Danielle Massarella, MD

Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital

In medical school, a single course or teacher can make all the difference. For Danielle Massarella it was her first semester gross anatomy class at Medical University of the Americas.

A native of Toronto, Danielle received her Hons. BSc. in Biology & Psychology from York University. She excelled throughout all ten semesters at MUA and was the recipient of the Dean of Clinical Medicine Award at her graduation in 2013. MUA’s five semesters of core and elective clinical rotations made a big difference. “After my clinicals I felt so well prepared and comfortable. I really had excellent training.” It was her experience in MUA’s first semester gross anatomy class that had the biggest impact. She drew particular inspiration from her anatomy professor who inspired her to pursue a specialty in cardiology. While in his class she served as a teaching assistant, conducting weekly TA sessions and preparing mock lab exams in the cadaver lab.

Danielle went on to pursue a 3-year residency in pediatrics at Case Western Reserve University/Metrohealth Medical Center where she was selected “resident of the month.” She is now in a 3-year Pediatric Cardiology Fellowship Program at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland. “I am in a tertiary care pediatric hospital doing many different procedures, including for example surgical interventions of congenital heart disease in newborn babies. I hope to do community medicine with an academic institution after my fellowship is done. I don’t anticipate I will be getting those 3 AM calls anymore!”