UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA HEALTH - Key Persons
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 Professor in the UF Division of Cardiovascular
- Professor of Medicine and VA Faculty
My name is Dr. David Winchester, and I am a professor in the UF College of Medicine departments of medicine and radiology. I practice general cardiology, focusing on noninvasive imaging, including echocardiography, nuclear cardiology and cardiac computed tomography.
My research interests include health system science and educational scholarship and I have participated in international cardiovascular trials such as PROMISE, ISCHEMIA, and VALOR-QI. I am the lead author of the American College of Cardiology 2023 Appropriate Use Criteria for Imaging in Chronic Coronary Disease and serve as the assistant chief of cardiology at the Malcom Randall Veterans Administration Medical Center. I earned bachelor's degrees in microbiology and sociology from the University of Florida. In 2005, I received my medical degree from the University of South Florida.
After medical school, I completed my residency in internal medicine at the University of Virginia and then returned to UF for my cardiology fellowship and master's in clinical and translational science. I have received several awards for research and teaching and have served in national leadership roles with the American College of Cardiology, the American Medical Association and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology. I am a native of Tallahassee, FL.
Dr. David Winchester is an associate professor in the UF Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. He practices general cardiology with a focus on noninvasive imaging including echocardiography, nuclear cardiology and cardiac computed tomography (CT). Dr. Winchester has active research projects on the evaluation of chest pain in the emergency department, appropriate use of cardiac CT, and meta-analysis. He serves as a co-investigator of the PROMISE trial and as the Cardiology Liaison for the Chest Pain Evaluation Center at Shands at UF. He received his BS in microbiology and BA in sociology at the University of Florida. In 2005, he received his MD at the University of South Florida. After medical school, Dr. Winchester completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Virginia and then returned to UF for his cardiology fellowship and MS in clinical and translational science. He has received several awards for his research and teaching and has served in national leadership roles with the Society of Chest Pain Centers, the American College of Cardiology, the American Medical Association. Dr. Winchester is a native of Tallahassee, FL.
Job Titles:
- Cardiologist, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
My name is Dr. Dhaval Naik and I am an assistant professor of cardiovascular medicine at UF Health. I am board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular medicine, and also received board certification in lipid disorders to become a diplomate of the American Board of Clinical Lipidology.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Professor, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine VA Faculty / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
My name is Dr. Eduardo J. Perez, and I am proud to join the esteemed University of Florida as an associate professor in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine.
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)
Hello, my name is Dr. Nashmil Hashemi, a cardiologist here at UF Health. I am originally from Sweden, where I studied in the Department of Molecular Biology at Uppsala University and attended medical school at Karolinska Institutet in Stockholm, the home of the Nobel Prize.
I believe deeply in centering my work around each patient's needs and preferences. I strive to listen actively and understand each person's individual concerns, making sure they feel heard and valued. I'm passionate about providing evidence-based care rooted in the latest research, while also tailoring my approach to each patient, recognizing that even within standardized practices, every patient has unique needs.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Associate Professor and Program Director, EP Fellowship Program
I am Dr. Ramil Goel, a cardiac electrophysiologist at UF Health. I am also an associate 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.
One aspect of my role at UF Health that I really enjoy is the opportunity to engage in scientific discovery that advances medical care and improves patient outcomes. UF Health electrophysiology is on the leading edge of medical care, and offers new procedures such as left atrial appendage occlusion devices - like the Watchman device - which have emerged as alternatives for patients who cannot take blood thinners for stroke prevention.
I am triple board-certified in cardiovascular diseases, echocardiography, and electrophysiology. I earned my medical degree from the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi, India, where I also completed a non-academic residency in the departments of hematology and cardiothoracic surgery. I went on to attend the State University of New York at Buffalo, where I completed a residency in internal medicine, followed by training as a cardiovascular disease fellow at the Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education in Arizona. I completed my clinical cardiac electrophysiology fellowship at the University of Michigan Hospital and Health System in Ann Arbor, Michigan.
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.
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:
- Assistant Professor, Division of Cardiovascular Medicine VA Faculty / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
My name is Jeet, and I am an assistant professor in the University Florida Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. I am board-certified in cardiovascular diseases, interventional cardiology, nuclear cardiology, echocardiology, and internal medicine. I specialize in structural heart disease, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), mitral transcatheter edge to edge repair (mTEER), left atrial appendage occlusion procedure (LAAO), among other minimally invasive transcatheter therapies. My clinical interests also include complex coronary interventions.
I earned my doctorate in medicine from the University of Missouri Kansas City in a combined BA/MD six-year program, and then I completed a residency in internal medicine/pediatrics at the University of Kansas School of Medicine Wichita. My fellowship in cardiovascular disease and advanced fellowship in interventional and structural cardiology were completed at the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. I spent one year as an instructor of medicine within the division of cardiology while serving as a structural fellow.
I became interested in interventional cardiology because it provides a nonsurgical option to repair damaged vessels and valves using minimally invasive procedures to improve the quality of life for patients who may not be surgical candidates.
Some of the leadership roles I have held include serving as a medical student mentor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City; chief resident for internal medicine and pediatrics, elected by faculty and residents, at the University of Kansas School of Medicine Wichita; and chief fellow in cardiovascular disease fellowship, elected by faculty, at the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine.
In my spare time, I love being outside and participating in nature photography. I am also an automobile enthusiast who enjoys cooking and sampling new cuisines.
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 / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
Hi my name is Jorge Fernandez, MD, FACC, and I am a cardiologist and an assistant professor in the University of Florida Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. I am board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in cardiovascular disease. Some areas of clinical emphasis are ultrasound, nuclear cardiology and heart arrhythmias.
My medical journey started at the University of South Florida where I double majored in economics and biomedical science, graduating as summa cum laude for both of my degrees. I remained at USF to complete my medical degree and my internal medical residency. I completed my cardiovascular disease fellowship at the State University of New York at Buffalo.
I very much enjoy teaching cardiovascular medicine. That is why I have participated in teaching activities like chest pain lectures for medical residents and electrocardiogram workshops for internal medicine residents, both while at SUNY Buffalo. I am also an active member in professional organizations, including the American College of Cardiology and the American Society of Echocardiography.
I am deeply committed to cardiovascular education. I practice this through activities with the American Board of Internal Medicine, and I am hoping to expand my involvement in educating the next generation of cardiologists. I will continue to expand and refine my own non-invasive skill sets with the goal of always providing the most updated and outstanding cardiology care. In my free time, I enjoy spending time with my partner playing chess, cooking and gardening.
Job Titles:
- Chief, Cardiovascular Medicine Professor of Medicine Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
- Professor & Chief, Vice Chair of Clinical Affairs
- 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 affiliated appointments in the Department of Physiology and Aging and the Department of Pharmacology & Therapeutics. Dr. Bruno is also Deputy Director of 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.
Job Titles:
- Associate Professor, Division of Cardiology / 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
- Medical Director, Mechanical Circulatory Support Program
- Professor of Medicine / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
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:
- Clinical Assistant Professor / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
My name is Natalie Bracewell, MD, FACC, 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. I am a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, and 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:
- 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
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.
Job Titles:
- Clinical Associate Professor Associate Program Director, Cardiology Fellowship VA Faculty / Department: MD - CARDIOLOGY
Robert F Hamburger, DO, MPH, FACC, is an associate professor at the University of Florida Division of Cardiology.
Dr. 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.
Dr. Hamburger is currently a staff cardiologist at Malcom Randall VA Medical Center and an associate professor in the division of cardiology at UF's College of Medicine. He is an associate program director for the cardiology fellowship, and is the VA program director for clinical training at the Malcom Randall VA Medical Center for the cardiology fellowship.
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 13 publications and papers and participating in numerous multicenter clinic trials, Dr. Hamburger's research interests lie in portable handheld ultrasound, sports cardiology, and SGLT2 inhibitors for heart failure. 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.
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:
- Eminent Scholar & Chief, Marcia Whitney Schott Eminent Scholar
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.