ADVANCED HEART CARE - Key Persons
Dr. Mithani joined Advanced Heart Care in 2017, after completing his cardiac electrophysiology fellowship from Cooper University Hospital. He is interested in all areas of cardiac electrophysiology including device and ablation-based therapies. This includes implantation of pacemakers/defibrillators/cardiac resynchronization therapy, laser lead extraction, and in ablation of complex arrhythmias. His special interests are in subcutaneous devices, catheter based left atrial appendage closure devices and leadless pacemakers. His appreciation for all aspects of cardiology complements his ability to understand and care for patients with arrhythmias, in and out of the electrophysiology lab.
Dr. Mithani has participated in numerous research projects and has been a co-investigator in several prospective multi-center research studies. He has published numerous abstracts and manuscripts during his training and has presented his research at various local and national meetings. He was awarded first place in clinical research at the Camden Scholar's Forum in 2015 at Cooper University Hospital
He is very dedicated to his career and always puts patient care as priority. He thoroughly enjoys the field of electrophysiology and truly loves interacting with patients and making a difference in their lives.
His interest rest in gaining a better understanding of the healthcare inequalities around the globe and being able to spend time doing volunteer work in the third world countries. This interest has helped him get involved with community service projects. When not trying to solve worldly problems, he likes to enjoy traveling, watching movies and spending quality time with family and friends.
Education
Loyola University, Honors Program, Magna Cum Laude, Chicago, IL
Rush Medical College, MD, Chicago, IL
Rush University Medical Center, Internal Medicine Internship, Chicago, IL
Rush University Medical Center, Internal Medicine Residency, Chicago, IL
Cooper University Hospital, Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship, Camden, NJ
Ali Mithani, Steve Attanasio, Andrew Appis, Emily Guhl, Tamar Polonsky, Sandeep Nathan. "Lower socioeconomic status predicts major adverse cardiac events (MACE) and increased mortality post-percutaneous intervention (PCI): Independent hazard vs. intersection of modifiable risk factors?" Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2012;60(17_S):. doi:10.1016/j.jacc.2012.08.395
Steve Attanasio, Amit Amin, Andrew Appis , Ali Mithani, Satish Dontarajus, Mahidhar Ravilla, Linda Lee , Russell Kelly, Sandeep Nathan. "Race-based disparities in post percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) outcomes persist independent of socioeconomic status (SES) and access to healthcare." Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions.2012; 77:S34
Dr. Leonard has dedicated his entire career to practicing cardiology in North Texas. After graduating magna cum laude from Princeton University, he attended University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and remained at Parkland Memorial Hospital for his internship and residency in Internal Medicine. He then remained at Parkland for an extra year to serve as Chief Medical Resident. He obtained his fellowship in Cardiology at Harvard Medical School in Boston. Dr. Leonard was formerly Director of the Cardiac Catheterization and Electrophysiology Labs at Baylor Scott and White Medical Center Plano. He served as the Chief Medical Officer and Vice-President for Medical Affairs at Baylor Scott and White The Heart Hospital Baylor Plano from its opening in January of 2007 until 2011, and also served as the Chief Medical Officer and VPMA at Baylor Regional Medical Center Plano from 2010 until 2012. Dr. Leonard was the 2010 recipient of the Hunt Scholarship to attend Southern Methodist University-Cox School of Business where he received his Masters in Business Administration in May of 2012.
Dr. Leonard maintains a very busy, active private practice in Interventional Cardiology, and is the Managing Partner of Advanced Heart Care. He sees patients and has a busy outpatient practice at AHC offices in Plano, Keller, and Decatur. He has a busy hospital practice and performs diagnostic cardiac catheterizations and complex percutaneous coronary interventions at Wise Health System in Decatur where he serves as the Chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Services.
Education
Princeton University, A.B. Biology, Graduate Magna Cum Laude 1978
University of Texas Southwestern Medical School, M.D. 1982
Southern Methodist University, MBA 2012
Postdoctoral Training
Dr. David Edwards is a fifth generation Texan! Although he was born and raised in Dallas, his family was one of the first families to arrive in Panola County in 1837. Dr. Edwards joined Advanced Heart Care in September 2012. He completed his medical training and earned a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and Developmental Biology at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. He received his Internal Medicine training at UT Southwestern's Parkland Hospital. Dr. Edwards completed his Cardiology fellowship and additional training in Inherited Heart Disease at The Johns Hopkins Hospital in Maryland, where he served his final year as the chief cardiology fellow. Subsequently, he completed an additional two-year fellowship in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology at Johns Hopkins.
In addition to providing inpatient surgical interventions and treatment, Dr. Edwards also oversees THE HEART HOSPITAL Baylor Plano's Inherited Cardiovascular Disease Clinic; an outpatient setting that offers genetic screening and evaluations.
Dr. Edwards says he always wanted to be a scientist or a doctor, so "I did both!" His passion is to work with his hands and teaching patients about heart rhythm and genetic issues.
When not practicing medicine, Dr. Edwards enjoys camping, playing with his three children, following Texas Rangers baseball and classic cars.
Dr. Jai Varma joined Advanced Heart Care in October 2012. Prior to joining, he was Assistant Professor and Director of Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Louisiana State University, Shreveport. After obtaining his medical degree from India, Dr. Varma did his Internship at St. Joseph Hospital, Chicago and then his residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease at the University of Louisville. Subsequently, he completed his fellowship in Interventional Cardiology at Tufts New England Medical Center, Boston. Dr. Varma is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, Nuclear Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology. Dr. Varma has special interest in preventive cardiovascular medicine, coronary and peripheral interventions and structural heart disease. He has authored investigator-initiated studies and has been Principal and sub-investigator of various clinical trials.
When not practicing medicine, Dr. Varma enjoys spending time with his wife and daughter, Maahi as well as golfing.
Dr. Jason Finkelstein was born and raised in Long Island, New York and joined Advanced Heart Care in July 2007. Dr. Finkelstein is our full-time physician in the growing Decatur practice. Even from an early age, Dr. Finkelstein was interested in science and the human body. Now as a cardiologist he enjoys meeting new patients and trying to make their lives better. Each day brings new circumstances and new challenges but it's Dr. Finkelstein's favorite part about being a Doctor.
Dr. Finkelstein is married to his wife of 13 years Alice, and has three boys, Zachary, Dylan and Ashton.
Areas of Expertise and Professional Interests
Dr. Cruz is skilled in all aspects of interventional cardiology including the use of stents and other state-of-the-art technologies in the cardiac cath laboratory. He also focuses on diagnostic cardiology including transesophageal echocardiography, stress echocardiography and nuclear imaging.
Dr. Cruz recently served as President of the Dallas Chapter of the American Heart Association
Dr. Cruz is fluent in English and Spanish. When not practicing cardiology Dr. Cruz enjoys traveling and spending time with his family.
Practice Administrator, Paul Wilkinson has been with Advanced Heart Care since 2000. He holds a Master's Degree in Health Organizational Management, is an MGMA member and is a nominee to the American College of Medical Practice Executives. Prior to AHC, he worked as a consultant and with academic, large multi-specialty and primary care groups.
Dr Trehan graduated with honors from Christian Medical College Vellore, India. He then pursued Internship and Residency in Internal Medicine at Georgetown University, DC General Hospital followed by Advanced Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplant Fellowship at the University of Utah. He continued with his general cardiology training and Interventional Cardiology fellowship at the University of Utah followed by a stint on the faculty in the Cardiology Division, Department of Medicine at University of Utah, Salt Lake City. Since 2001 he has been at Saint Francis Hospital in Tulsa where he introduced many novel treatments for cardiovascular patients in the community including TAVR, Mitral Clip, Watchman, Endovascular Aortic Aneurysm Repair, TCAR to name a few. He is passionate about structural heart disease and endovascular techniques for managing cardiac and vascular disease. He has an extensive record of participation in clinical trials and has had an active engagement with the American College of Cardiology where he just finished his term as Governor for the Oklahoma Chapter.
He is married to Monica, his wife of 28 years and they have 2 children. He enjoys spending time with the family, reading and fishing when not at work.