

Matthew Norridge RNC, MSc

EDUCATION CONSULTANT
matt.norridge@cardiac.alliance.org

Matt qualified as an RN (Child) at King’s College London in 2000. His professional background is in Paediatric Intensive Care (PICU) and Paediatric Cardiac Intensive Care. During his 14 years experience in PICU, Matt has undertaken varied roles, including Charge Nurse and South Thames Retrieval Service Co-ordinator. In 2012, Matt completed a Master’s degree in Advanced Nursing Practice with a focus on Education.

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Iftikhar Ahmed MD, MBBS, FPCS

PEDIATRIC CARDIAC ANESTHESIOLOGIST AND INTENSIVIST
photo of doctor

Dr William Novick MD, MS

CEO, CMO SENIOR PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL CARDIAC SURGEON

Bill.Novick@cardiac-alliance.org

Dr Novick is a graduate of University of Alabama School of Medicine and completed his General Surgical Residency at the Graduate Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania before entering the Cardiothoracic Residency at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

profile photo of

Elizabeth Novick RN, BSN

TREASURER, SOCIAL MEDIA DIRECTOR

Elizabeth.Novick@cardiac.alliance.org

Elizabeth Novick is married to Founder, William Novick. She worked as a pediatric cardiac intensive care unit nurse for 15 years in the United States and in Low and Middle Income Countries. Dr. Novick and Elizabeth have 2 children together. Elizabeth is a full-time mother and manages the social media exposure for Novick Cardiac Alliance.

female doctor wearing

Stacey D. Marr RN, NP, MSc

PICU NURSE PRACTITIONER AND EDUCATOR

Stacey.Marr@cardiac-alliance.org

Stacey is a Paediatric Nurse Practitioner specializing in PICU. Stacey initially qualified as a nurse in 1994 and has since completed a higher diploma in Children’s Nursing, a BSc in Paediatric intensive care (PICU) a MSc in Strategic Leadership and Clinical Expertise and a PG CERT in Clinical education. In the last 20 years Stacey has worked in Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, the Evelina London Children’s Hospital and has dedicated much of her time to working on projects in Low and Middle Income Countries

portrait photo of

Dr Marcelo Cardarelli MD, MPH

PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL CARDIAC SURGEON

Marcelo.Cardarelli@cardiac-alliance.org

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and graduated from University of Buenos Aires. Completed his original training in cardiac surgery in Argentina, with fellowships at Texas Heart Institute, Children Hospital of Philadelphia and Boston Children Hospital. Currently working at Inova Children Hospital in Virginia, USA. Currently, Dr Cardarelli volunteers as a surgeon on our trips and he’s in charge of the Foundation research initiatives. He commented:

“I feel so incredibly lucky that I get to work with truly talented people from all over the world, travel to places I only dreamt of and on top of it produce valuable research about our work.”

profile photo of

Kathleen Fenton MD

PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL CARDIAC SURGEON

Kathleen.Fenton@cardiac-alliance.org

A native of Silver Spring, Maryland, Dr. Kathleen Fenton completed her undergraduate studies at Johns Hopkins University and earned her medical degree cum laude at University of Maryland.

She did her residency in general surgery at the University of Louisville, during which took two years’ sabbatical to do full time research in fetal cardiac surgery with Dr. Frank Hanley.

closeup photo of

Humberto Rodriguez-Saldana MD

PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL CARDIAC SURGEON

Humberto.Rodriguezs@cardiac-alliance.org

Dr. Rodriguez Graduated from Universidad Autonomy de Nuevo Leon, Mexico in 1989 and following this completed 1 year of social service medical practice. He completed his general surgery residency at Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social in Monterrey in 1994. He then went on to complete his cardiothoracic surgical training at Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social in 1997 and completed a Congenital Cardiac Surgical Fellowship at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis TN.

profile photo of

Jean Towne

DIRECTOR OF LOGISTICS

Jean.Towne@cardiac-alliance.org

Jean began working with Dr. Novick at the International Children’s Heart Foundation in 2010 as Medical Team Coordinator. She has worked as Special Events Coordinator for the National Kidney Foundation of West Tennessee and Marketing Manager with Memphis magazine and a newspaper publisher, Contemporary Media, Inc.Jean is a native Memphian and enjoys spending time with her husband, Richard, and two young children.She is an avid bibliophile and averages 52 books per year (though she is not necessarily proud of all of them).Jean has worked as Director of Logistics with The Novick Cardiac Alliance since its inception.

closeup photo of

Frank Molloy RN, NP, MSc

PICU NURSE PRACTITIONER AND EDUCATOR

Frank.Molloy@cardiac-alliance.org

Frank qualified as a Paediatric RN in Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, London, UK 1987. He has subsequently gained 27 years of experience in acute Pediatric Cardiac care. In 2004 Frank completed a Masters degree in Paediatric Intensive Care (Advanced Nursing Practice) at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College University of London. Frank worked full time for the organisation for many years and has participated multiple volunteer trips to multiple destinations worldwide. He is currently working in Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children as a Cardiac ICU Nurse Practitioner and volunteers when possible.

profile photo of

Karen Bowtell RN, PGDip

PICU CLINICAL EDUCATOR

Karen.Bowtwell@cardiac-alliance.org

Karen Bowtell is a Registered Nurse and Clinical Educator. She gained her nursing degree in 1995 from Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane Australia. She then went on to complete a Post Graduate Diploma in Pediatric Intensive care at University of Melbourne, Australia.

profile photo of

Martina Pavanic RN, BSc

NURSING DIRECTOR OPERATING ROOM

Martina.Pavanic@cardiac-alliance.org

Martina has over 24 years’ experience working as an operating room nurse, specializing in pediatric cardiac OR . She received a Nursing Diploma at the Mlinarska Nursing School, Zagreb, Croatia in 1996 and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at University of Memphis, Loewenberg School of Nursing in 2015. She received her training in the operating room at hospital Rebro, KBC Zagreb between 1996-2000. Martina has dedicated her career to improving the care that children with heart disease receive in Low and Middle Income Countries.

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Pavel Shauchenka MD

PEDIATRIC CARDIAC INTENSIVIST

pavel.shauchenka@cardiac-alliance.org

male doctor holding

Evgeni Suslin MD

PEDIATRIC CARDIAC INTENSIVIST

Evgeni.Suslin@cardiac-alliance.org

Eugene is dual certified as a Pediatric Intensivist and Pediatric Anesthesiologist. He graduated from the Belarusian State Medical University in 2001 and then went onto complete two fellowships in Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care at the Christian-Albrechts-University, Kiel and the Polsko-Americansky Institute of Pediatrics.

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Siarhei Liauchonak MD

PEDIATRIC CARDIAC ANESTHESIOLOGIST

siarhei.liauchonak@cardiac-alliance.org

male doctor wearing

Dr Sri Rao MD

PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGIST, INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGIST DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR

Sri.Rao@cardiac-alliance.org

Sri became involved with international medical work during his pediatric residency in New York City. This continued throughout his pediatric cardiology fellowship where he first worked with Dr. Novick at the International Childrens Heart Foundation in 2004. Sri has continued working with Novick Cardiac Alliance and travels whenever possible and is on the Clinical Management team.

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David Weiduwilt BME, CE

BIOMEDICAL ENGINEER

David.Weiduwilt@cardiac-alliance.org

male doctor wearing

Igor Polivenok MD, PhD

INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGIST

Igor.Polivenok@Cardiac.alliance.org

Igor graduated from medical school in 1993 and completed his residency and fellowships in Cardiology and Cardiac Intensive care at the National Institute of General and Urgent Surgery, Kharkov Ukraine. In 2004 Igor became Chief of Cardiac Surgery and Emergent Cardiology in the National Institute of General and Urgent Surgery, Kharkov Ukraine where he continues to lead the department.

female doctor holding

Farzana Shah NP, MSc

PICU CLINICAL EDUCATOR

Farzana.Shah@cardiac.alliance.org

Farzana completed her nursing degree at Drexel University and has worked in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia since 2008. Farzana began working with Dr. Novick at the International Children’s Heart Foundation in 2012. Farzana has led teams in Iraq and Ecuador and she is dedicated in bringing quality cardiac care to children in Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC).

male doctor with

Brian Forsberg MPH, CCP, FPP

CHIEF PERFUSIONIST

Brian.Forsberg@cardiac-alliance.org

Brian is a graduate of Drexel University with a Bachelor of Science in Perfusion Technology (2005) and The University of Oklahoma with a Master of Public Health (2010). Brian is board certified in Cardiovascular Perfusion by the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (2006) and has received Fellowship in Pediatric Perfusion from American Society of Extracorporeal Technology (2014).

male doctor wearing

Matthew Norridge RNC, MSc

EDUCATION CONSULTANT

Matt.Norridge@cardiac.alliance.org

Matt qualified as an RN (Child) at King’s College London in 2000. His professional background is in Paediatric Intensive Care (PICU) and Paediatric Cardiac Intensive Care. During his 14 years experience in PICU, Matt has undertaken varied roles, including Charge Nurse and South Thames Retrieval Service Co-ordinator. In 2012, Matt completed a Master’s degree in Advanced Nursing Practice with a focus on Education.

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Iftikhar Ahmed MD, MBBS, FPCS

PEDIATRIC CARDIAC ANESTHESIOLOGIST AND INTENSIVIST
cardiac alliance

Our Staff

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Igor Polivenok MD PHD

INTERVENTIONAL CARDIOLOGIST

Igor graduated from medical school in 1993 and completed his residency and fellowships in Cardiology and Cardiac Intensive care at the National Institute of General and Urgent Surgery, Kharkov Ukraine. In 2004 Igor became Chief of Cardiac Surgery and Emergent Cardiology in the National Institute of General and Urgent Surgery, Kharkov Ukraine where he continues to lead the department.

closeup photo of

Humberto Rodriguez-Saldana MD

PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL CARDIAC SURGEON

Dr. Rodriguez Graduated from Universidad Autonomy de Nuevo Leon, Mexico in 1989 and following this completed 1 year of social service medical practice. He completed his general surgery residency at Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social in Monterrey in 1994. He then went on to complete his cardiothoracic surgical training at Instituto Mexicano del Seguro Social in 1997 and completed a Congenital Cardiac Surgical Fellowship at LeBonheur Children’s Hospital in Memphis TN.

photo of a

Farzana Shah BSN RN

PICU CLINICAL EDUCATOR

Farzana completed her nursing degree at Drexel University and has worked in the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia since 2008. Farzana began working with Dr. Novick at the International Children’s Heart Foundation in 2012. Farzana has led teams in Iraq and Ecuador and she is dedicated in bringing quality cardiac care to children in Low-and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC).

closeup photo of

Frank Molloy MSC RN ANP

CLINICAL NURSE SPECIALIST AND EDUCATOR

Frank qualified as a Paediatric RN in Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, London, UK 1987. He has subsequently gained 27 years of experience in acute Pediatric Cardiac care. In 2004 Frank completed a Masters degree in Paediatric Intensive Care (Advanced Nursing Practice) at the National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College University of London.

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Artem Pershai MD

PEDIATRIC INTENSIVIST AND ANAESTHESIOLOGIST
artem.pershai@cardiac-alliance.org

Dr Artem “Archi” Pershai graduated from Belarusian State Medical University in 2015, and is dual trained as a Pediatric Cardiac Intensivist and Anesthesiologist. After qualifying in the Belarusian National Pediatric Heart Centre. Throughout his training and after qualifying Artem volunteered regularly with Novick Cardiac Alliance and in 2018 he decided to take a staff position with the organization. Artem wants to dedicate his professional career to educating and saving lives around the globe.

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Dr Vitaly Dedovich MD

PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL CARDIAC SURGEON
vitaly.dedovich@cardiac-alliance.org

Dr. Vitaly Dedovich, MD, graduated from the Belarusian State Medical University in 2002 and completed his training in Pediatric General and Cardiac Surgery in Belarusian Pediatric Surgical Centre, followed by fellowship in Christian-Albrecht-University, Kiel, Germany. In 2011-2017 he was chief of the Department of the Congenital Heart Surgery at the Belarusian Cardiac Centre. Vitaly joined NCA staff in January, 2018 and now works full time sharing his knowledge and skill with colleagues in Low and Middle Income Countries.

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Dr William Novick MD, MS

CEO, CMO SENIOR PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL CARDIAC SURGEON
bill.novick@cardiac-alliance.org

Dr Novick is a graduate of University of Alabama School of Medicine and completed his General Surgical Residency at the Graduate Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania before entering the Cardiothoracic Residency at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

profile photo of

Jean Towne

DIRECTOR OF LOGISTICS
jean.towne@cardiac-alliance.org

Jean began working with Dr. Novick at the International Children’s Heart Foundation in 2010 as Medical Team Coordinator. She has worked as Special Events Coordinator for the National Kidney Foundation of West Tennessee and Marketing Manager with Memphis magazine and a newspaper publisher, Contemporary Media, Inc.Jean is a native Memphian and enjoys spending time with her husband, Richard, and two young children.She is an avid bibliophile and averages 52 books per year (though she is not necessarily proud of all of them).Jean has worked as Director of Logistics with The Novick Cardiac Alliance since its inception.

photo of lauren

Lauren Gardiner RN, BSc

PICU CLINICAL EDUCATOR
lauren.gardiner@cardiac-alliance.org

Lauren Gardiner is a Registered Nurse and Clinical Educator. She graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing Sciences from James Cook University, Australia in 2004. She then went on to complete a Graduate Certificate in Adult Critical Care Nursing in 2008, and a Graduate Diploma in Paediatric Intensive Care Nursing at the University of Melbourne in 2014.

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Lazo Eremija

SENIOR PEDIATRIC PERFUSIONIST
lazo.eremija@cardiac-alliance.org

Lazo made his first volunteer trip with Dr. Novick in 2000 to Peru. Lazo graduated with a Certificate of perfusion from Westminster Biomedical College for Biomedical Technology, London in 1997. He completed his training in Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children London UK. He attended High Medical school Belgrade in 2009 and is a member of EBCP. From 2010 until 2012 Lazo worked as international staff at Salm Centar for Cardiac Surgery Khartoum Sudan and was Chief Perfusionist at the Institute for Mother and Child Novi Belgrade from 1995 until 2012. Lazo has travelled exclusively with Novick Cardiac Alliance since 2014 sharing his knowledge and skills with teams in several countries.

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Martina Pavanic RN, BSc

NURSING DIRECTOR OPERATING ROOM
martina.pavanic@cardiac-alliance.org

Martina has over 24 years’ experience working as an operating room nurse, specializing in Pediatric Cardiac OR . She received a Nursing Diploma at the Mlinarska Nursing School, Zagreb, Croatia in 1996 and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at University of Memphis, Loewenberg School of Nursing in 2015. She received her training in the operating room at hospital Rebro, KBC Zagreb between 1996-2000. Martina has dedicated her career to improving the care that children with heart disease receive in Low and Middle Income Countries.

profile photo of

Stacey D Marr RN, NP, MSc

PICU NURSE PRACTITIONER AND EDUCATOR
stacey.marr@cardiac-alliance.org

Stacey is a Paediatric Nurse Practitioner specializing in PICU. Stacey initially qualified as a nurse in 1994 and has since completed a higher diploma in Children’s Nursing, a BSc in Paediatric Intensive Care (PICU) a MSc in Strategic Leadership and Clinical Expertise and a PG CERT in Clinical Education. In the last 20 years Stacey has worked in Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, the Evelina London Children’s Hospital and has dedicated much of her time to working on projects in Low and Middle Income Countries.

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Donald Fitzgerald

INVENTORY SPECIALIST
donald.fitzgerald@cardiac-alliance.org

Don Fitzgerald is the Inventory Specialist at NCA and has been with us since the beginning. Donald formerly was the Chief Inventory Specialist at the ICHF but joined NCA when it was chartered. Donald manages all incoming material donations and packs all outgoing supplies and pallet shipments that we make on our trips.

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Ali Dodge-Khatami MD, PhD

Professor of Surgery

Dr. Ali Dodge-Khatami graduated from medical school (1991) and completed his cardiovascular surgery training in Switzerland (1998). His congenital heart surgical fellowships were in Chicago (1998-99) at Children’s Memorial Hospital, and in London, UK (1999-2000) at Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children.

Dr. Dodge-Khatami has served on the cardiac surgical faculty positions in the Netherlands, Switzerland, and Germany where he was Head of Program in Hamburg, Germany (2008-2012). Dr. Dodge-Khatami moved to the United States in 2012, and has worked at the University of Mississippi, Houston, Herman Memorial Children’s in Houston, Texas, and Chief at Cohen Children’s Medical Center in New York. He speaks fluent English, French and German, and is proficient in Persian, Dutch and Spanish.

His involvement with The Novick Cardiac Alliance and dedication to promoting congenital heart surgery in Low- and Middle-Income Countries dates from 2008.

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Major General (R ) Prof Dr Iftikhar Ahmed

CONSULTANT PEDIATRIC CARDIAC ANESTHESIOLOGIST AND INTENSIVIST

Iftikhar is currently Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Bahria International Hospital Lahore Pakistan and Head of Department of Anesthesiology and Intensive Care Unit (ICU). Iftikhar was previously the Head of Department of Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiology and Intensive Care at the Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology and National Institute of heart diseases, Rawalpindi, Pakistan. Awarded a Fellowship Certification from the University of Tennessee in Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesia and Intensive Care. He developed a specialised Cardiac Intensive Care Course for Nurses which is accredited in the National University of Medical Sciences. He has been involved in initiating the Liver transplant programme in the Armed Forces hospital in Rawalpindi and a civilian site in Lahore. He is involved in research and has co-authored a book for use in Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care. Iftikhar is one of the co-founders of Cardiac Alliance and has volunteered his time to travel internationally with the team since 2010.

Jack Cornell, RRT

Respiratory Therapist
jack.cornell@cardiac-alliance.org

Jack completed his Associate of Science degree in Respiratory Care at Sandhills Community College in 1978. Jack has more than 30 years experience working in pediatric critical care and has specialized in cardiac care at Duke University Medical Center for the last 22 years.

Jack began volunteering with Dr. Novick and his team at the International Children’s Heart Foundation in 2008 and has volunteered in several countries over the years. Jack has been with the Novick Cardiac Alliance since its inception.

Jack is a member of the American Association for Respiratory Care, an Advanced Care Provider and is ECMO certified. He is also Co-Director of Camp Kaleidoscope, a summer camp for patients of Duke Childrens.

Alex Golovenko, MD, PhD

Pediatric Cardiac Surgeon, Affiliation: 1. Novick Cardiac Alliance (Memphis, TN, USA) 2. Amosov National Institute of Cardiovascular Surgery (Kyiv, Ukraine)

Alex has been a member of Novick Cardiac Alliance since 2018 and has provided pediatric cardiac surgery in Libya (Tobruk, Benghazi and Tripoli), Iraq (Basra), Democratic Republic of Congo (Lubumbashi). Alex is an accomplished statistician as well as pediatric cardiac surgeon and his special area of research is in pulmonary hypertension in congenital heart disease.

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Artem Pershai MD

Pediatric intensivist and Anaesthesiologist

artem.pershai@cardiac-alliance.org

Dr Artem “Archi” Pershai graduated from Belarusian State Medical University in 2015, and is dual trained as a pediatric cardiac intensivist and anesthesiologist. After qualifying in the Belarusian National Pediatric Heart Centre. Throughout his training and after qualifying Artem volunteered regularly with Novick Cardiac Alliance and in 2018 he decided to take a staff position with the organization. Artem wants to dedicate his professional career to educating and saving lives around the globe..

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Dr Vitaly Dedovich MD

PEDIATRIC AND CONGENITAL CARDIAC SURGEON

vitaly.dedovich@cardiac-alliance.org

Dr. Vitaly Dedovich, MD, graduated from the Belarusian state medical university in 2002 and completed his training in pediatric general and cardiac surgery in Belarusian Pediatric surgical centre, followed by fellowship in Christian-Albrecht-University, Kiel, Germany. In 2011-2017 he was chief of the department of the congenital heart surgery at the Belarusian cardiac centre. Vitaly joined NCA staff in January, 2018 and now works full time sharing his knowledge and skill with colleagues in Low and Middle Income Countries.

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Dr William Novick MD, MS

CEO, CMO Senior Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgeon

Bill.Novick@cardiac-alliance.org

Dr Novick is a graduate of University of Alabama School of Medicine and completed his General Surgical Residency at the Graduate Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania before entering the Cardiothoracic Residency at the University of Alabama in Birmingham.

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Jean Towne

Director of Logistics

Jean.Towne@cardiac-alliance.org

Jean began working with Dr. Novick at the International Children’s Heart Foundation in 2010 as Medical Team Coordinator. She has worked as Special Events Coordinator for the National Kidney Foundation of West Tennessee and Marketing Manager with Memphis magazine and a newspaper publisher, Contemporary Media, Inc.Jean is a native Memphian and enjoys spending time with her husband, Richard, and two young children.She is an avid bibliophile and averages 52 books per year (though she is not necessarily proud of all of them).Jean has worked as Director of Logistics with The Novick Cardiac Alliance since its inception.

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Lauren Gardiner RN, BSc

PICU Clinical Educator

lauren.gardiner@cardiac-alliance.org

Lauren Gardiner is a Registered Nurse and Clinical Educator. She graduated with a Bachelor of Nursing Sciences from James Cook University, Australia in 2004. She then went on to complete a Graduate Certificate in Adult Critical Care Nursing in 2008, and a Graduate Diploma in Paediatric Intensive Care Nursing at the University of Melbourne in 2014

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Lazo Eremija

Senior Pediatric Perfusionist

lazo.eremija@cardiac-alliance.org

Lazo made his first volunteer trip with Dr. Novick in 2000 to Peru. Lazo graduated with a Certificate of perfusion from Westminster Biomedical College for Biomedical Technology, London in 1997. He completed his training in Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children London UK. He attended High Medical school Belgrade in 2009 and is a member of EBCP. From 2010 until 2012 Lazo worked as international staff at Salm Centar for Cardiac Surgery Khartoum Sudan and was Chief Perfusionist at the Institute for Mother and Child Novi Belgrade from 1995 until 2012. Lazo has travelled exclusively with Novick Cardiac Alliance since 2014 sharing his knowledge and skills with teams in several countries.

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Martina Pavanic RN, BSc

Nursing Director Operating Room

Martina.Pavanic@cardiac-alliance.org

Martina has over 24 years’ experience working as an operating room nurse, specializing in pediatric cardiac OR. She received a Nursing Diploma at the Mlinarska Nursing School, Zagreb, Croatia in 1996 and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at University of Memphis, Loewenberg School of Nursing in 2015. She received her training in the operating room at hospital Rebro, KBC Zagreb between 1996-2000. Martina has dedicated her career to improving the care that children with heart disease receive in Low and Middle Income Countries.

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Stacey D Marr RN, NP, MSc

PICU Nurse Practitioner and Educator

Stacey.Marr@cardiac-alliance.org

Stacey is a Paediatric Nurse Practitioner specializing in PICU. Stacey initially qualified as a nurse in 1994 and has since completed a higher diploma in Children’s Nursing, a BSc in Paediatric intensive care (PICU) a MSc in Strategic Leadership and Clinical Expertise and a PG CERT in Clinical education. In the last 20 years Stacey has worked in Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, the Evelina London Children’s Hospital and has dedicated much of her time to working on projects in Low and Middle Income Countries

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Donald Fitzgerald

INVENTORY SPECIALIST

donald.fitzgerald@cardiac-alliance.org

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Ali Dodge-Khatami MD, PhD

PEDIATRIC CARDIAC SURGEON (CONSULTANT)
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Martina Pavanic RN, BSc

Nursing Director Operating Room

Martina has over 24 years’ experience working as an operating room nurse, specializing in pediatric cardiac OR. She received a Nursing Diploma at the Mlinarska Nursing School, Zagreb, Croatia in 1996 and completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing at University of Memphis, Loewenberg School of Nursing in 2015. She received her training in the operating room at hospital Rebro, KBC Zagreb between 1996-2000. Martina has dedicated her career to improving the care that children with heart disease receive in Low and Middle Income Countries.

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Stacey D Marr RN, NP, MSc

PICU Nurse Practitioner and Educator

Stacey is a Paediatric Nurse Practitioner specializing in PICU. Stacey initially qualified as a nurse in 1994 and has since completed a higher diploma in Children’s Nursing, a BSc in Paediatric intensive care (PICU) a MSc in Strategic Leadership and Clinical Expertise and a PG CERT in Clinical education. In the last 20 years Stacey has worked in Great Ormond Street Children’s Hospital, the Evelina London Children’s Hospital and has dedicated much of her time to working on projects in Low and Middle Income Countries

cardiac alliance
Founding Board

William M. Novick MD, MS

Medical Director: CEO Senior Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgeon

Marcelo Cardarelli MD, MPH

Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgeon

Kathleen Fenton MD

Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgeon

Humberto Rodriguez-Saldana MD

Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgeon

Jean Towne

Director of Logistics

Elizabeth Novick RN, BSN

Social Media

Frank Molloy NP, MSc

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Stacey D. Marr NP, MSc

Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Karen Bowtell RN, PGDip

PICU Clinical Educator

Martina Pavanic RN, BSN

Director OR Nursing

Pavel Shauchenka MD

Pediatric Cardiac Intensivist

Evgeni Suslin MD

Pediatric Cardiac Intensivist

Siarhei Liauchonak MD

Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiologist

Sri O. Rao MD

Pediatric Cardiologist

David Weiduwilt BME,CE

Biomedical Engineer

Igor Polivenok MD, PhD

Interventional Cardiologist

Farzana Shah NP, MSc

PICU Clinical Educator

Brian Forsberg MPH, CCP, FPP

Chief Perfusionist

Matthew Norridge RNC, MSc

Education Consultant

Iftikhar Ahmed MD, MBBS, FPCS

Pediatric Cardiac Anesthesiologist / Intensivist

Jack Cornell, RRT

Respiratory Therapist