Stuart W. Adler, M.D.

Dr. Adler received his M.D. from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque and completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Case Western Reserve University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Adler's post-doctorate experience also includes a fellowship in cardiology and clinical electrophysiology at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in Denver. He is a Diplomate (board certified) of the American Board of Internal Medicine in the specialties of Internal Medicine, Adult Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology) and Cardiac Electrophysiology. Prior to joining the St. Paul Heart Clinic, Dr. Adler was an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Cardiovascular Division and Director of the ECG Laboratory at the University of Minnesota Hospital and Clinics in Minneapolis. 

Dr. Adler's practice of medicine focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias (supraventricular and ventricular), syncope (fainting) and device therapy (pacemakers and defibrillators). He is the Director of Electrophysiology Research at the St. Paul Heart Clinic, which presently encompasses both investigational arrhythmia and heart failure therapies, such as biventricular pacing.  Dr. Adler sees patients in consultation in St. Paul and Maplewood.



   Charles F. Alexander III, M.D.

Dr. Alexander III earned his M.D. from the Bowman Grey School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He is a member of Alpha Omega Alpha, the National Honor Medical Society. This Michigan native completed his education at the University of Michigan Hospitals in Ann Arbor and the University of Minnesota Hospitals, Minneapolis. He was also a staff internist and Chief of Professional Services at the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Dr. Alexander is a Diplomate (board certified) of the American Board of Internal Medicine in the specialties of Internal Medicine and Adult Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology). 

His areas of professional interest include percutaneous coronary interventions (therapies delivered via catheters during angiography) such as coronary angioplasty, coronary stenting and brachtherapy. He was the Medical Director of the PTCA Registry at United Hospital and a member of the American College of Cardiology's Third Party Payer's Committee, which established a database for coronary angioplasty in Minnesota. He has been in practice at the St. Paul Heart Clinic for 25 years.  Dr. Alexander sees patients in St. Paul and Maplewood.



   Alan J. Bank, M.D.

Dr. Bank received his M.D. from the University of Missouri, Columbia. He completed his internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship at the University of Minnesota Hospitals in Minneapolis. Dr. Bank pursued an additional yearlong fellowship focusing on heart failure/cardiac transplantation, echocardiography and clinical research. He is board certified in Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology) and Internal Medicine. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.

Dr. Bank's areas of clinical expertise include heart failure and echocardiography. He is the Medical Director of the Research Division of the St. Paul Heart Clinic. His research interests are endothelial function, arterial elastic mechanics, congestive heart failure and mechanisms of plaque rupture.  Dr. Bank is also the Medical Director of HealthEast Heart Care Research.  Dr. Bank sees patients in consultation in St. Paul.



   Kenneth W. Baran, M.D.

Dr. Baran earned his M.D. "with distinction" from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He completed a residency in internal medicine, followed by a three-year fellowship in cardiology at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. He stayed on for an additional yearlong fellowship at the University of Minnesota, receiving intensive training in interventional cardiology.

Dr. Baran is a Diplomate (board certified) of the American Board of Internal Medicine in the specialties of Internal Medicine and Adult Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology) and has subspecialty board certification in Interventional Cardiology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, a Fellow of the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Intervention and a member of the American Heart Association Council of Clinical Cardiology. He is a Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota.

Dr. Baran is the Medical Director of the Cardiovascular Laboratories at the John Nasseff Heart Hospital at United Hospital in St. Paul. He is actively involved in clinical research in acute coronary syndromes (acute myocardial infarction and unstable angina) and angiogenesis and is the site principal investigator for numerous scientific trials testing innovative drugs, devices and therapies.  Dr. Baran sees patients in St. Paul, Maplewood, Apple Valley and Farmington.



   Margaret M. Beahrs, M.D.

Dr. Beahrs earned her M.D. from the Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.  Her internal medicine residency and cardiovascular fellowship were completed at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota.  Dr. Beahrs is a Diplomate (board certified) of the American Board of Internal Medicine in the specialties of Internal Medicine and Adult Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology) and is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.  In addition to her practice at St. Paul Heart Clinic, Dr. Beahrs is the Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation at United Hospital and a Clinical Assistant Professor for the Family Practice Program at the University of Minnesota.  She is active in several professional organizations and has served on the Board of Trustees and as Secretary of the American College of Cardiology.  She is currently serving on the Board of Trustees of United Hospital.  

Dr. Beahrs has a special interest in critical care cardiovascular medicine, including interventional cardiology and transesophageal echocardiography.  Dr. Beahrs sees patients in St. Paul, Maplewood, and Hastings.



   Steven L. Benton, M.D.

Dr. Benton received his M.D. from the College of Medicine at the University of Iowa, Iowa City. His transitional internship was at Lutheran Hospital in LaCrosse, Wisconsin and his residency in internal medicine was completed at the Gundersen Medical Foundation, also in LaCrosse. He practiced internal medicine with the Gundersen Clinic in LaCrosse and then served for three years as a cardiology fellow, including a year as chief fellow, at the University of Illinois Hospital in Chicago. During this time, he also completed a preceptorship in nuclear cardiology at the Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago. He then served for a year on the faculty of the Abraham Lincoln School of Medicine at the University of Illinois in Chicago, where he taught medical students, residents and fellows about cardiovascular disease. Before joining the St. Paul Heart Clinic in 1998, he was in practice with HealthPartners in Minneapolis, St. Louis Park and St. Paul and was the Director of Nuclear Cardiology for both Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park and Regions Hospital in St. Paul.  Presently, Dr. Benton is the Medical Director of Nuclear Cardiology for the St. Paul Heart Clinic.

Dr. Benton is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in both Internal Medicine and in the subspecialty of Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology). He is also a Diplomate in Nuclear Cardiology of the Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology. In addition, he is licensed by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission as a physician authorized to use radiopharmaceuticals to diagnose heart disease. Dr. Benton is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a founding member of the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology.  His professional interests include cardiac catheterization, echocardiography, stress testing and nuclear cardiology with special focus on the diagnosis and treatment of coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease and congestive heart failure. He sees patients in consultation in St. Paul and Maplewood, as well as New Richmond, Wisconsin.



   Thomas A. Biggs, M.D.

Dr. Biggs received his M.D. from the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee. He completed his internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Dr. Biggs has conducted basic science research in coronary physiology as well as clinical research in interventional cardiology. Dr. Biggs served as a chief resident with the University of Minnesota Internal Medicine Residency program and also completed an additional year of coronary and peripheral interventional training at The Mid-America Heart Institute in Kansas City, Missouri.

Dr. Biggs's areas of clinical interest include general cardiology and coronary and peripheral arterial disease. Dr. Biggs is the Director of the Peripheral Vascular Disease subsection at the St. Paul Heart Clinic. He performs coronary angiography, coronary interventions, peripheral angiography and peripheral angioplasty. Dr. Biggs is also the Director of Physician Recruiting for the St. Paul Heart Clinic.  He sees patients in St. Paul and Maplewood.



   Richard J. Brody, M.D.

Dr. Brody was awarded his M.D. from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and served an internship at the New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. His internal medicine residency was completed at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. Subsequently, he was a cardiology fellow and Clinical Instructor in Cardiovascular Medicine at the West Roxbury-Brockton Veterans Administration Medical Center (Massachusetts) and the Harvard University Medical School, Boston. Dr. Brody is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a Diplomate (board certified) in both Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology).  His special interests in cardiology include transesophageal echocardiography and nuclear cardiac stress testing.  Dr. Brody sees patients in consultation in St. Paul, Maplewood and Hastings.



   Denise Carlson, RN, CNP

Ms. Carlson received her B.S. degree in Nursing and an M.S. degree as an Adult Nurse Practitioner from Metropolitan State University, St. Paul, Minnesota. She is certified as an Adult Nurse Practitioner through the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Ms. Carlson joined the St. Paul Heart Clinic in 1998 as an RN in an acute care setting in the hospital as well as seeing cardiac patients in the clinic. Becoming a certified Nurse Practitioner in 2007, her areas of clinical expertise include heart failure management and general cardiology, with an interest in diabetes management. Ms. Carlson sees patients in St. Paul.



   Charles M. Cliffe, M.D.

Dr. Cliffe is originally from Ohio and received his M.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine in Ohio and completed his residency in internal medicine at Montefiore Hospital, University Health Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He joined the St. Paul Heart Clinic following a cardiology fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Cliffe is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in both Internal Medicine and in the subspecialty of Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology).  In addition, he is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.   Dr. Cliffe is the Co-Chair of the Coronary Artery Disease Workgroup at HealthEast Heart Care.

Dr. Cliffe's special expertise is in valvular heart disease.   Dr. Cliffe's diagnostic interests include transesophageal echocardiography, exercise echocardiography and coronary angiography.  He sees patients in consultation in St. Paul and Maplewood as well as in New Richmond, Wisconsin.



   David N. Dunbar, M.D.

Dr. Dunbar received his M.D. from the Ohio State University in Columbus where he graduated summa cum laude. His residency and cardiology fellowship were done at the University of Minnesota Hospitals in Minneapolis. Following that, he was a staff cardiologist at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis and the Director of the Electrophysiology Laboratory at that institution. During that time, he was also an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Dunbar is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine and in the subspecialties of Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology) and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology.  He also has a Certificate of Special Competency in Cardiac Pacing. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a member of the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. 

Dr. Dunbar specializes in arrhythmia management, including electrophysiology, cardiac pacing, defibrillation and radiofrequency ablation.  He sees patients in consultation in St. Paul and Maplewood.



   Michael D. Garr, M.D.

Dr. Garr earned his M.D. at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, where he also completed a cardiology fellowship, as well as his residency and internship in internal medicine. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in both Internal Medicine and in the subspecialty of Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology).  Dr. Garr is the Co-Chair of the Congestive Heart Failure Workgroup at HealthEast Heart Care.  

His special interests include echocardiography, exercise echocardiography and adult congenital heart disease.  Dr. Garr sees patients in consultation in Maplewood and St. Paul, as well as in New Richmond, Wisconsin.



   Gregory A. Granrud, M.D.

Dr. Granrud received his M.D. from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. He completed his residency training in internal medicine at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis and his cardiology fellowship at the University of Minnesota Hospitals. Dr. Granrud is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine and in the subspecialties of Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology) and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology.  

Dr. Granrud's interests include comprehensive evaluation of ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias, including electrophysiologic studies, and radiofrequency ablations of tachycardias.  He has been actively involved in pacemaker and defibrillator therapies. In addition, he is particularly interested in evaluating patients for risk of sudden cardiac death and evaluating treatments for heart failure utilizing pacing/defibrillator devices.  Dr. Granrud sees patients in St. Paul.



   Richard B. Guthrie, M.D.

Dr. Guthrie earned his M.D. and completed his fellowship in cardiology at the University of Minnesota Hospitals in Minneapolis. He interned at Santa Clara Valley Medical Center in San Jose, California and was a resident at St. Mary's Long Beach Harbor General Hospital, also in California. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine and in the subspecialty of Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology).  

Dr. Guthrie's special area of interest is the management of lipid disorders. He is currently the Medical Director of the Lipid Clinic at the St. Paul Heart Clinic.  Dr. Guthrie sees patients in consultation in St. Paul, Maplewood, Woodbury, and Forest Lake.



   Dennis W. Halbe, M.D.

Dr. Halbe earned his M.D. from the University of Wisconsin.  His residency in internal medicine was at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and his fellowship in cardiology was at the St. Louis University Medical Center in St. Louis, Missouri. He is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine and in the subspecialty of Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology).   In addition, Dr. Halbe is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.

Dr. Halbe's special interests and expertise are in noninvasive cardiology including transesophageal echocardiography and exercise echocardiography.  Dr. Halbe is the Director of Noninvasive Cardiac Services at the John Nasseff Heart Hospital at United Hospital in St. Paul and Chair of the Noninvasive Cardiac Services Committee at the St. Paul Heart Clinic.  He sees patients in St. Paul and Maplewood, as well as Apple Valley and Farmington.



   Ann Hayden, RN, CNP

Ms. Hayden received her B.S. degree in Nursing from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota and a M.S. degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of San Diego, San Diego, California. She is certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Ms. Hayden joined the St. Paul Heart Clinic in 2002. Her areas of clinical expertise include congestive heart failure and general cardiology. Ms. Hayden's other areas of interest include lipid management and coronary artery disease. Ms. Hayden sees patients in Maplewood.



   Priscilla A. Hedberg, M.D.

Dr. Hedberg completed both her Doctor of Pharmacy and M.D. degrees at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. She completed her internal medicine internship, residency and cardiology fellowship at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven, Connecticut prior to joining St. Paul Heart Clinic in 1989. Dr. Hedberg is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in the specialties of Internal Medicine and Adult Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology). She is also a Diplomate in Nuclear Cardiology of the Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology.  Dr. Hedberg is a Medical Director on the Cardiovascular Council for the HealthEast Care System and is Medical Chief of Staff for Woodwinds Hospital. She is a member of St. Paul Heart Clinic Executive Committee and Co-Medical Director of Nuclear Cardiology for the St. Paul Heart Clinic.  As a Clinical Assistant Professor University of Minnesota Medical School she has actively participated in teaching cardiology in the Healtheast Care System.

 Dr. Hedberg's professional interest has been in nuclear cardiac imaging and in building the outpatient nuclear program at St. Paul Heart Clinic. She enjoys noninvasive cardiac evaluation including imaging by cardiac ultrasound (echocardiography); She also specializes in the pharmacologic therapy of cardiovascular diseases. Dr. Hedberg sees patients in consultation in Maplewood, St. Paul, and Hastings.



   Thomas Johnson, M.D.

Dr. Johnson received his M.D. from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. He completed training in internal medicine at the University of Minnesota and served as a chief medical resident at the Minneapolis Veterans Administration Medical Center. He also completed his cardiology fellowship training at the University of Minnesota and was chief cardiology fellow. Dr. Johnson served a six-month heart failure/transplant fellowship and was an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Minnesota prior to entering private practice. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology) and is a Fellow of the American College on Cardiology. 

Dr. Johnson's special interests and training are in the diagnosis and management of heart failure, and the performance and interpretation of noninvasive cardiac imaging and diagnostic heart catheterization.  Dr. Johnson sees patients in consultation in St. Paul, Maplewood and Stillwater, as well as Hudson and River Falls, Wisconsin.



   Maureen A. Kane, M.D.

Dr. Kane earned her M.D. from the University of Minnesota Medical School.  She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Minnesota.  Her cardiology training was also conducted at the University of Minnesota.  

Dr. Kane joined the St. Paul Heart Clinic in 2003.  She had previously  practiced cardiology with Minneapolis Cardiology Associates at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis and the Minnesota Heart Clinic in Edina, Minnesota.  Dr. Kane maintains an active office based practice at the St. Paul Heart Clinic in Maplewood.  Her professional interests include general clinical cardiology and noninvasive cardiology including echocardiography and tissue Doppler imaging.


   Patrick T. Koller, M.D.

Dr. Koller earned his M.D. from the University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis, and completed his residency at the University of Michigan Hospitals in Ann Arbor. He completed his cardiology fellowship at the Washington University School of Medicine/Barnes Hospital, St. Louis, Missouri and interventional cardiology training at the William Beaumont Hospital, Royal Oak, Michigan. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology) and Interventional Cardiology. Dr. Koller's professional interests include coronary angioplasty, intracoronary stent placement and coronary atherectomy.  He sees patients in consultation in St. Paul and Maplewood.



   Spencer H. Kubo, M.D.

Dr. Kubo earned his M.D. from the Medical College of Cornell University and was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, the medical school honor society.  He completed his internship and residency at The New York Hospital in New York, NY.  His fellowship in cardiology was also completed at The New York Hospital. Subsequently, Dr. Kubo was a member of the Cardiovascular Division of the University of Minnesota, where he was Professor of Medicine and Co-Director of Clinical Cardiology.  Dr. Kubo was also Medical Director of the Heart Failure-Heart Transplantation program.

Dr. Kubo has published more than 250 papers and abstracts, and is widely regarded as a leading scholar and researcher in heart failure.  He has served on the editorial boards of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, The Journal of Cardiac Failure, The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, Heart Failure and The Journal of Laboratory and Clinical Medicine.  Dr. Kubo is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association.

Dr. Kubo joined Acorn Cardiovascular, Inc. in 2001 as Senior Vice President and Global Medical Director.  Dr. Kubo led the clinical team that developed the CorCap, a mesh jacket that is implanted around the heart and is intended to reduce wall stress and promote beneficial reverse remodeling of the heart. 

Dr. Kubo joined the St. Paul Heart Clinic in 2005 and sees patients part-time in St. Paul.



   Brian D. Mahoney, M.D.

Dr. Mahoney earned his M.D. from the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in Rochester, New York.  He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the University of Wisconsin in Madison, Wisconsin.  His fellowship in cardiology was also at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, including an additional year dedicated to coronary and peripheral interventional training.

Since his arrival at the St. Paul Heart Clinic in 2004, Dr. Mahoney has pursued additional peripheral vascular interventional training at the Cleveland Clinic and in Sioux Falls.

Dr. Mahoney is board certified in Internal Medicine and Adult Cardiovascular Medicine (cardiology).  He is a member of the Interventional Subsection at the St. Paul Heart Clinic with expertise in both coronary and peripheral vascular interventions.  Dr. Mahoney sees patients in consultation in St. Paul.


   Thomas Nobrega, M.D.

 

Dr. Nobrega earned his MD from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.  His internal medicine residency was completed at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Rochester.  Dr. Nobrega also completed his cardiology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, in Rochester.  Prior to joining the St. Paul Heart Clinic, Dr. Nobrega was a consultant in cardiology at the Mayo Clinic affiliates in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and Mankato, Minnesota. 

 

Dr. Nobrega is a member of the Noninvasive Subsection at the St. Paul Heart Clinic.  His clinical areas of expertise include general cardiology, transesophageal echocardiography and nuclear cardiology.  He sees patients in St. Paul and Maplewood.

   Jeffrey Olson, M.D.

Dr. Olson earned his MD degree at the University of Iowa College of Medicine.  He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, NH.  He also completed his cardiology fellowship at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center.  

 

Dr. Olson is a member of the Noninvasive Subsection of the St. Paul Heart Clinic.  His areas of special interest are general cardiology, transesophageal echocardiography, exercise echocardiography, and nuclear cardiology.  He sees patients in St. Paul and Maplewood.


   Michael A. Peterson, M.D.

 

Dr. Peterson received his M.D. from the Medical College of Wisconsin in Milwaukee.  He completed his internal medicine residency at Abbott-Northwestern Hospital, his clinical cardiovascular fellowship at Washington Hospital Center, Washington, DC, and his clinical electrophysiology fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN.  Dr. Peterson is a Diplomate (board certified) of the American Board of Internal Medicine in the specialties of Internal Medicine, Adult Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology) and Cardiac Electrophysiology.  Prior to joining St. Paul Heart Clinic, Dr. Peterson was the Director of Electrophysiology at the DuPage Medical Group in Naperville, Ill.

 

Dr. Peterson offers services in all facets of electrophysiology with special interests in diagnosis and treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac pacing, implantable defibrillators and atrial fibrillation ablations.  Dr. Peterson sees patients in consultation in St. Paul and Maplewood.

 



   Kamalesh M. Pillai, M.D.

Dr. Pillai received his M.D. from the University of Michigan Medical School in Ann Arbor. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Minnesota Hospitals in Minneapolis. His cardiology fellowship was done at Rush-Presbyterian-St. Luke's Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Pillai is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine and in the subspecialty of Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology).  He is also a Diplomate (board certified) of the Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology.  Dr. Pillai's interests and training are focused on nuclear cardiology, valvular heart disease and heart failure management.



   Tarang Ray, M.D.
   

Dr. Ray received his MD from the Maharaja Sayajirao University School of Medicine in Gujarat, India.  He completed his internship at the Queens Hospital Center in Jamaica, New York, which is affiliated with the Mount Sinai School of Medicine.  His internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship were completed at the Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, which is affiliated with the Hahnemann School of Medicine.

 

Dr. Ray is a member of the Noninvasive Subsection of the St. Paul Heart Clinic.  His areas of special interest include general cardiology, nuclear cardiology, transesophageal echocardiography and preventive cardiology.  Dr. Ray sees patients in consultation in St. Paul and Maplewood. 

   Thomas E. Raya, M.D.

Dr. Raya earned his M.D. from the Abraham Lincoln School of Medicine at the University of Illinois in Chicago and completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of Oregon, Portland.  His cardiology fellowship was at the University of Arizona in Tucson.  Dr. Raya is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine and in the subspecialties of Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology) and Interventional Cardiology.  Prior to moving to St. Paul, Dr, Raya was the Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at the Veterans Administration Medical Center in Tucson, Arizona and an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Arizona.  Before joining the St. Paul Heart Clinic, he was a member of the HealthPartners Medical Group and was on the medical staff of Regions Hospital in St. Paul.

 Dr.Raya is a member of the Research Committee of the St. Paul Heart Clinic with a special interest in new treatments for acute myocardial infarction.  His clinical interests include the treatment of heart failure and therapy for coronary artery disease including angioplasty and stenting.  Dr. Raya sees patients in consultation in St. Paul and Maplewood.



   Franz Reisdorf, M.D.

Dr. Reisdorf received his M.D. from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. He served his internship, residency and fellowship in cardiology also at the University of Minnesota. He has taught as a Clinical Instructor in Cardiology and continues to hold a faculty position as a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Family Practice and Community Health at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Reisdorf is a Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners and is board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine and in the subspecialty of Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology).  He is the Medical Director of Echocardiography at the St. Paul Heart Clinic.  

His clinical interests and training have focused on valvular heart disease, general cardiology, echocardiography (transthoracic, transesophageal and exercise), as well as other methods of noninvasive diagnostic testing.  Dr. Reisdorf sees patients in consultation in St. Paul and Maplewood as well as Hudson and River Falls, Wisconsin.



   Peter K. Rusterholz, M.D.

Dr. Rusterholz earned his M.D. at the University of Minnesota Medical School, Minneapolis. He completed an internship, residency and a fellowship in cardiology at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston.  Dr. Rusterholz is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine and Adult Cardiovascular Medicine (Cardiology).  He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and is also certified by the American Board of Medical Examiners. Dr. Rusterholz subspecialty is interventional cardiology (coronary angioplasty, atherectomy and stenting).  He sees patients in consultation in St. Paul, Maplewood and Stillwater.

 



   Nazifa Sajady, M.D.

Dr. Sajady received her Master of Science in Physiology and her M.D. from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. She completed her internal medicine training at the Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis. She then served as a staff internist at Regions Hospital in St. Paul.  Following that, she completed a cardiovascular fellowship at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan.  Dr. Sajady is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine and Adult Cardiovascular Medicine (Cardiology).  

Dr. Sajady's specific professional interests include clinical cardiology and all modalities of echocardiography as well as nuclear cardiology.  She sees patients in consultation in St. Paul, Maplewood, Apple Valley and Farmington.

 



   Cindy Schabert, RN, CNP

Ms. Schabert received her B.S. degree in Nursing from Winona State University, Winona, Minnesota and a M.S. degree as a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota. She is certified as a Gerontological Nurse Practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing and the National Conference of Geriatric Nurse Practitioners.  

Ms. Schabert joined the St. Paul Heart Clinic in 2002. Her areas of clinical expertise include post intervention care and general cardiology, especially related to gerontology. Ms. Schabert sees patients in St. Paul and Maplewood.



   Kari Smith, RN, CNP

Ms. Smith received her B.A. degree in Nursing from Luther College, Decorah, Iowa and a M.S. degree as a Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Eau Claire, Wisconsin. She is certified as a Family Nurse Practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is a member of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing.

Ms. Smith joined the St. Paul Heart Clinic in 1996. Her areas of clinical expertise include electrophysiology, atrial fibrillation and general cardiology. Ms. Smith is the Clinical Coordinator of the Atrial Fibrillation Clinic at the St. Paul Heart Clinic. Ms. Smith sees patients in St. Paul and Maplewood.



   Victor H. Tschida, M.D.

Dr. Tschida earned his M.D. from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.  He remained at that institution for both his internal medicine residency and a cardiology fellowship. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine and Adult Cardiovascular Medicine (Cardiology).   In addition to his private practice, he serves as St. Paul Heart Clinic’s president, as clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota and is medical director of United’s John Nasseff Heart Hospital. Dr. Tschida is a past president of the Minnesota Chapter of the American College of Cardiology and served on the National Board of Governors for that organization.

Dr. Tschida specializes in noninvasive, office and hospital-based consultative cardiology.  He sees patients in St. Paul, Maplewood and Forest Lake.



   R. Dent Underwood, M.D.

Dr. Underwood received his M.D. from the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine.  He completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota.  His cardiology fellowship was accomplished at St. Louis University Medical Center, Missouri, followed by an additional yearlong fellowship program in cardiovascular research at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine in Rochester. His fellowship in cardiac electrophysiology was conducted at the University of Wisconsin Medical School, Milwaukee Clinical Campus.  He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Cardiac Electrophysiology.  

Dr. Underwood focuses on all aspects of clinical electrophysiology.  His special interests include implantable defibrillators and radiofrequency ablation.  Dr. Underwood is the Director of the Electrophysiology Laboratory at the John Nasseff Heart Hospital.  He sees patients in consultation in St. Paul and Maplewood.



   Uma Valeti, M.D.

Dr. Valeti earned his medical degree from Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medicine and Research (JIPMER), one of the top medical schools in India.  He completed his internship in internal medicine at Wayne State University in Detroit and then his internal medicine residency at State University of New York (SUNY), Buffalo. During his final year he was honored with the title of Chief Resident and was also awarded an American Heart Association postdoctoral fellowship award.

He subsequently moved to the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN where he completed his fellowship in General Cardiology as well as, Interventional Cardiology and advanced Cardiovascular MRI and CT with level 3 certification.

During his career so far, Dr. Valeti has received several clinical and research awards, grants and served as a primary investigator as well as co-investigator in single and multi-center clinical trials.  He has presented several research papers at national conferences and authored several manuscripts.

Dr. Valeti is a member of the Interventional Subsection at St. Paul Heart Clinic and performs routine and complex coronary angioplasty and stenting, complex hemodynamic evaluation, PFO closures and clinical trials in acute coronary syndromes.

Dr. Valeti is the Medical Director of the Cardiac MRI and CT program at United Hospital in St. Paul and is the Director of Advanced Cardiovascular MRI & CT at the St. Paul Heart Clinic.   His research interests involve correlation of non-invasive MRI/CT imaging to invasive evaluation in the cardiac catherization laboratories and early detection of heart disease and risk stratification of patients using advanced cardiovascular MRI and CT.

Dr. Valeti has a special interest in evaluating patients and families with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and is actively involved in research into this common under detected genetic disease process. He continues his research work at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester through a research collaborator appointment.

Dr. Valeti is a Diplomate (board certified) of the American Board of Internal Medicine in the specialties of Internal Medicine and Adult Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology) and has subspecialty board certification in Interventional Cardiology.  Dr. Valeti sees patients in St. Paul.

 

 

 



   Pierce J. Vatterott, M.D.

Dr. Vatterott completed his medical training at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota and was a Merck Scholar of the American College of Cardiology in Electrophysiology Research. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a Diplomate of the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology.  Dr.Vatterott is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine, Adult Cardiovascular Medicine (Cardiology) and Electrophysiology.  He was formerly an Associate Consultant at the Mayo Clinic, Rochester, and prior to joining the St. Paul Heart Clinic was at the Geisinger Medical Center in Danville, Pennsylvania.  Dr. Vatterott is the Medical Director of Electrophysiology at HealthEast Heart Care.

Dr. Vatterott's specialties include cardiac electrophysiology, pacemaker therapy, lead extraction, radiofrequency ablation for cardiac arrhythmias, cardiac defibrillator implantation and management, as well as biventricular pacing for congestive heart failure.  He sees patients in consultation in St. Paul and Maplewood.



   Marjorie Webb, RN, CNP

 

Mrs. Webb received her B.S. degree in Nursing from San Diego State University, San Diego, California and a M.S. degree as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner from the University of Texas, Houston, Texas. She is certified as an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner through the American Nurses Credentialing Center and is a member of the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, the American College of Nurse Practitioners, and the National Organization of Nurse Practitioner Faculty.

 

Mrs. Webb joined the St. Paul Heart Clinic in 2007. Her areas of clinical expertise include heart failure and general cardiology. Mrs. Webb sees patients in St. Paul.

 



   Thomas Wiberg, M.D.

Dr. Wiberg received his M.D. from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. His internship, residency and cardiology training were attained at the Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. He was a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, Wichita.  Additionally, he has taught as a Clinical Instructor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Wiberg is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine and in the subspecialty of Cardiovascular Disease. He is a Diplomate of the National Board of Medical Examiners and a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.  Additionally, he has taken a very active role in the regional leadership of the American Heart Association.  Dr. Wiberg serves as the Chief Operating Officer of the St. Paul Heart Clinic.

 His special interests include cardiac catheterization and coronary interventions including angioplasty and stenting.  Dr. Wiberg sees patients in consultation in St. Paul, Maplewood and Stillwater.