Dr. Clay Chappell

Dr. Deering graduated summa cum laude from the Yale University School of Medicine in 1980. He completed his medical and cardiac electrophysiology training at Yale and Tufts New England Medical Center. After serving as an assistant clinical professor of medicine at Yale between 1986 and 1989 he moved to Atlanta and joined the staff of Piedmont Hospital, where he has practiced since that time. Dr. Deering is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiology and clinical cardiac electrophysiology. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Physicians and the Heart Rhythm Society. Dr. Deering has participated in a number of arrhythmia research trials and remains active in cardiac arrhythmia research. He serves as a reviewer for several major cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology journals. He has authored or co-authored numerous articles on a variety of arrhythmia-related topics. He has served as a speaker and moderator at many national and international cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology meetings. He is an active member of the Heart Rhythm Society (HRS); has served on a number of HRS committees and task forces; and presently serves as chair of the HRS Membership Committee. Dr. Deering's primary area of interest is centered upon the diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias and the treatment and education of patients with cardiac arrhythmias and congestive heart failure. He currently is in practice with the Piedmont Heart Institute Physicians group and based at the Piedmont Hospital campus. He does see patients in a number of arrhythmia outreach clinics at several additional Piedmont Heart Institute locations. Dr. Deering is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cardiac Arrest. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Arrhythmias, Heart Failure, Cardiac Ablation, and Pacemaker Implantation.

Kent Nilsson, MD earned his medical degree from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 2002 . He completed his Internal Medicine residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in 2005. He completed both his Cardiology (2007) and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowships (2009) at Duke University Medical Center. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Virginia. Prior to joining Piedmont Heart Institute, Dr. Nilsson was in practice at Athens Regional Medical Center and at Duke University Medical Center. Dr. Nilsson is board certified in both Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology. He is a Fellow in both the American College of Cardiology and the Heart Rhythm Society. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Georgia/Augusta University Medical Partnership in Athens, where he teaches and conducts research. In his spare time, Dr. Nilsson enjoys spending time with his wife and three daughters. He enjoys gardening, hunting and fishing. The family is active in their church. Dr. Nilsson welcomes new patients and accepts most insurance plans. Dr. Nilsson is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cardiac Arrest. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Arrhythmias, Sick Sinus Syndrome, Pacemaker Implantation, and Cardiac Ablation.

Dr. Karimianpour joins the section of Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology at Piedmont Heart Institute from South Carolina. He grew up in Virginia where he later obtained his medical degree. He then completed his residency training at Cleveland Clinic, followed by fellowships in Cardiovascular Disease and Cardiac Electrophysiology at the Medical University of South Carolina, where he served as Chief Fellow in both training programs. His clinical interests include catheter ablation of complex arrhythmias as well as cardiac device implantation and management. Dr. Karimianpour has authored several peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and has presented his award-winning work at multiple national professional society gatherings.Dr. Karimianpour subspecializes in heart rhythm disorders and minimally invasive surgical procedures to treat abnormal heart rhythms. Conditions treated include atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, atrial tachycardia, supraventricular tachycardia, premature ventricular contractions, ventricular tachycardia, ventricular fibrillation, inherited arrhythmias, bradycardia, heart block, catheter ablation of atrial and ventricular arrhythmias, implantation of transvenous pacemakers, leadless pacemakers, implantation of transvenous cardiac defibrillators, subcutaneous defibrillators, transvenous laser and mechanical lead extraction.Dr. Karimianpour has a special interest in treatment of ventricular tachycardia and sudden cardiac death. Dr. Karimianpour joins Piedmont Heart Institute with a passion and vision to provide high-quality, efficient, and modern health care to the citizens of Georgia and beyond.In his spare time, Dr. Karimianpour enjoys traveling abroad and exploring new countries, cultures and foods. Dr. Karimianpour is accepting new patients and welcomes most major insurance plans. Dr. Karimianpour is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Cardiac Arrest. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Arrhythmias, Heart Failure, Cardiac Ablation, and Pacemaker Implantation.