CONSULTING CARDIOLOGISTS - Key Persons
Dr. Padegimas grew up in Woodbridge, Connecticut. She attended Yale University where she majored in Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology. She attended medical school in St. Louis at Washington University School of Medicine. She returned to the east coast to complete an Internal Medicine residency at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, PA. She remained there to do her Cardiovascular fellowship, serve as chief fellow, and complete additional fellowships in Cardio-Oncology and Advanced Echocardiography.
She shares, "I enjoy cardiology because it is a field that provides varied approaches to improving patient symptoms and survival. The heart is vitally important, not only to ensuring that people feel their best and most energetic selves, but also that they are around to enjoy life's precious moments with their families. Heart disease also affects everyone - all races, ages, incomes, and genders, and I enjoy getting to work with a diverse patient population."
Dr. Padegimas provides care across the cardiology spectrum. She has a special interest in cardio-oncology. Cardio-oncology is a growing field that allows us to protect patients' cardiovascular health so that they are able to complete aggressive chemotherapy without having their cancer treatments limited by cardiac toxicities, and also helps cancer survivors remain healthy long into their follow-up.
She also has an interest in general cardiovascular disease in women. She believes that while there are some similarities between women's and men's general cardiovascular disease processes, there are also some very marked differences.
Dr. Padegimas is a specialist in cardio-oncology which involves focusing on the detection, monitoring, and treatment of cardiovascular disease occurring as a side effect of chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
Amanda knew from a young age that she wanted to work in the medical field. She has always had a love for science, wellness, and helping others. While at Union College, she discovered her passion for being a physician assistant. After graduating from Union, she went on to receive her Master of Physician Assistant Studies at University of Medicine and Dentistry (UMDNJ)/ Seton Hall University in New Jersey. Amanda worked in New Jersey for two years in Internal Medicine before moving back home to the Boston area. She worked at Brigham and Women's Hospital on the hospitalist service for six years. In 2010, she relocated to Connecticut with her husband (a Cheshire, CT native) and her two children. She has been with Consulting Cardiologists since 2010, primarily working on the inpatient team at Hartford Hospital and now recently transitioning to the outpatient setting in Wallingford.
Amanda passionately believes in a holistic approach to health. In addition to her physician assistant role, she is a trained mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) instructor through the University of Massachusetts Medical Center and a Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC) teacher. Amanda offers a variety of classes, retreats, speaking engagements, and also does private wellness coaching.
Education
Bachelor of Science, Union College, Schenectady, NY
Master of Science, Physician Assistant, University of Medicine & Dentistry/ Seton Hall University, South Orange, NJ
Board Certification
National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
Amanda is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of California, Davis, where she received her Bachelor of Science degree in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior. During her studies, she also played Division 1 soccer, where she was a 4-year starter and was the captain of her team for 2½ years. After college, she attended Yale School of Medicine where she received her Master of Medical Science degree in their Physician Associate Program. Her master's thesis was titled, "Cardiac Rehabilitation Adherence Rates in Elderly Patients Using a Mobile Application."
She was pleased to join Consulting Cardiologists in early 2023.
Dr. Feingold grew up in Long Island, New York. He graduated from Tufts University in 1995 as a biology major. During his freshman year at Tufts he became fascinated by the study of cardiac physiology, which led him to pursue a medical career. He went on from Tufts to attend medical school at the SUNY Health Science Center College of Medicine in Syracuse, graduating in 1999. He returned to Tufts to complete his residency in Internal Medicine at Tufts-New England Medical Center. His cardiovascular training included fellowships at Tufts-New England Medical Center in Congestive Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant and the University of Massachusetts Medical Center in General Cardiology.
He currently serves as the director of the Consulting Cardiologists Echo Lab and as the Medical Director of Cardiac Transplant at Hartford Hospital. He welcomes seeing patients in the full spectrum of cardiology issues in the Avon, Hartford, and Glastonbury office locations.
Education
Undergraduate: Tufts University, Medford, MA
Medical School: SUNY Health Science Center College of Medicine, Syracuse, NY
Residency: Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA, Congestive Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant
University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worchester, MA, Cardiology Fellowship
Dr. Zain Ahmed is an interventional cardiologist who specializes in coronary and peripheral vascular interventions. He is a native of central Connecticut who completed his education and training at top ranked institutions throughout the nation and is excited to return home to serve his community.
Dr. Ahmed completed his pre-medical studies at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia where he graduated summa cum laude (highest honors) and was the sole recipient of the Marion Brittain Luther Award, considered the university's highest student honor. He then was one of only 32 medical students to be accepted into an innovative medical school designed to train physician investigators at the Cleveland Clinic program of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio where he received a full tuition scholarship. During medical school, he was selected for a prestigious medical research fellowship at Harvard Medical School in Boston, Massachusetts to conduct research in heart transplantation. After graduating with a MD with "Special Qualifications in Biomedical Research," he subsequently completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island where he was selected to be a part of the Clinician Educator track.
Dr. Ahmed then returned to his home state of Connecticut to complete his clinical fellowship training at Yale School of Medicine and Yale New Haven Health. He ultimately completed three cardiology fellowships at Yale in the areas of Cardiovascular Medicine, Advanced Interventional Cardiology-Peripheral Vascular & Endovascular Interventions, and Interventional Cardiology.
In addition to his medical doctorate, Dr. Ahmed also has multiple master's degrees including a Master of Science (MS) degree in Biomedical Investigation as part of the Clinical Research Scholars program at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine and a Master of Public Health (MPH) in Clinical Epidemiology from Harvard School of Public Health.
He has published numerous manuscripts and written book chapters on topics including coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, heart failure, and heart transplantation. He has been awarded multiple research grants during his training including National Institutes of Health, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, American Heart Association, and American Medical Association. He has a passion for patient care, clinical research, teaching, and humanitarian trips.
As an interventional cardiologist, Dr. Ahmed focuses on diagnosing and treating cardiovascular disease and peripheral vascular disease through catheter-based procedures, such as balloon angioplasty and stenting, in addition to providing general cardiovascular care.
Dr. Ahmed will see patients at Consulting Cardiologists starting in late August of 2022. He will see patients in Glastonbury, Middletown, and Wallingford. He will perform interventional procedures primarily at Hartford Hospital. He also will round on patients at Midstate Hospital. Dr. Ahmed cares for patients of all backgrounds but is also fluent in Urdu/Hindi and proficient in Spanish.
Dr. Spivack was born in Brooklyn and raised in Queens, New York. He attended the State University of New York at Stony Brook, obtaining a Bachelor of Science in Biology and earned his medical degree from New York Medical College in 1981. He completed his internship, medical residency, and cardiovascular fellowship at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York, NY.
Dr. Spivack has been practicing in the Meriden and Wallingford communities since 1986. Over the years he has held cardiology leadership positions at Meriden-Wallingford Hospital, Veterans Memorial Medical Center, and continues to do so at MidState Medical Center.
He lives in Hamden with his wife Linda, a nurse executive who has been a Vice President of Nursing at MidState Medical Center and Hartford Hospital, and is currently the Assistant Vice President of Nursing at the Jack Weiler Hospital at Montefiore Medical Center. They have two children. Their daughter Marla is a Research Fellow at the Center for International Development at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, and their son Jeffrey works for an independent film production company in New York City.
Education
Medical School: New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York
Residency: Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY
Fellowship: Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY
Board Certification
Dr. Spivack is a sports fan of the hometown teams of his youth (owning a pair of seats from Shea Stadium).
Job Titles:
- Medical Institute Medical Research Fellowship at Harvard Medical School, 5 / 2012
Dr. Walden grew up in Central New Jersey. He graduated from University of Michigan ('91) as an electrical engineer and computer science major. Along the way, he discovered that medicine was his passion and also pursued a path into medical school. He is a 1995 graduate of New York University Medical Center. He completed his cardiovascular fellowship at New York Presbyterian Hospital, Cornell Medical Center in New York City.
Dr. Walden joined Consulting Cardiologists and has been practicing in Hartford since 2001. He is honored to be consistently recognized as a "Best" and "Top Doctor" by Hartford and Connecticut Magazine for over a decade. He prides himself on taking time to get to know each patient and creating a personalized treatment plan.
Education
Undergraduate: BSE in Electrical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Medical School: New York University Medical Center, New York, NY
Residency: New York Hospital, Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY
Cardiovascular Fellowship: New York Presbyterian Hospital, Cornell Medical Center, New York, NY
Board Certification
Johanna attended Stonehill College with the intention of a career in elementary education but soon realized her true passion was in science and medicine. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, then went on to attend the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/ Rutgers University and graduated with a Master of Science, Physician Assistant degree in 2001. Johanna relocated to Boston to work in Interventional Cardiology at Tufts Medical Center for many years but eventually settled back in her home state of Connecticut.
In 2008, she joined Consulting Cardiologists and currently works on the in-hospital team for the practice. Johanna enjoys educating patients on positive changes they can make in their lives to aid in recovery and well-being, such as nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle modifications.
Education
Bachelor of Science, Stonehill College, North Easton, MA
Master of Science, Physician Assistant, University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey/ Rutgers University, Edison, NJ
Board Certification
National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants
Dr. Granquist is a 2000 graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. His cardiovascular fellowship was completed at Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA. His areas of interest include atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, stress testing, echocardiography, hypertension, lipid management, syncope, valvular heart disease, heart transplantation.
Education
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
Residency: Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
Fellowship: Tufts-New England Medical Center, Boston, MA
Board Certification
Dr. Dinkler completed his undergraduate studies in the sunny state of California, earning a Bachelor of Science in Biology from UC Davis. He obtained a dual MD/MPH at Boston University and then stayed in Boston for his internal medicine residency at the Brigham and Women's Hospital. The Golden State beckoned his return for a cardiology fellowship, where he trained at UCLA and also did advanced research in Health Policy, obtaining a PhD at UCLA's Fielding School of Public Health.
In addition to caring for patients in the office, Dr. Dinkler enjoys performing transesophageal echocardiograms and cardioversions (specialized procedures to evaluate the heart and restore a normal rhythm). Dr. Dinkler cares for people of all backgrounds and is (mostly) fluent in Spanish.
Education
Undergraduate: University of California, Davis, CA
Medical School: Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
Dr. Tally is a 1998 graduate of the University of Massachusetts Medical School. He completed his cardiovascular fellowship at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire.
Education
Undergraduate: Brown University, Providence, RI
Medical School: University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA
Residency: Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
Fellowship: Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, NH
Board Certification
Dr. Dougherty is a 2008 graduate of Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA. He completed his cardiovascular fellowship at Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA.
Education
Undergraduate: Middlebury College, Middlebury, VT
Medical School: Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA
Dr. Lee was born in New York City and attended Horace Mann School before graduating magna cum laude from Columbia College. He is a 2006 graduate of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY. He completed his cardiovascular fellowship at North Shore-LIJ Health System in Manhasset, NY. He has been with Consulting Cardiologists since 2012. He has won numerous awards from Hartford and Connecticut Magazines.
Education
Undergraduate: Columbia College, Columbia University, New York, NY
Medical School: Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, New York, NY
Residency: Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA Fellowship: North Shore-LIJ Health System, Manhasset, NY
Board Certification
Michael King grew up in Connecticut. He completed his physician assistant training at Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts. He spent the next 14 years at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. He has since moved back to the area. Michael was happy to join Consulting Cardiologists in 2018.
Education
Bachelor of Arts, Providence College, Providence, RI
Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies, Northeastern University, Boston, MA
Board Certification
Board Certified by the National Certifying Commission of Physician Assistants
Dr. Roth grew up in Connecticut. He attended the College of the Holy Cross where he received his Bachelor of Arts in economics and pre-med. He played Division I baseball for four years where he balanced his rigorous academics with a competitive sports schedule. He received a Master of Science from New York Medical College and then went on to pursue his medical degree at the same institution. He did his residency and fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center/ Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York. He was a recipient of their Outstanding House Officer in Internal Medicine Award and Teaching Fellow of the Year Award.
Dr. Roth is pleased to return to Connecticut and begin his career in private practice in the summer of 2019. He is thrilled to join Consulting Cardiologists, which shares his philosophy of personalized patient care.
Education
Undergraduate: College of the Holy Cross, Worcester, MA
Medical School: New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY
Residency: Montefiore Medical Center/ Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Fellowship: Montefiore Medical Center/ Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY
Board Certification
Dr. Golub is a 1984 graduate of Boston University School of Medicine. He completed his cardiovascular fellowship at Brown University in Providence, RI.
Education
Undergraduate: University of Rochester, Rochester, NY
Medical School: Boston University, Boston, MA
Residency: Brown University, Providence, RI
Fellowship: Brown University, Providence, RI
Board Certification
Job Titles:
- American Medical Association Foundation Research
Shannon Packer is an honors graduate from Union College in Schenectady, NY where she double majored in Biology and Classical Studies with a concentration in Latin. After college, she completed her Master of Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Rosalind Franklin University in North Chicago, IL. Shannon spent her first seven years as a PA working in emergency medicine where she honed her critical care skills.
Shannon soon found her passion in cardiology and was pleased to join Consulting Cardiologists in 2021. She works as a member of the inpatient team at Hartford Hospital and prides herself on making our patients' hospital experience as comfortable as possible. Shannon enjoys spending her time with her husband, 2 sons, and 2 dogs. When she is not working, she enjoys traveling, and thinks she may be the biggest Green Bay Packers fan of all time (Go Pack Go!).
Education
Bachelor of Science, Union College Schenectady, NY
Master's in Physician Assistant Studies, Rosalind Franklin University, North Chicago, IL
Licensure and Certification
Board Certified in Physician Assistant Practice
Dr. Bleich is a 2011 graduate of Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA. He completed his cardiovascular fellowship at Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA.
Education
Undergraduate: Washington University, St. Louis, MO
Medical School: Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
Residency: University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
Fellowship: Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA
Board Certification
Dr. Farrell is passionate about the practice of Cardiology. He was born in Madison, Wisconsin and grew up in the Midwest. He graduated "with highest distinction" from the University of Iowa College of Engineering in 1983 with a degree in Biomedical Engineering. After graduating from the University of Iowa Medical School in 1987, he trained at Yale University in Internal Medicine, General Cardiology, and Interventional Cardiology.
Dr. Farrell has been practicing Cardiology in the Wallingford office since 1993. He specializes in Interventional Cardiology and performs coronary angiography and stent procedures at Hartford Hospital for patients of the practice. He also practices general cardiology in the Wallingford office.
He has been the Director of the Cardiac Service Line at MidState Medical Center since it opened in 1998. He is board-certified in Cardiovascular Disease and Interventional Cardiology.
Dr. Farrell enjoys the practice of Cardiology immensely. He shares, "It is really a wonderful specialty. We have great diagnostic tests to help pinpoint problems and highly successful medications and procedures to help our patients feel better and live longer. There is a wealth of research data that helps us apply the right treatment to the right patient. Every year, new medications and devices become available that further improve the health of our patients."
Dr. Farrell also enjoys the interpersonal aspects of patient care. "It is such a privilege to be able to help take care of a community of patients over a long period of time. In many cases I get to know the patients and their families very well. The highest compliment I can get is when I see a new patient who comes to me because one of their family members or friends recommended me."
Education
Undergraduate: University of Iowa College of Engineering, Iowa City, IA
Medical School: University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, IA
Residency: Internal medicine residency at Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Fellowship: Cardiovascular and interventional cardiology fellowships at Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT
Board Certification