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Jim Meza started his tenure as the Kirklin/Ashburn Fellow in July of 2015. He grew up in the suburbs of Detroit, Michigan and decided to pursue medicine as a career after shadowing a local pediatric surgeon as a senior in high school. He attended Princeton University and received a degree in Molecular Biology in 2008. At Princeton, he spent time in the lab of Dr. Tom Silhavy studying transcription regulation in E. coli for his senior thesis and volunteering as medical interpreter at a local pediatric clinic. Jim then enrolled at the University of Michigan Medical School, where he developed an interest in cardiothoracic surgery under the mentorship of Dr. Rishi Reddy and Steve Bolling, with special interest in congenital heart surgery. With Dr. Reddy, he investigated medical student and resident interest in the cardiothoracic surgery, which resulted in several presentations and publications.

Jim then matched into the general surgery residency at Duke University Hospital in 2012, where his interest in congenital heart surgery continued, under the mentorship of Dr. Jake Jaquiss. Following the first two years of junior residency, Jim then spent one year as fellow at the Duke Clinical Research Institute, with primary interests in outcomes research and mechanical circulatory support for acute, refractory cardiogenic shock, and has worked with Dr. Mani Daneshmand to establish Duke's ECMO Database and outcomes research group. His time at the DCRI has also allowed him to be involved in several analyses within the STS Congenital Heart Surgery Database, as well under Dr. Kevin Hill.

As the fellow at the Data Center, Jim looks forward to his immersion in congenital heart surgery and longitudinal data analysis. The ability to interact with and learn from the CHSS membership is a very rich opportunity. He aims to contribute insightful original analyses to the field. After finishing his term as the fellow in Toronto, he will return to Duke to finish residency and then pursue clinical training in cardiothoracic and congenital heart surgery.

Jim's interests outside of surgery include spending time with family and friends, particularly his younger brother when their schedules align, and with his girlfriend. He is an avid fan of college football, particularly of the Michigan Wolverines. He also enjoys reading, particularly non-fiction, and long meals with good conversation. He is especially grateful to his girlfriend and family, for their unflinching support of him and his career during his two years at the CHSS Data Center.

Publications

Meza J, McCrindle BW, Blackstone EH, Caldarone CA, Williams WG, DeCampli WM. CHSS Kirklin/Ashburn Fellowship: Legacy and Promise
https://www.ctsnet.org/article/chss-kirklinashburn-fellowship-legacy-and-promise