Chief, Cardiovascular Medicine; Associate Professor of Medicine
Jacobs School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences
Cardiology; Interventional Cardiology
I am an interventional cardiologist specializing in structural heart interventions. My clinical practice includes general cardiology, interventional cardiology and complex valvular heart diseases. I see patients at the UBMD cardiology offices--and at Buffalo General Medical Center (BGMC), where I direct the complex valve clinic. I also direct structural heart interventions at the Gates Vascular Institute (GVI) and BGMC, and in that capacity I perform transcatheter aortic valve replacements, mitral clip procedures, left atrial appendage occlusion, atrial and ventricular septal defect closure and percutaneous paravalvular leak closures. I also care for patients by performing routine diagnostic coronary angiograms and percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI)/angioplasty.
I believe that in this era of technologically advanced, modern medicine it is the physician’s responsibility to educate patients in a straightforward and open manner about the different treatment modalities. I spend time with my patients to ensure that they are comfortable with the treatment options they choose and that they have a clear understanding of the alternatives, benefits and risks.
My research interests are in new devices for aortic and mitral valve replacement, novel therapeutics in the form of stem cells and newer therapies for acute coronary syndromes. I also collaborate with the Toshiba Stroke Research Center to develop advanced imaging modalities in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. I am investigating the use of robotic PCI to improve precision in stent placement and reduce radiation dosage in the catheterization laboratory, and I serve as the local principal investigator for a number of multicenter clinical trials in these areas. For example, I am: evaluating the LOTUS transcatheter valve to CoreValve in high-risk patients (Reprise III, Boston Scientific); investigating the safety and efficacy of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in patients with severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) at intermediate surgical risk by randomizing patients to either surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) or TAVI (SURTAVI, Medtronic); and determining the efficacy of cardiac stem cells in patients with recent myocardial infarction and ischemic cardiomyopathy (ALLSTAR, Capricor.
I train residents and cardiology fellows through didactic and bedside teaching, and I mentor their research projects. I also oversee cardiology fellows in outpatient settings. Additionally, I collaborate with the departments of Anesthesiology and Pediatrics and the Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine to train their residents and fellows.