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The WVU Heart Institute

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The Heart Institute Physicians

Arpy Balian, MD, FACC, received her medical degree from Aleppo University in Syria and received her specialty training at New York University Medical Center and St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children. She is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the American Board of Pediatric Cardiology. She specializes in general pediatric cardiology and echocardiography. In conjunction with the high-risk obstetrics clinic, Dr. Balian runs an active fetal echocardiography clinic. Her services provide parents with consultation and education about their children’s cardiac condition before they are born. She also staffs the outreach clinic in Martinsburg.

Robert J. Beto, MD, section chief of cardiology, earned his medical degree from WVU and completed his internal medicine residency at WVU. He completed a fellowship in cardiology in the WVU Department of Medicine’s Cardiology Section and is a fellow with the American College of Cardiology.

Geoffrey R. Cousins, MD, an assistant professor of surgery and director of Cardiac Robotic Surgery received his medical degree from the University of Michigan Medical Center. He completed a general surgery internship and fellowship at St. John Hospital in Detroit and cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at the Medical College of Virginia. Cousins is board certified in surgery and thoracic surgery. He performs minimally invasive, robot-assisted heart and beating heart surgery.

Jose Cruzzavala, MD, earned his medical degree at Universidad Autonama de Tamaulipas-Mexico. He also completed specialty training at the University of Massachusetts and Kaiser Permanente Medical Center in California. He is board certified in general and cardiothoracic surgery. His areas of special interest include minimally-invasive coronary bypass surgery, minimally-invasive valve surgery, mitral valve repair, heart assist devices, and aneurysms of the great vessels.

Alexandre d'Audiffret, MD, graduated from the University of Manitoba School of Medicine and completed his surgical training at the University of Minnesota and the University of Pennsylvania. He subsequently completed a fellowship in vascular surgery at the State University of New York at Buffalo and then completed a clinical fellowship in endovascular surgery under Professor Jean Pierre Becquemin at the University of Paris. Dr. d’Audiffret’s research interests include endothelial response to thrombosis, intimal hyperplasia and oxidative stress, and endo-aneurysmal pressurization post endovascular repair. His area of clinical interest and expertise include endovascular aneurysm repair and carotid artery angioplasty and stent placement. Dr. d’Audiffret is board certified in general and vascular surgery.

Conard F. Failinger, III, MD, FACC, FASE, received his medical degree from Vanderbilt University and completed specialty training at Vanderbilt, Georgetown University, and Washington Veterans Administration Hospital. He is board certified in cardiology and internal medicine. His special interests include echocardiography and adult congenital heart disease.

Mitchell S. Finkel, MD, is board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease. He received his medical degree from the University of Maryland and received his specialty training at Baylor College of Medicine, Yale University, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute at the National Institute of Health. His areas of special interest are prevention and heart failure.

Wissam Gharib, MD, completed his medical degree and specialty training, including fellowships and subspecialty training, at WVU. His training includes an internal medicine residency and fellowships in cardiology and interventional cardiology, his subspecialty. He is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and interventional cardiology. His areas of special interest include peripheral vascular disease, cardiology, and nuclear cardiology.

Robert A. Gustafson, MD, is chief of pediatric cardiothoracic surgery. He earned his medical degree and completed his residency at WVU. He also received specialty training at Boston Children’s Hospital. He is board certified in general and thoracic surgery. His areas of special interest include gastroesophageal reflux, chest wall deformities, congenital heart disease, pediatric thoracic surgery, myocardial preservation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and adult congenital heart disease.

Robert W. Hull, MD, a cardiac electrophysiologist, received his medical degree at Atlanta’s Emory University. Following a residency in internal medicine at Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center in Colorado, he went on to do a fellowship in cardiology and electrophysiology at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, D.C. Hull relocated to Greenville, S.C., and was the founding member of Arrhythmia Consultants, P.A., in Greenville. His expertise includes the implantation of cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators, catheter ablation of arrhythmias, complex catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation, and implantation of biventricular cardiac resynchronization devices.

Abnash Jain, MD, FACC, FACP, FSCAI, is a graduate of Punjab University in India. He completed post-graduate work in England and Ireland. His United States residency and fellowship were completed at the Albany Medical Center in New York and the University of Illinois in Chicago. He served as governor of the West Virginia Chapter of the American College of Cardiology and has also served as president of the West Virginia Heart Association.

Anthony Morise, MD, FACC, is board certified in nuclear cardiology and exercise testing. He received his medical degree and specialty training from the University of Vermont. His areas of special interest are cardiac MRI, CT, and the use of the 64-slice CT.

William A. Neal, MD, earned his medical degree from WVU, where he was the first recipient of the Edward J. Van Liere Award for medical student research. He continued his training as an intern at Milwaukee County General Hospital and studied pediatric cardiology at the University of Minnesota. Dr. Neal was influential in the establishment of pediatric cardiology outreach clinics in West Virginia as well as the emergency transportation of critical care infants. He established the CARDIAC (Coronary Artery Risk Detection in Appalachian Communities) Project, which is designed to address the high morbidity and mortality from cardiovascular disease in West Virginia. In addition, he staffs the Pediatric Lipid Clinic in Morgantown and outreach clinics in Beckley, Huntington, Lewisburg, Princeton, and Wheeling.

John R. Phillips, MD, FACC, received his medical degree from Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine. He completed his advanced training in pediatric cardiology and electrophysiology at Columbus Children’s Hospital and Cook Children’s Hospital in Texas. He specializes in general pediatric cardiology, invasive electrophysiology, and diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Dr. Phillips’ special interests include catheter ablation of arrhythmias, pacemaker and defibrillator placement and care, and prevention of sudden cardiac death in youth. He is the medical director of the school-based Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) for Monongalia County and staffs the outreach clinic in Wheeling.

Lakshmikumar Pillai, MD, is the chief of vascular surgery and director of the non-invasive vascular laboratory. Dr. Pillai completed his medical degree and surgical residency at WVU and a fellowship in vascular surgery at the University of South Florida Hospitals in Tampa. He has particular interest and expertise in endovascular aneurysm repair for the treatment of ruptured aortic aneurysm (both thoracic and abdominal), carotid artery angioplasty and stent placement, and minimally invasive lower extremity revascularization. Dr. Pillai is board certified in general and vascular surgery and surgical critical care.

Larry A. Rhodes, MD FACC, FHRS, is the chief of pediatric cardiology and is board certified by the American Board of Pediatrics and the sub-board of Pediatric Cardiology. He completed his medical degree at WVU, where he also served as a chief resident in pediatrics. He received training in pediatric cardiology at Children’s Hospital Boston, where he served as chief fellow. He specializes in general pediatric cardiology, electrophysiology, and diagnostic cardiac catheterization. Dr. Rhodes’ interests include the diagnosis and treatment of arrhythmias, adults with congenital heart disease, and cardiac intensive care. He staffs the outreach clinics in Beckley and Parkersburg.

Stanley B. Schmidt, MD, FACC, received his medical degree from the University of Virginia and his specialty training at Medical College of Virginia and George Washington University. He is board certified in clinical cardiac electrophysiology, cardiovascular disease, and internal medicine. His areas of special interest include arrhythmias, pacemakers, catheter ablation, and defibrillators.

Robert Tallaksen, MD, of the WVU Department of Radiology, is a 64-slice CT expert. He received his medical degree from the University of North Carolina. He completed specialty training at the U.S. Naval Hospital, Bethesda, MD, and the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Washington, DC. He is board certified in radiology and his area of special interest is pulmonary medicine.

Kevin J. Tveter, MD received his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine and specialty training in general surgery at the University of Minnesota. He completed a fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Tveter also completed a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at WVU and has extensive experience with coronary bypass surgery, installing pacemakers, and valve repair and replacement. He also performs minimally invasive procedures.

Rakesh K. Vohra, MD, is board certified in internal medicine. He received his medical degree from Dayanand Medical College in Ludhiana, Punjab, India, and completed specialty training at WVU. His special interests include treating diseases of the heart and vascular system.

Bradford Warden, MD, received his medical degree and specialty training at WVU. He is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and interventional cardiology. His areas of special interest are interventional cardiology and peripheral vascular disease.

Pamela Zimmerman, MD, graduated from the East Carolina University School of Medicine and received surgical training at SUNY Syracuse and specialized training in vascular surgery at SUNY-Buffalo. Dr. Zimmerman’s research interests include education of vascular disease for primary care doctors and education and training of general and vascular surgeons. Her areas of clinical interest and expertise include endovascular aneurysm repair, peripheral artery revascularization, and treatment of varicose veins with minimally invasive techniques. Dr. Zimmerman is board certified in general surgery.

Affliated with WVU

Gerardo Lopez, MD, is board certified in cardiovascular disease, interventional cardiology, and internal medicine. He received his medical degree and specialty training at WVU.

Abdulmalek Sabbagh, MD, received his medical degree from the University of Aleppo in Syria. He completed an internal medicine residency at Conemaugh Valley Hospital and a cardiology fellowship at Thomas Jefferson Memorial Hospital. He is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and interventional cardiology.