Conference Co-Directors

Cameron Akbari, MD
Frank Arko, MD
Anvar Babaev, MD
Frank Bunch, MD
Nick Cavros, MD
David Cohen, MD
Anthony Comerota, MD
Tom Davis, MD
Eric Dippel, MD
Robert Gallino, MD
Yazan Khatib, MD
P.K. Krishnan, MD
Thomas McNamara, MD
Christopher Metzger, MD
Miguel Montero-Baker, MD
Amir Motarjeme, MD
Aravinda Nanjundappa, MD
Manish Parikh, MD
Raghotham Patlola, MD 
Oscar Rosales, MD
John Paul Runyon, MD
Ron Smalling, MD
Kalyan Veerina, MD
Grayson Wheatley, MD

Cameron Akbari, MD

Dr. Akbari is a graduate of Georgetown University and Georgetown University Medical School.  He subsequently was a resident in surgery at the University of Connecticut and a resident in vascular surgery at the New England Deaconess Hospital in Boston.  After his residency at the Deaconess, he stayed on as a faculty member, serving as instructor and subsequently assistant professor of surgery at Harvard Medical School.

In 2002, he moved back to his hometown of Washington D.C. to become the Director of the Vascular Diagnostic Lab and senior attending in vascular surgery at the Washington Hospital Center which he continues presently.

In 2005, Dr. Akbari graduated from the Carey Business School of the Johns Hopkins University with an MBA, where he was awarded the “Student of the Year” award by the faculty.  He has remained on faculty at Hopkins, serving as an adjunct instructor of the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School since 2005.

Facile in all aspects of vascular and endovascular surgery, Dr. Akbari’s strongest clinical interest is in the area of lower extremity interventions and complex limb salvage.  He is the author or co-author of over fifty articles and book chapters, and has lectured extensively in the United States and abroad in the area of lower extremity vascular interventions.

Frank R. Arko, MD

Frank Arko, MD is an Associate Professor at University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, TX. He received his B.S. in Zoology from Texas A&M University and his MD in 1994 from Texas A&M University. He completed his internship and his residency at Scott & White Hospital, Texas A&M University Health Science Center in 1999. Dr. Arko completed his Clinical Vascular Fellowship in 2000 and his Endovascular Fellowship in 2001 from Stanford University Hospital, CA. He completed a Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship from Stanford University Hospital in 2001 and Senior Preceptorship Endovascular Surgery from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX in 2002. Dr. Arko was an Assistant Professor, Director of Endovascular Surgery at Stanford University Medical Center from July 2001 to August 2004. In September 2004, he joined the full-time faculty in the Department of Surgery at the University of Texas Medical Center where he is currently Associate Professor, Chief Endovascular Surgery of the Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery. His research interests include simulation-based medical planning for cardiovascular disease and aortic wall microarchitecture and cyclic strain. He is involved with multiple clinical trials some of which are evaluation of the Medtronic Vascular TALENT Thoracic Stent Graft System for the treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms, carotid revascularization with ev3 arterial technology evolution (CREATE) trial, AneuRx Medtronic stent graft for treatment of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms., and enhanced Talent LPS system for treatment of infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms. Dr. Arko is on the Editorial Boards of Endovascular Today, Journal of Endovascular Therapy, Journal of Vascular Surgery and Mayo Clinic Proceedings. He is a member of numerous surgical societies including The Southern Association for Vascular Surgery, International Academy of Clinical and Applied Thrombosis/Homeostasis, Society for Vascular Surgery, International Society of Endovascular Specialists, Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society and American College of Surgeons. Dr. Arko is married and the father of 4 children.

Anthony J. Comerota, MD

Dr. Anthony J. Comerota received his medical degree from Temple University School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA, and completed his general surgery residency at Temple University Hospital and his vascular surgery fellowship at Good Samaritan Hospital, Cincinnati, OH.

Dr. Comerota returned to the Temple University Health Sciences Center as a faculty member where he became Chief of Vascular Surgery, Professor of Surgery, Program Director in General and Vascular Surgery, President of the Medical Staff and President of the Medical Alumni Association. In 2002, Dr. Comerota accepted his present position of Director of the Jobst Vascular Center at The Toledo Hospital, Toledo, Ohio and Adjunct Professor of Surgery at the University of Michigan.

Dr. Comerota has been a major contributor to the development of some of the newest forms of treatment for vascular disease and has been the principal investigator of six major national trials and a co-investigator of numerous others. His research interests span a broad range of arterial and venous disorders, including the management of acute DVT, therapeutic angiogenesis, noninvasive diagnosis of vascular disease, development of new devices, new drug development, and the effects of platelet-inhibiting drugs. He has received over $4.5 million in research funding, including support from NIH, the American Heart Association and the American Diabetes Association.
Dr. Comerota is a member of 20 professional societies and has served as president of four major societies. He is an Associate Editor for VASCULAR, sits on the editorial board of VASCULAR AND ENDOVASCULAR SURGERY and ANNALS OF VASCULAR SURGERY, and is a reviewer for 17 other journals, including THE NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE. Dr. Comerota has written or edited 7 textbooks and authored more than 300 publications.

Dr. Comerota is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honorary Society, Honorary Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, the Japanese Society of Phlebology, and the European Venous Forum. He has received the Alumni Merit Award from Millikin University and been named to Who’s Who in America and Best Doctors in America.

Thomas Davis, MD

Dr. Thomas Davis is the Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab and Director of Peripheral Interventions and Disease at St. John Hospital and Medical Center. In a rapidly changing field where emerging technologies and innovative medications change the landscape, Dr. Davis navigates the innovations to ensure top quality patient care. Finding great interest in the changes of heart care, Dr. Davis looks for the best treatment options to achieve the best outcomes for his patients. Finding his passion, Dr. Davis specializes in peripheral arterial disease non-surgical limb salvage. A pioneer in lower extremity arterial disease and stenting as well as carotid artery stenting, Dr. Davis participates on scientific advisory boards for interventional device development, and he is involved in multiple clinical trials for new technology in endovascular therapies. Dr. Davis also shares his vast knowledge through lectures he gives across the country. A true advocate, Dr. Davis is also the Director of the Detroit Chapter “Save a Limb, Save a Life”. So following in his brother's footsteps turned out to be a good decision after all, since Dr. Davis didn't set his eyes on medicine until college. But once he decided "a doctor" is what he wanted to be, Dr. Davis found a passion for heart care. "I decided to become a cardiologist during my residency. While on rotation, I felt I could make the biggest impact helping people with heart and vascular diseases," states Dr. Davis. Once in Detroit, Dr. Davis began his practice at St. John Health System to make a difference, but also to be close to loved ones. "St. John offers first-rate quality care, and I immediately experienced the skill and proficiency of the support staff. They create a truly caring environment. It also helped that my brother and friends practiced at St. John too," expresses Dr. Davis. Dr. Davis received his medical degree from St. George’s University in Grenada, and he completed his residency in internal medicine, cardiology and interventional cardiology at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. Dr. Davis is board certified through the American Board of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases and Interventional Cardiology.

Eric J Dippel, MD

Eric J. Dippel, M.D. is a private practice-based cardiovascular and peripheral vascular interventionist with Cardiovascular Medicine, P.C., Davenport, IA. and also is the President of Midwest Cardiovascular Research Foundation.

Dr. Dippel received his undergraduate degree with departmental honors in biomedical engineering from Northwestern University. He completed his medical school and Internal Medicine residency at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics. He completed his general fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Kansas Medical Center. An advanced fellowship in coronary and peripheral vascular intervention was completed at the Ohio Heart Health Center, and the University of Cincinnati.

Dr. Dippel is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Cardiovascular Medicine, and Interventional Cardiology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, and member of the American Heart Association Council of Clinical Cardiology, the American Medical Association, and the American College of Physicians.

Dr. Dippel’s research interests include: adjunctive pharmacology including anti-platelet and anti-thrombin therapy, vascular inflammation, endothelial function, and new devices. He has been the principle investigator in a number of clinical trials, presented abstracts and lectured at national meetings and international meetings, and published articles in journals such as Catheterization and Cardiovascular Intervention, the Journal of Invasive Cardiology, and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
In addition, Dr. Dippel has several patents pending for medical devices.

Robert A. Gallino, MD

Robert A. Gallino, MD, F.A.C.C. is a Cardiologist and a member of Cardiology Associates, P.C.
He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease and Interventional Cardiology. Dr. Gallino was recognized as one of the areas "Top Docs" by Washingtonian magazine in April 2008. He complete his residency and fellowship training in Peripheral Angeography & Interventions and Interventional Cardiology at Washington Hospital Center. He earned his medical degree at Creighton University School of Medicine in Omaha, Nebraska.
Dr. Gallino has special interest and expertise in Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology as well as Peripheral Vascular Intervention.

Yazan Khatib, MD

A man whoes passion for limb salvage and amputation prevention is described as infectious by all who know him, Dr. Khatib is director of Limb Salvage & Endovascular Interventions & co-founder of First Coast Cardiovascular Institute.

He graduated from Damascus University with a rationg of "excellence" & was recruited to the prestigious Cleveland Clinic for his Medical Residency. He went to Loyola University in Chicago for cardiology fellowship. Followed by one year of interventional cardiology training at the Indiana Heart Institute, where he had the privilege of working with some of the most renowned experts in the field. He then returned to Chicago for a dedicated additional training in the field of Endovascular Interventions.

During his five year practice in Indianapolis, he established himself as one of the leading experts in the different treatment modalities of vascular disease, his practice the was one of few across the nation, proctoring other physicians in this evolving field, he also was clinical instructor at Indiana University & Rodebush V.A. hospital. He then moved to Jacksonville, FL where he co-founded First Coast Cardiovascular Institute (FCCI). In the last 5 years, FCCI has become a regional referral center for the difficult Endovascular pts, and has collaborated very closely with the local leaders in wound care to prevent numerous amputations, (well over 200). Dr. Khatib has also great interest in clinical research, being a part of many clinical trials.

Prakash Krishnan, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Cardiology
Director Endovascular Intervention, Cath Lab
Education and Training
MBBS: Rajah Muthiah Medical College, India
Residency, Internal Medicine: St. Vincent’s Medical Center of Richmond
Fellowship, Cardiology: Ochsner Clinic Foundation
Fellowship, Interventional Cardiology: Mount Sinai Medical Center
Fellowship, Endovascular Intervention: North Central Heart Institute
Dr. Prakash Krishnan performs over 1,500 procedures annually (including diagnostic, complex coronary and endovascular interventions). He has quickly developed an outstanding national and international reputation with a superb safety record. Dr. Krishnan is a leader in endovascular intervention. He is an expert in catheter based vascular therapy, specializing in the endovascular management of acute and chronic arterial and venous disease. Procedures performed include but are not limited to directional, rotational, laser atherectomy, angioplasty and stent of the renal, carotid, mesenteric, subclavian, iliac and other extremity arteries; IVC filter placement, thrombolysis, and rheolytic thrombectomy in the management of acute limb ischemia, acute pulmonary embolism, and deep venous thrombosis.
He also performs therapeutic procedures in the treatment of varicose and spider veins including endovenous laser ablation, phlebectomy, and sclerotherapy.
Dr. Krishnan is an excellent teacher and educator. He is an invited lecturer and moderator in numerous national and international meetings. Interventionalists from across the country visit Mount Sinai regularly to learn endovascular techniques from Dr. Krishnan.
Phone: 212-241-6032 E-mail: prakash.krishnan@mountsinai.org
Clinical Interests
Coronary Artery Disease,
Interventional Cardiology,
Peripheral Artery Disease,
Endovascular Intervention

D. Christopher Metzger, MD

Dr. D. Christopher Metzger is a board-certified interventional cardiologist practicing with Cardiovascular Associates, P.C. in Kingsport, Tennessee. This is a 32-member group comprised of cardiologist and cardiothoracic surgeons. He received his internal medicine, cardiology, and interventional cardiology training at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Dr. Metzger is the Medical Director of the Cardiac and Peripheral Cath Labs at Wellmont Holston Valley Medical Center and is the Medical Director of the Clinical Research Department.
In addition to cardiac interventions, he performs a high volume of all peripheral procedures, including carotid stenting. He is very active in clinical research, being one of the leading enrollers in multiple trials including ACT-1, Sapphire-WW, Create-PAS, Exact, CORAL, and Horizons.

Amir Motarjeme, MD

Dr. Amir Motarjeme, a renowned interventional radiologist, was born in 1937 in Iran, where he attended Shiraz University Medical School. He graduated in 1961 when he began his internship at Mt. Mount Sinai Hospital in Chicago followed by a radiology residency in Cook County Hospital. He was trained in the field of cardiovascular disease at the University of Pennsylvania before he became a staff radiologist at St. Anne’s Hospital in Chicago. He was a pioneer in the field of percutaneous treatment of arterial occlusive disease and performed the first peripheral angioplasty in the Midwest in 1978. Shortly after that, he was the first interventionist to perform angioplasty of the vertebral arteries in the world and his article was published in 1980 in the Journal of Radiology. He has designed several catheters that bear his name.
Dr. Motarjeme is a well known interventionist who has lectured all over the world. He has published extensively and has written several chapters of books in the field of endovascular treatment of peripheral arterial disease. He is a member of many medical societies including AMA, American College of Radiology, Radiological Society of North America and is a fellow of the Society of Interventional Radiology. He has served as a Chairman of Department of Radiology at St. Anne’s Hospital and was an associate professor of radiology at Loyola University. At the present time, he is the founder and director of the Midwest Vascular Institute of Illinois in Chicago.

Aravinda Nanjundappa, MD

Aravinda Nanjundappa, MD, FACC, FSCAI, RVT
Medical School
Adi Chunchunagiri Institute of Medical Sciences Mysore University, India
Residency
Department of Internal Medicine, Seton Hall University, NJ
Fellowship
Cardiology fellow, Department of Cardiology, Seton Hall University, NJ
Interventional Cardiology Fellow, University of Florida Health and Sciences, Jacksonville, FL
Interventional Peripheral Vascular Fellow, Washington Hospital Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC
Certifications
Board Certified Internal Medicine
Board Certified Cardiovascular Diseases
Board Certified Interventional Cardiology
Board Certified Vascular Medicine
Board Certified Endovascular Medicine
Registered Vascular Technician

Raghotham Patlola, MD

Dr. Raghotham Patlola received his undergraduate degree and medical education from B. L. D. E. Associations’ Medical College Hospital and Research Center, Karnatak University, in his native India.  His postgraduate training included an internal medicine internship and residency at Long Island College Hospital in Brooklyn and cardiology fellowship through the Beth-Israel Medical Center at Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, New York.

Dr. Patlola continued his interventional cardiology training in Maimonides Medical Center, State University of New York in Brooklyn.

After completing his fellowship, Dr. Patlola joined Cardiovascular Institute of the South to serve as a staff cardiologist for the institution’s New Iberia clinic.  In 2006, he began seeing patients in the CIS Lafayette clinic.

Dr. Patlola is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, interventional cardiology, nuclear cardiology and endovascular medicine.  He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a member of the American Medical Association.  He has hospital privileges at Dauterive Hospital, Iberia Medical Center, The Regional Medical Center of Acadiana, Women’s and Children’s Hospital in Lafayette, Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center and Lafayette General Hospital.  Dr. Patlola is a well-published author in numerous articles and he is involved in several clinical and interventional device based trials as the primary or subinvestigator.

Oscar Rosales, MD

Oscar Rosales, MD
Medical Director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Memorial Hermann Heart and Vascular Institute, Houston, Texas
President of the Medical Staff, 2009-2011
Memorial Hermann Hospital, Texas Medical Center, Houston
Member of the Board of the Memorial Hermann Heart and Vascular Institute
POSTGRADUATE
TRAINING: Interventional Cardiology Fellowship
University of Texas, Houston
July 1991 - December 1992
Cardiology Fellowship
Yale University
New Haven, CT
1988-1991
Chief Medical Resident
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA
1987-1988
Resident - Internal Medicine
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA
1985-1987
Internship - Internal Medicine
Tulane University
New Orleans, LA
1984-1985

Ron G. Smalling, MD

Dr. Smalling received his medical school education and internal medicine residency training at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City. He received his general cardiology fellowship training at LA County Hospital, USC School of Medicine in Los Angeles, California. He subsequently performed a year of interventional cardiology training at St. Vincent Heart Institute in Portland, Oregon. For the last 15 years he has practiced interventional cardiology in Springfield, Missouri. Approximately one year ago he moved his practice to St. John’s Hospital in Joplin, Missouri. He is actively involved in interventional cardiology and peripheral vascular intervention procedures. He is also involved in multi-center peripheral vascular trials, evaluating newer endovascular devices and therapies. He has a strong interest in interventional cardiology and peripheral vascular intervention, particularly the critical limb ischemia area. He is married to his beautiful wife Stacy. He is the father of four children and two stepchildren. HE has served on medical advisory boards for different cardiovascular device companies.

Kalyan Veerina, MD

Dr. Kalyan Veerina, MD received his under-graduate degree and medical education from Nagarjuna University Guntur Medical College in his native India. His postgraduate training included a general internship at Guntur General Hospital in A.P. India and an internal medicine residency at St. Francis Medical Center in Pittsburgh. Veerina completed his cardiology fellowship at Episcopal Hospital and Temple University in Philadelphia.
Veerina completed his cardiovascular and peripheral interventional training at Cardiovascular Institute of the South in Houma.
After completing his cardiology training, Veerina practiced cardiology for several years in Shreveport.
In July 2005, Veerina joined Cardiovascular Institute of the South to serve as a staff cardiologist for the institution’s Opelousas clinic. Veerina is the medical director of the Heart Vascular Institute.
Veerina is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, interventional cardiology and nuclear cardiology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions. Veerina is also a member of the American Heart Association, Shreveport Medical Society and Louisiana State Medical Society.

Grayson Wheatley, MD
Dr. Grayson H. Wheatley, III joined the Arizona Heart Institute as a Cardiovascular Surgeon in September 2005, after completing a one year vascular and endovascular surgery fellowship with the Arizona Heart Institute and Hospital.
Dr. Wheatley earned his Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Florida State University and his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University. He completed his General Surgery Residency at Ohio State University, where he was awarded the Department of Surgery Teaching Award 2001. Dr. Wheatley was one of only four selected residents, from all of the resident house staff, to be awarded the Excellence in Teaching Award by the graduating medical school class of 2001 of Ohio State University.
Dr. Wheatley completed a two year NIH sponsored research fellowship with the Department of Surgery at Duke University Medical Center. He completed a three year residency in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University Of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. Dr. Wheatley is a former President of the Thoracic Surgery Residents Association, is currently a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Endovascular Task Force and Course Co-Director of the STS Thoracic Endovascular Symposium. He was the 200-2005 Chair of the Organization of Resident Representatives of the American Association of Medical Colleges.
Author of numerous journal articles and a frequent conference presenter, Dr. Wheatley has a special interest in cardiovascular surgery, minimally invasive cardiovascular surgery, valve repair, in addition to resident and student education. Dr. Wheatley offers services at the Arizona Heart Institute located in Phoenix.