UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA HEALTH - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Administrative Coordinator
- Adriana Shum
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor at the University of Florida
- Clinical Assistant Professor / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
Alex Parker, M.D., is an assistant professor at the University of Florida and works in the division of cardiovascular medicine. He graduated from Florida State University before moving to the University of Virginia, where he completed his residency in internal medicine and fellowship in cardiovascular medicine, while serving as chief fellow of cardiology. He then completed a fellowship in advanced heart failure and transplant before returning to Florida to practice. Dr. Parker has conducted research in post-resuscitative care for survivors of cardiac arrest, hemodynamic responses to acute heart failure, and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. He has contributed to peer-reviewed publications on a variety of different studies pertaining to cardiology. His recent projects include research into changes in plasma in heart failure, hemodynamic abnormalities in pulmonary hypertension, and quality improvement of inpatient diuretic and immunosuppression documentation in the electronic medical record.
Job Titles:
- FASN, FACC, Professor & Chief
Dr. Pepine is an internationally recognized leader in both the clinical and scientific areas of cardiovascular medicine. His major interests focus on the pathophysiology of ischemic heart disease and coronary and systemic vascular hemodynamic mechanisms underlying the disease. He has had continuous peer reviewed funding for over 40 years, and has coauthored more than 850 scientific publications and edited 6 textbooks. He is principal investigator for the UF center for the NHLBI-funded Women's Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE), the UF center for the Cardiovascular Cell Therapy Research Network (CCTRN), and the UF center for the Department of Defense funded Women's Ischemi A TR eatment Reduces Events In Non-Obst Ructive CAD (WARRIOR) study, and is MPI for the Brain-Gut Microbiome-Immune Axis in Hypertension project. He is past president of the American College of Cardiology (ACC). He currently serves on the Executive Committee of the UF Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI), the Leadership Committee for the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI), OneFlorida Clinical Research Consortium, CDRN, Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy (FACT) Regenerative Medicine Task Force, the Board of Trustees of the ACC and many committees and task forces, and is the founder and overall Project Chair for the Vascular Biology Working Group
Job Titles:
- Associate Clinical Professor
- Associate Clinical Professor / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
Carsten Schmalfuss is an associate clinical professor and received his MD from the University of Essen, Germany in 1991. He completed a 2-year residency in Cardio-Thoracic Surgery and a year of Cardiology fellowship before coming to the United States in 1995. Here he completed his internship, residency and fellowship in Cardiology at Shands at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Following this he became a full time Staff Cardiologist at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida in 2002. At the same time he joined the Faculty of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at UF, where he is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine. He was appointed Chief, Section of Cardiology at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center in September 2011.
His field of interest is noninvasive Cardiac Imaging, particularly the use of CT and MRI. He is also involved in several pilot projects using Telemedicine in outpatient cardiac care of veterans and the evaluation of new medical treatment options for coronary artery disease and heart failure. Dr. Schmalfuss is a scientific member of the VA Central IRB.
He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the Society of Cardiac MR and the Society of Cardiac CT.
Job Titles:
- Associate Director of Cardiology Clinical Trials
My name is Dana Leach, DNP, ARNP-C, CCRC, AACC. I am board certified in adult care and am active in the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology. My research interests include exercise physiology, electrophysiology, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, regenerative medicine and women's health.
I am the associate director of the University of Florida's Cardiology Clinical Trials Program, which supports the research mission for the cardiology faculty, fellows and staff by providing administrative (fiscal and regulatory) and coordinator support. I provide adult cardiovascular care in the division outpatient clinics and sub-investigator support for studies within the cardiovascular research portfolio at UF.
I earned my degrees at UF and have been with the UF Division of Cardiovascular Medicine since 1993. I am a member of Sigma Theta Tau, Association of Clinical Research Professionals (President of NF Chapter 1999-2001), Heart Failure Society of America and the American College of Cardiology.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Assistant Professor / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
Dhaval Naik, DO, is an assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine. Dr. Naik received his diploma in mechanical engineering at Government Polytechnic in Gujarat, India. Additionally, he received an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering with a concentration in bioengineering from Rowan University in Glassboro, New Jersey. Dr. Naik obtained his doctorate degree at the Rowan University School of Osteopathic Medicine. He was awarded an Outstanding Achievement Award in the specialty of internal medicine in 2014, shortly before coming to the University of Florida College of Medicine to start his residency.
Dr. Naik completed both his residency in internal medicine and fellowship in cardiovascular diseases at the University of Florida College of Medicine. His academic research is focused on patient care, quality of service and cardiovascular complications. Additionally, Dr. Naik is proficient in reading and writing in Hindi and Guajarati and is interested in sports, such as cricket.
Hello, my name is Dr. Hiroko Fernandez, and I am an associate professor of medicine in the University of Florida Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, specializing in clinical cardiac electrophysiology. After receiving my medical degree from the University of Maryland, I remained there to complete a residency in internal medicine. I then went on to complete a cardiovascular fellowship at the University of Buffalo before returning to the University of Maryland for a fellowship in cardiac electrophysiology. I am board certified in internal medicine, cardiology and clinical cardiac electrophysiology.
I am originally from Yokohama, Japan, and worked as a journalist in medical news, which inspired me to become a physician myself. I enjoyed arrhythmia in medical school and was drawn toward this path. My professional goal is to provide high-quality patient care, build positive and collaborative relationships with my colleagues and exercise my interpersonal skills and passion for electrophysiology into clinical practice, research and education.
My strong interest in cardiac electrophysiology is the application of high-definition 3D electroanatomical mapping systems in challenging arrhythmic cases. I am also interested in further development of leadless or epicardial devices, including leadless pacemakers and subcutaneous ICDs. I developed educational programs on subcutaneous ICDs for medical students, cardiovascular fellows, industry staff and FDA staff through training programs at the Jacobs Institute at Kaleida Health.
I am passionate about research, education and clinical care of arrhythmia patients, in particular with a focus in continued improvement of techniques to minimize risk of the procedure and enhance the outcome of arrhythmic patients. I have special expertise in atrial fibrillation/atrial flutter ablation, biventricular pacing, PVC management and ablation, pacemaker and ICD implantation, SVT ablation and VT ablation, with the first three being my favorite procedures.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine Medical Director of Heart Transplant / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
My name is Dr. Juan Vilaro, and I am an associate professor of medicine in the division of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Florida. I received my medical degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Medicine, completing a visiting clerkship in cardiovascular diseases at Mayo Clinic during the same tenure. I completed my residency in internal medicine at the University of Florida, serving as chief resident for the program. I then completed my training at UF, completing cardiology and advance heart failure/transplant cardiology fellowships. I'm board-certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular medicine, and my primary clinical interests are the evaluation and management of patients with advanced heart failure syndromes, including optimal patient selection for advanced therapies such as heart transplantation and different forms of mechanical circulatory support. In addition, I am also interested in devising new strategies for reducing hospital admissions in patients with chronic heart failure.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor for the UF Division of Cardiovascular
Dr. Mark Panna is an Associate Professor for the UF Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. He specializes in electrophysiology and his clinical interests include implantable cardiac devices, atrial fibrillation ablations and ventricular tachycardia ablations. Dr. Panna received his BS at the University of Pittsburgh in chemistry and MD at MCP Hahnemann School of Medicine. While studying at Drexel University's College of Medicine, he completed his internal medicine internship in 2003 and internal medicine residency in 2005. Dr. Panna finished his cardiovascular medicine fellowship in 2009 at St. Vincent's Hospital of New York Medical College and electrophysiology fellowship in 2010 at the University of Florida. In 2011, he received advanced training in electrophysiology at Shands Hospital and the North Florida VAMC. Dr. Panna was voted Fellow of the Year in all specialties at Richmond University Medical Center in 2009 by the house staff and faculty, and served as a Chief Cardiology Fellow at New York Medical College from 2009-2010. He has been recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (F.A.C.C) and a Fellow of the Heart Rhythm Society (F.H.R.S)
My name is Dr. Ramil Goel and I am a cardiac electrophysiologist at UF Health. I am also an assistant professor in the University of Florida College of Medicine Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the director of the division's clinical cardiac electrophysiology fellowship program.
I am passionate about cardiac electrophysiology - an area of medicine that focuses on heart rhythm disorders - and I use a patient-centered approach to tailor therapies suited to the unique needs of each patient. As an electrophysiologist, I treat the full range of heart arrhythmias, including slow heart rhythms that require pacemakers and newer forms of pacing that recreate natural activation of the heart. I find the fast heart rhythms of supraventricular tachycardia (SVT) and ventricular tachycardia (VT) to be particularly interesting conditions to treat because the outcomes of patients achieving freedom or near-freedom from debilitating fast heart rhythm disorders are very rewarding.
Job Titles:
- Fellow of the American College of Cardiology
- Professor
Dr. Richard S. Schofield is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville. He is also the Vice Chairman for Veterans Affairs within the Department of Medicine at the University of Florida and he is Chief of the Medical Service for the North Florida/South Georgia Veterans Health System, one of the largest integrated health systems in the Veterans Health Administration. Since 1997, Dr. Schofield has also served as an Attending Cardiologist in the adult Heart Failure/Heart Transplant Program at the University of Florida and the Shands Transplant Center.
From 2001-2010, Dr. Schofield led the Cardiology Section at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center in Gainesville, Florida. In that capacity Dr. Schofield supervised one of the busiest cardiovascular programs in the VA. Dr. Schofield has received local, regional, and national awards from the Department of Veterans Affairs for Quality Improvement and/or Systems Redesign. In 2007, Dr. Schofield was named to the national VA Cardiology Field Advisory Committee, and in 2011 he was named as the VA representative to the American College of Cardiology Board of Governors.
Dr. Schofield is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association. He is the director of an award-winning telehealth heart failure management program affiliated with the VA Office of Telehealth Services.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
My name is Dr. Thomas Konecny, and I am an associate professor of clinical medicine and an attending cardiac electrophysiology physician in the University of Florida Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. I am board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular diseases and cardiac electrophysiology and practice at both UF Health Shands Hospital and the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center.
I received my bachelor's degree in cellular and molecular biology at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California, and my medical degree from Columbia University in New York. I was drawn towards my specialty from an elective class I took while at Columbia. I completed a residency in internal medicine followed by consecutive fellowships in cardiovascular diseases and cardiac electrophysiology at The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.
I am currently working on research in interactions of arrhythmias and breathing disorders (sleep apnea, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease). For our expertise in this field, I have received awards from the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology and American College of Chest Physicians. I am the first author of the chapter on arrhythmia-sleep apnea interactions in one of the main textbooks of cardiac electrophysiology currently in use.
I am proficient in procedural ablations, including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardias and ventricular tachycardia, as well as devices, including cardiac resynchronization, subcutaneous and intravenous defibrillators, laser-assisted lead extractions, diaphragmatic pacing for the treatment of central sleep apnea, leadless pacemakers and implantable devices for arrhythmia monitoring.
One thing I'd like my patients to know about me is that I have a pre-eminent dedication to their safety. When I'm not working, I enjoy Florida outdoor activities.
My name is Dr. Vilma I. Torres. I am board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and clinical cardiac electrophysiology. I am also a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the Heart Rhythm Society.
At 12 years old, I watched my mother's struggles as a heart patient and knew I wanted to be a physician so I could help her and many others like her. I went on to earn my medical degree at the age of 23 from the State University of New York at Stony Brook and then moved out west, where I completed an internship and medical residency at Loma Linda University School of Medicine in California. I followed this with a fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York City.
Upon completion of my training, I developed the cardiac electrophysiology program at the Loma Linda University Medical Center in 1985. Subsequently, I became associate professor at Brown University School of Medicine and co-director of the electrophysiology program. I was the first woman electrophysiologist in the state of Rhode Island. I have also practiced as a professor of medicine at Case Western Reserve University and as a full-time electrophysiologist at MetroHealth Medical Center in Cleveland, Ohio.
During my long academic career, I have participated in various national committees. I was elected as the Southern California Inland Empire president of the American Heart Association, as well as Inland Empire Cardiologist of the Year. I was also a member of the Western States Board of Directors for the American Heart Association. I am a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society and currently serve in the University of Florida chapter selection committee.
I have been involved in various committees at the academic institutions I have worked at, including quality improvement and academic faculty council, and have mentored many young women who are hoping to pursue a career in medicine or who are already training in internal medicine or cardiology. I am currently an elected representative for the faculty senate in the UF College of Medicine.
My areas of interest include heart failure device management, or CRT therapy, and atrial fibrillation management. I have several clinical trials involving rhythm devices and an National Institutes of Health-sponsored trial for heart failure devices called FACT - CRT.
In addition to my academic accomplishments, I have had the privilege of being married to my husband for 44 years and have raised two wonderful, accomplished young women. I have also had the opportunity to grow and learn from my extensive travel experiences and adventures. I enjoy snow and water skiing as well as scuba diving. I am bilingual and can read, speak and write proficiently in the Spanish language.
Job Titles:
- Co - Investigator of the NIH Women 's Ischemic Syndrome Evaluation Study
Dr. Handberg is Co-Investigator of the NIH Women's Ischemic Syndrome Evaluation Study and NIH Cardiovascular Cell Therapy Research Network. Her research interests include exercise, heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and women's health. She is the Director of the Clinical Trials Program, which supports the research mission for the faculty, fellows, and staff by providing administrative (fiscal and regulatory) and coordinator support. She directs Florida CARES, a practitioner competency program. She is active in the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology. She is Chair of the Continuing Nurse Education committee, a Trustee for the ACC, and serves on several other committees. She is the Program Liaison for the Vascular Biology Working Group (www.vbwg.org). Dr. Handberg provides adult cardiovascular care in the Division Outpatient Clinic. She is also interested in Exercise and Lifestyle Interventions, Ischemic Heart Disease in Women, and Heart Failure. Publications
My name is Ellen Keeley, MD, MS, and I am a professor of medicine in the University of Florida Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. I completed my internal medicine residency at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, a clinical cardiology fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and an interventional cardiology fellowship at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair of Academic Affairs
Job Titles:
- Clinical Assistant Professor / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
Hussain Khalid, MD, is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the division of cardiovascular medicine.
He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Florida where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was inducted into the Phi Beta Kappa honor society. He earned his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine where he graduated with Honors in Research, and was awarded the 2016 "C. Richard Conti Award for Academic Excellence in the field of Cardiovascular Medicine". He completed his residency training in Internal Medicine at Case Western Reserve University where he was awarded the Resident Award for Research in 2018. He completed cardiology fellowship training at the University of Florida, and simultaneously completed the inaugural CardioNerds Academy digital media and cardiovascular education program in 2021-2022. He additionally served as a CardioNerds Ambassador for the University of Florida. He completed an Advanced Cardiac Imaging Fellowship at the University of Florida where he gained additional expertise in Echocardiography, Cardiac CT, and Cardiac MRI.
His goal is to provide all patients with the most comprehensive care. He has expertise in the following areas: advanced cardiac imaging, hypertension, coronary artery disease, chest pain, heart failure, cardiovascular disease prevention, valvular heart disease, and general cardiology.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Chairman, Division Chiefs and Administrators
- Professor and Chair of Medicine / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
Hi, my name is Jamie Beth Conti, MD, and I am a Professor of Medicine and Chair of the Department of Medicine at the University of Florida. Inspired to become a doctor by my father, Dr. Charles Richard Conti, Jr., I earned my undergraduate degree from Harvard University and am a 1987 graduate of the UF College of Medicine. I completed my medical residency at Emory University and fellowship training in cardiology and clinical cardiac electrophysiology at UF. I joined UF's faculty in 1994 as an Assistant Professor of Medicine and have held numerous leadership roles since then, including serving 10 years as the Chief of Cardiovascular Medicine.
I am board certified in Cardiovascular Medicine. In 1999, I received the prestigious American College of Cardiology Proctor Harvey Teaching Award. In addition to my roles within UF, I have held leadership positions in the American College of Cardiology, the Heart Rhythm Society and the American Heart Association. I would like my current and future patients to know I will do my very best to help them achieve their goals.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Medicine / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
Dr. John Petersen is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Florida. He received his BS and MD degrees from the University of Florida. He completed Internal Medicine Residency training at Duke University and then returned to the University of Florida to complete his Fellowship in Cardiovascular Diseases. He has been on faculty at the University of Florida since 2010. Dr. Petersen has received multiple awards for his teaching and patient care, including Attending of the Year from the Department of Medicine Internal Medicine Residents, and Master Clinician Award from the Department of Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. He specializes in the care of patients with valvular heart disease and ventricular dysfunction and has expertise in advanced imaging of the heart, especially echocardiography and cardiac MRI.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Assistant Professor
Job Titles:
- Chief, Cardiovascular Medicine Professor of Medicine Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
- Chief, Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs
My name is Dr. Juan Aranda and I am a professor of medicine and the chief of cardiovascular medicine at UF Health. I also serve as the vice chair for clinical affairs for the University of Florida Department of Medicine. I am board-certified in cardiovascular medicine and advanced heart failure/cardiac transplantation, and I possess more than 25 years of experience in the treatment of cardiovascular disease. I became interested in treating heart failure early in my career. At that time, the mechanisms of heart failure were not well understood, and I developed a true commitment to the advancement of medicine to improve outcomes for my heart failure patients.
I was drawn to the field of cardiology because my dad was a cardiologist specializing in electrophysiology and I grew up observing his passion, commitment and dedication to helping his patients. He is my true role model and has been a big contributor to the development of my own passion for helping others. One aspect of being a doctor that I enjoy is the opportunity to develop relationships with my patients - I treat my patients as if they were members of my own family. That is a special bond.
My career has been committed to the education of cardiovascular residents, fellows and physicians throughout the region and in Latin America. I am very proud that for the last 25 years, I have been able to provide education and training opportunities for young Hispanic physicians from Latin America. Having grown up in Puerto Rico, it gives me great pride to expand medical training opportunities for these young doctors and to see them go on to provide excellent care to underserved people in their communities.
As the chief of the division of cardiovascular medicine, other areas of importance to me are advancing cardiology research to improve patient care and providing research opportunities for my faculty members. Current research in our division includes the use of stem cells to improve heart function in heart failure patients, developing artificial intelligence to enhance cardiac imaging and diagnosis, and focusing on improving outcomes for elderly patients undergoing valvular and high-risk cardiac procedures. I am a past governor of the American College of Cardiology and have participated in multiple committees of the American College of Cardiology to improve quality, education and services in the area of cardiovascular disease.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor
- Assistant Professor of Cardiovascular
Dr. Katelyn Bruno is an assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine in the UF Department of Medicine/Division of Cardiovascular Medicine with joint appointments in the Department of Physiology and Aging and the Center of Regenerative Medicine. Dr. Bruno obtained a bachelor's degree in criminal justice in 2010 and a second bachelor's degree in professional chemistry in 2011, both from Sam Houston State University. She received her PhD in environmental health sciences with a focus on molecular and translational toxicology from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2016 and completed her postdoctoral fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Dr. Bruno joined the faculty at the University of Florida in 2022 in the division of cardiovascular medicine. Dr. Bruno is actively involved in organizational and scientific organizations including serving as faculty advisor for the UF RegeneGator student organization, co-chair of the UF Cancer Center Cardio-Oncology Working Group, and holding committee and leadership roles for societies such as Heart Failure Society of America, Florida Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, and the Organization for the Study of Sex Differences.
Dr. Bruno's research focus includes translational science, cardiology, immunology, toxicology, and sex differences. She specifically studies novel mechanisms of viral myocarditis, dilated cardiomyopathy, and heart failure as well as cardio-oncology. Dr. Bruno is the director of the Translational Cardio-Immunology Laboratory, where she utilizes basic science methodology to investigate mechanisms of myocarditis in pediatric and adult populations as well as collecting and utilizing clinical patient samples and medical record data to make discoveries for patients. Directory Page | Bruno Lab Page
Dr. Katelyn Bruno is an Assistant Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine in the Department of Medicine/Division of Cardiovascular Medicine with joint appointments in the Department of Physiology and Aging and the Center of Regenerative Medicine. She received her Ph.D. in Environmental Health Sciences with a focus on Molecular and Translational Toxicology from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in 2016 and completed her Postdoctoral Fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Florida. Her broad focus includes translational science, cardiology, immunology, toxicology and sex differences. Dr. Bruno is actively involved in organizational and scientific organizations including serving as faculty advisor for the UF RegeneGators student organization and holding committee and leadership roles for societies such as HFSA, FCACC, OSSD and ISCMF.
Job Titles:
- Professor of Medicine / Vice Chief, Cardiology Research
Keith L. March, MD, PhD, FACC, has dedicated his career to bringing new medical approaches to patients. His publications include more than 150 manuscripts. He was the editor of the first book dedicated to cardiovascular gene transfer. Dr. March's research has resulted in more than 55 worldwide (20+ U.S.) patents, with others pending. He invented the Closer, a widely-utilized patented suture-mediated closure device, used to close the puncture wound in an artery following heart catheterization. This device allows a patient to "walk off the table" after a catheterization without requiring prolonged bedrest. In 1999, Abbott Vascular, an affiliate of Abbott Laboratories, acquired the company that developed this technology; and the Closer approach has been used worldwide to treat more than 8,000,000 patients. He has served as a scientific advisor to numerous pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device companies. Most recently, he co-founded NeuroFx, Inc., based on a patented platform of technology originating in his laboratory that establishes the therapeutic factors secreted by stem cells as powerful therapeutics for critical medical needs, including degenerative and ischemic diseases of the nervous system. With FDA input, NeuroFx is pursuing this off-the-shelf approach to markedly reduce stroke and prolong quality life in ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease), as two near-term goals. Dr. March now serves as the director for the UF Health Center for Regenerative Medicine and as vice chief for cardiology research in the division of cardiovascular medicine at the University of Florida.
My name is Keith L. March, MD, PhD, and I am a cardiologist, inventor, passionate pioneer in the field of regenerative medicine and the founding director of the University of Florida Center for Regenerative Medicine. My lifelong curiosity and dedication to medicine are rooted in my personal history, dating back to the age of 6 when my grandfather experienced a heart attack. This pivotal moment sparked a fascination with cardiology and a growing interest in biology and chemistry that shaped my career trajectory.
Aided by the guidance of exceptional mentors, I chose cardiology as my specialization, enticed by the profound potential of interventional devices, imaging, molecular biology and gene therapy. I was excited by the idea of delivering genes and cells by developing advanced delivery devices for use in catheterization laboratories. I saw a great opportunity in the field of cardiology to significantly contribute to the then-emerging understanding of vascular cell and molecular biology.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor, Cardiovascular Medicine / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
My name is Dr. Al-Ani, and I specialize in advanced heart failure in the University of Florida Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and serve on the cardiac imaging team with a particular interest in multimodality imaging applications in the advanced heart failure population.
My fascination of the ability to help patients feel better is what drew me toward becoming a doctor. I consider this one of the most worthy goals in life. I am transparent with my patients and tailor their care to their conditions and values.
I earned my medical degree from Jordan University School of Medicine in Amman, Jordan. After moving to the United States, I found a home in Gainesville, Florida, where I completed my residency in internal medicine and fellowships in cardiovascular diseases and advanced heart failure at the UF College of Medicine.
I am an early career board member of the American College of Cardiology - Florida chapter, a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a member of the American Heart Association as well as the Societies of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance and Cardiac Computed Tomography. I am also a CTSI KL2 scholar in artificial intelligence application in heart transplantation. In 2017, I received the Most Outstanding Research Award from UF's Department of Medicine. Later, in 2019, I received the Carl J. Pepine Award in cardiovascular research.
I have gained experience in advanced imaging applications for patients in cardiomyopathy, which helps me better individualize advanced heart failure therapies. I am certified in cardiology, advanced heart failure, cardiac MRI, cardiac CT, echocardiography and nuclear imaging.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor
- Associate Professor for the University of Florida 's Division of Cardiovascular
- Associate Professor Medical Director of Mechanical Circulatory Support Program Director of the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
- Medical Director, Mechanical Circulatory Support Program
Dr. Mustafa Ahmed is an Associate Professor for the University of Florida's Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. He specializes in advanced heart failure, mechanical circulatory assist and transplantation. He attended the Johns Hopkins University as an undergraduate and obtained his medical degree at West Virginia University School of Medicine where he received the Van Liere Research Scholarship and the Harak V Dedhia Medical Student Award. He completed his internship and residency at Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Ahmed then trained in Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Florida, followed by an additional fellowship in Advanced Heart Failure and Transplantation while also serving as the Cardiology Cell Therapy Research Network Training Scholar. After serving on faculty at Temple University, Dr. Ahmed returned to Florida in 2013. Dr. Ahmed is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Cardiovascular Disease as well as Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiology. He is a member of the Heart Failure Society of America as well as the International Society of Heart & Lung Transplantation and was awarded Junior Faculty Best Case Presentation at their 33 rd Annual Meeting. Dr. Ahmed has also been recognized with the 2014 Spirit of Gainesville Award in Medicine for his work in the community.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair of Graduate Medical Education
Job Titles:
- Clinical Assistant Professor / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
My name is Natalie Bracewell, MD, and I am a clinical assistant professor in the division of cardiovascular medicine. My journey to become a physician started in high school because I enjoyed learning about science and wanted to help people with that knowledge. I chose cardiology because I like cardiovascular physiology and believe there is a large "toolbox" of treatment options for patients at our disposal.
I earned my medical degree from the University of Missouri School of Medicine and completed my residency in internal medicine at the University of Florida, during which I was the chief resident. I then stayed at UF for my cardiovascular training. My goal as a cardiologist is to help patients manage their heart health in the best way possible that enables them to enjoy quality of life. I have expertise in the following areas: cardiac rehabilitation, coronary artery disease, general cardiology, lipid management and preventive cardiology.
I love spending time with my family. My husband, two boys and I enjoy being outdoors, hiking and going to the beach, and traveling.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Specialist
Job Titles:
- Outstanding Teacher in Cardiology
Job Titles:
- Clinical Professor
- Professor
Dr. Anderson has continued interest and participation in clinical trials of device and drug development for both stable coronary artery disease and acute coronary syndromes. His interests also include the application of advanced interventional techniques including rotational and orbital atherectomy, embolic protection, and thrombectomy in the treatment of both coronary artery and peripheral arterial disease. Dr. Anderson is involved in clinical trials of novel and interventional-based treatments for resistant hypertension. He has established a multi-disciplinary clinic for the evaluation and treatment of aortic valve disease to include percutaneous valve therapy. Dr. Anderson has participated in the design and execution of multiple clinical trials involving the use of angiogenesis growth factors in the treatment of peripheral arterial disease and is actively involved in ongoing clinical trials of cardiac regeneration therapy using stem cells. He is an active member of the American College of Cardiology, the Florida Chapter of the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, and the Society of Coronary Angiography and Intervention.
My name is R. David Anderson, MD, MS, FACC, FSCAI, and I am a professor of medicine in the University of Florida Division of Cardiovascular Medicine and the director of interventional cardiology and cardiac catheterization. Most call me Dave, but some prefer to call me R. David. Prior to joining UF Health, I worked in the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Division of Cardiology in the 2000s.
I received my medical degree from Johns Hopkins University in 1990. Then, I completed an internship followed by residency at the University of Maryland Hospital. During my residency, I received the title of chief resident in the department of medicine. Afterward, I completed a fellowship at Duke University Medical Center.
I was drawn to medicine by the idea of trying to help people in any way possible. If you listen, everyone has a story, and I have benefitted the most from getting to know my patients' stories. I want my patients to know that I will listen, always have their best interest in mind and would never offer them a treatment or procedure without a reasonable expectation of it helping them. I have had a career that has been satisfying in so many ways. I feel lucky to have helped build a successful interventional cardiology program at UF Health and am grateful for my partners and their superb care of patients. I am perhaps most proud to have been involved in the successful training of nearly 50 interventional cardiologists over the years. I have been lucky to receive teaching accolades over the years, but Master Clinician and the 2022 Exemplary Teacher awards are most appreciated.
I have written numerous abstracts on coronary vascular dysfunction and other heart diseases, and I have two patents - the auto perfusion dilatation catheter and a new rapid exchange/auto perfusion angioplasty balloon catheter. My research has focused on the use of stem cells to treat and improve heart disease, and I have been very involved in the study of coronary microvascular disease. Recently, my research has expanded to include structural heart disease, particularly the study of transcatheter therapy for valvular heart disease.
Outside of work, I try to spend as much of my free time as possible with my kids, who are mostly grown. They are all successful, and that is extremely gratifying. I also spend a lot of time in triathlons and have completed several Ironman distance events, even recently placing second at Ironman Florida.
Job Titles:
- Vice Chair of Administration
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor
- Clinical Assistant Professor / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
Ralph Matar, MD, is an Assistant Professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Florida. Dr. Matar earned his bachelor's degree and medical degree from University of Balamand in Lebanon, graduating from both with distinction. He went on to complete an internal medicine residency at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, OH and subsequently went to complete his cardiovascular fellowship at Stroger Hospital of Cook County in Chicago, IL. He then pursued his subspecialty training at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida in advanced cardiac imaging.
Dr. Matar is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular medicine, echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging, and nuclear cardiology.
He has received several awards, including Resident of the Month twice, Resident Teacher Award and Fellow Teaching Award, and was recognized as a Top 25 Investigator for the 29th Annual ASE Scientific Sessions. Dr. Matar also belongs to a handful of professional societies, including the American College of Cardiology, American Society of Echocardiology, and Society of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. He is fluent in English, Arabic, and fair in Spanish.
Dr. Kerensky originally joined the Faculty at University of Florida in 1992. He was Professor of Medicine and director of interventional cardiology when he left the University in 2006 to start a C-PORT site in Thomasville, Georgia, to study the feasability of safely performing PCI without on-site cardiac surgery. He returned to the University of Florida in 2018 to rejoin the interventional section. He is active in the catheterization laboratory and co-director of the general fellowship program. He is very involved in conferences and teaching. He has previously been named cardiology teacher of the year by the fellows. He also will help to develop the sports cardiology program. He has a busy interventional and general cardiology clinic.
Robert F Hamburger, DO, MPH, FACC, is an assistant professor at the University of Florida Division of Cardiology.
Hamburger obtained a bachelor's degree in biology from Pennsylvania State University. He got his master's degree in public health from Drexel University, moving on to complete his doctorate in osteopathic medicine at Nova Southeastern University. After his internship and residency in internal medicine, he started his fellowship in cardiovascular diseases at the University of Florida in 2014.
Hamburger is currently a staff cardiologist at Malcom Randall VA Medical Center and an assistant professor in the division of cardiology at UF's College of Medicine.
He received various award such as the Hygeia Society Award for Excellence in Public Health and the Most Outstanding Third Year Resident Award from Temple University. Co-authoring 10 publications and papers, Hamburger's interests lie in writing about pulmonary circulation, congenital heart disease and more. His presentations include an evaluation of the right coronary artery, echocardiographic predictors of mitral regurgitation and more. He is a member of the American College of Cardiology and the American Society of Echocardiology.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Assistant Professor / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
My name is Shawn Simek, MD, and I am a clinical assistant professor in the division of cardiovascular medicine. I was inspired to be a doctor by my very early desire to help others, and I specialized in cardiology because I find the physiology of the cardiovascular system and the diversity of cardiac imaging tools fascinating. My specific interests include non-invasive cardiac imaging to diagnose and evaluate progression of valvular heart disease and coronary artery disease.
I earned my undergraduate degree from the University of Florida, and my medical degree from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. I completed an internal medicine residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, where I also completed a cardiology fellowship and served as the chief fellow. I have expertise in the following areas: valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia.
My name is Steven Ross, MD, and I am a clinical assistant professor of cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology in the University of Florida Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. I am board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular diseases by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
I attended Ross University School of Medicine in Portsmouth, Dominica, West Indies, to earn my medical degree. I then came to Gainesville to attend UF for both an internship and residency, specializing in internal medicine. Subsequently, I completed fellowships in cardiovascular medicine and clinical cardiac electrophysiology at UF.
My inspiration to pursue cardiology was inspired by my father, who dealt with valvular heart disease as I grew up. Through my studies and work in the broader field of cardiology, I was drawn to electrophysiology because I found fascination with ECGs and the cardiac electrical system. My research interests include studying various approaches to sympathetic denervation and effects on arrhythmias, studying conduction system pacing and improving efficacy of atrial fibrillation ablation. I have clinical interest in the management of implantable cardiac devices and cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia and ventricular arrhythmias.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Associate Professor
Thomas Lewandowski, MD, FACC, FASE, is a UF Health cardiologist board-certified in echocardiography, cardiovascular medicine, and cardiovascular computed tomography. He received his bachelor's degree in bioengineering from Syracuse University, and then went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Rochester. He completed his residency in internal medicine at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics and then went on to get his fellowship in general cardiology, echocardiography and pulmonary hypertension at the University of Michigan. He is certified in advanced cardiac life support and cardiovascular computed tomography and has been invited to speak at conferences across the nation on many subjects in cardiology and Health Care Quality and System Reform.Dr. Lewandowski is a member of numerous professional societies including the American College of Cardiology, the American Society of Echocardiography and the American Medical Association. He has also been on the board in leadership positions for many of these organizations. Dr. Lewandowski has been the recipient of various awards, including the Presidential Citation from the Florida Chapter of the ACC, the Health Care Innovations Award from the Alliance and the James T. Dove Chapter Recognition Award for Excellence in Quality.Dr. Lewandowski's clinical interests include; general cardiology, pulmonary hypertension, Health Policy and Systems Reform with a focus on quality and outcomes of care.
Job Titles:
- Administrative Specialist
Job Titles:
- Eminent Scholar & Chief, Marcia Whitney Schott Eminent Scholar
Job Titles:
- Clinical Assistant Professor / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
My name is Dr. William Cutting, and I am a clinical assistant professor in the UF Health division of cardiovascular medicine. I am triple board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular medicine and cardiovascular computed tomography.
The idea of being able to utilize my abilities and science background to help people on a daily basis is what drew me to medicine. As a cardiology physician and researcher, I am particularly interested in using coronary computed tomography, known as coronary CT, to identify people who are at higher risk of having a heart attack due to blockages in the coronary vessels that supply blood to the heart. I am dedicated to improving patient outcomes in the areas of coronary heart disease, thoracic aortic aneurysm, aortic valve disease and heart failure.
I am a native Floridian and pursued my higher and medical education from Florida universities, earning my undergraduate degree in microbiology from the University of Central Florida and a doctorate of medicine from the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. I completed my residency in internal medicine - where I was the chief resident - and a fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at the University of Florida - where I served first as co-chief fellow followed by chief fellow. After completing my fellowship, I served as an invasive cardiologist at Lee Health before returning to UF Health.
Dr. William Miles is Professor of Medicine and Silverstein Chair for Cardiovascular Education. He joined the faculty at the University of Florida in 2005. Prior to his current appointment, he was on the faculty at Indiana University from 1983-1998 where he was Professor of Medicine and Director of the Electrophysiology Laboratory. In 1998, he joined a cardiology/electrophysiology practice in Fort Myers, Florida, but remained active in teaching as Voluntary Professor of Medicine at the University of Miami. He is certified in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is a Fellow of American College of Cardiology and the Heart Rhythm Society. He is Program Director for the UF Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Training Program.