The 20 Best Infective Endocarditis Doctors in California, US

Dr. Atif Qasim is a cardiologist who cares for patients with heart disease. He has particular expertise in advanced heart imaging techniques, including various approaches to echocardiography (heart ultrasound), as well as cardiac CT and cardiac MRI, and in using these methods to diagnose and manage valvular heart disease (conditions in which damage to one or more heart valves leads to cardiac dysfunction), cardiomyopathies (diseases affecting the heart muscle) and pericardial disease (inflammation of the tissue around the heart). Qasim directs the UCSF Quantitative Echocardiography Core Laboratory, which uses ultrasound imaging to evaluate new therapies for heart failure and valvular heart disease. He is also the director of UCSF's cardiology fellowship program and a teacher in the medical school. He created an educational website on echocardiography and has a strong interest in increasing access to online medical educational materials for cardiology trainees and practitioners. Qasim earned his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. At the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, he completed a residency in internal medicine, serving as chief resident, followed by a fellowship in cardiology. During his fellowship, he received advanced training in multimodal imaging and earned a master's degree in clinical epidemiology. He also has a master's degree in biochemistry and biophysics from Yale University. Dr. Qasim is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. His top areas of expertise are Infective Endocarditis, Atherosclerosis, Endomyocardial Fibrosis, Coronary Heart Disease, and Angioplasty.

Bindusagar Reddy is a Cardiologist in Porterville,, California. Dr. Reddy is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. His top areas of expertise are Stable Angina, Metabolic Syndrome, Angina, Fainting, and Pacemaker Implantation.

Kirsten Fleischmann is a Cardiologist in San Francisco, California. Dr. Fleischmann is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. Her top areas of expertise are Coronary Heart Disease, Infective Endocarditis, Endocarditis, and Pediatric Myocarditis.

Kirsten Tolstrup is a Cardiologist in San Francisco, California. Dr. Tolstrup is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. Her top areas of expertise are Infective Endocarditis, Pediatric Myocarditis, Mitral Valve Prolapse, Aortic Valve Replacement, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

Dr. Rima Arnaout is a cardiologist who enjoys partnering with her patients to determine the best course of treatment and help them make informed medical decisions. She has special interests in multimodal imaging, computational imaging (using digital technologies to produce images) and the genetics of cardiovascular disorders. Arnaout studies how machine learning and artificial intelligence can reduce diagnostic errors in medical imaging and lead to new insights on cardiovascular disease. Her research is funded by the National Institutes of Health, Department of Defense and Chan Zuckerberg Biohub. Arnaout earned her medical degree at Harvard University and completed a residency in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital. She completed a fellowship in cardiology at UCSF. Arnaout is a member of the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, American Society of Echocardiography, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology and Sarnoff Cardiovascular Research Foundation. At UCSF, Arnaout is a faculty member in the Biological and Medical Informatics Graduate Program, Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute and Center for Intelligent Imaging. Dr. Arnaout is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. Her top areas of expertise are Infective Endocarditis, Endocarditis, Pediatric Myocarditis, Heart Valve Repair, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

Dr. Geoff Tison is a noninvasive cardiologist specializing in preventive cardiology. He has particular expertise in advanced echocardiography (ultrasound of the heart), including transesophageal echocardiography, which produces especially detailed images. In addition to treating patients, Tison uses advanced machine learning algorithms and digital health technologies to further research on cardiovascular disease prevention. He has led multiple large clinical research projects and currently leads several studies at UCSF. Tison earned his medical degree from the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and his master of public health degree from the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. He completed a residency in internal medicine at the Johns Hopkins Hospital. He came to UCSF for fellowships in clinical cardiology, advanced echocardiography and preventive cardiology. Dr. Tison is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. His top areas of expertise are Pulmonary Hypertension, Infective Endocarditis, Atherosclerosis, Endocarditis, and Pacemaker Implantation.

Bilal Shafi is a Cardiologist and a Thoracic Surgeon in Santa Cruz, California. Dr. Shafi is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. His top areas of expertise are Aortic Valve Stenosis, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Necrosis, Heart Valve Repair, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). Dr. Shafi is currently accepting new patients.

Dr. Nelson B. Schiller is a cardiologist who specializes in using echocardiography (ultrasound images of the heart's movement) to diagnose and treat heart disease. He founded the UCSF Adult Echocardiography Laboratory and Adult Congenital Heart Disease Clinic. Schiller has played an integral role in the development of many diagnostic and treatment techniques, including transesophageal echocardiography (moving the ultrasound transducer into the esophagus to facilitate pictures of the heart without ribs or lungs in the way), Doppler pulmonary pressure determination (to diagnose pulmonary hypertension), myocardial contrast perfusion (to evaluate how well blood flows through heart muscle) and echocardiography phase imaging (to see whether both sides of the heart are working together). In the category of congenital heart disease, he is an expert in treating mitral and aortic valve diseases and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickening of the heart walls that can impede blood flow from one of the main chambers). In collaboration with his colleagues, Schiller is involved in research on adult congenital heart disease, three-dimensional reconstruction of the heart, certain advanced echocardiographic techniques, coronary blood flow, exercise hemodynamics (the study of how the circulatory system, including the heart and blood vessels, responds when the heart pumps faster during exercise), myocardial perfusion, smoking-related cardiopulmonary disease and noninvasive evaluation of cardiac synchrony (the timing of heart ventricle contractions). Schiller is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology. A devotee of chamber music for 20 years, Schiller serves as program annotator for the Chancellor's Concert Series, which offers music to the UCSF community. He enjoys playing tennis with his wife on weekends. Dr. Schiller is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. His top areas of expertise are Coronary Heart Disease, Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), Peripheral Artery Disease, and Arterial Insufficiency.

I want to provide compassionate care and help to heal my patients. Dr. Bhaskar is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. His top areas of expertise are Coronary Heart Disease, Necrosis, Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG), and Heart Bypass Surgery.

George Konugres is a Cardiologist and an Internal Medicine provider in Laguna Hills, California. Dr. Konugres has been practicing medicine for over 45 years and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. His top areas of expertise are Heart Attack, Glucocorticoid-Remediable Aldosteronism, Hypertension, and Apoplexy.

Junaid Khan is a Thoracic Surgeon in Oakland, California. Dr. Khan is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. His top areas of expertise are Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Lung Nodules, Endocarditis, Heart Bypass Surgery, and Heart Valve Repair. Dr. Khan is currently accepting new patients.

As a physician, I believe that every patient should be treated with dignity and respect. I think this is best accomplished by treating people how you would want to be treated. Dr. Singh is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. His top areas of expertise are Apoplexy, Heart Attack, Coronary Heart Disease, Heart Bypass Surgery, and Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG).

Vinod Trivedi is an Infectious Disease provider in Sacramento, California. Dr. Trivedi is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. His top areas of expertise are Sepsis, Osteomyelitis, Infectious Arthritis, and Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA). Dr. Trivedi is currently accepting new patients.

Dr. Aarthi Sabanayagam is a cardiologist trained in internal medicine and adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) who cares for patients with ACHD, pregnant patients with heart disease, as well as those with other acquired heart diseases. She provides care in both the clinic and the hospital. Her expertise includes interpreting echocardiograms (use of ultrasound to produce images of the heart) and performing transesophageal echocardiograms (when the device emitting sound waves is passed into the esophagus to obtain especially clear images of the heart). She serves as co-director of the UCSF Pregnancy and Cardiac Treatment (PACT) Program. Sabanayagam earned her medical degree at Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research (which is affiliated with Harvard Medical School) in India. She completed a residency in internal medicine and a fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at Montefiore Medical Center, a teaching hospital for Albert Einstein College of Medicine, as well as a subspecialty fellowship in ACHD at UCSF. Before rejoining UCSF, Sabanayagam was on the faculty of the prestigious Columbus Ohio Adult Congenital Heart Disease (COACH) program at the Ohio State University and Nationwide Children's Hospital, where she had also received an award for excellence in teaching. She is a member of the American Heart Association and serves on its subcommittee on adult congenital heart disease. She is also a member of the International Society for Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Adult Congenital Heart Association, and a fellow of the American College of Cardiology. In her free time, Sabanayagam enjoys hiking, photography, reading and baking. She likes taking trips to Napa vineyards and traveling to other countries. Dr. Sabanayagam is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. Her top areas of expertise are Congenital Heart Disease (CHD), Atrial Septal Defect (ASD), Patent Foramen Ovale, and Infective Endocarditis.

Dr. Michael Crawford specializes in treating coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease and heart failure as well as congenital heart disease in adults and heart disease in athletes. Crawford earned a medical degree at the University of California, San Francisco. He trained in internal medicine at UCSF Medical Center and Beth Israel Hospital in Boston, followed by cardiology training at the University of California, San Diego, where he joined the faculty. He was co-director of cardiology at the University of Texas in San Antonio and chief of cardiology at the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Before returning to UCSF, Crawford was a consultant and vice chair of cardiology at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Ariz. Crawford has served as chair of the Council on Clinical Cardiology of the American Heart Association and as a board member of the American College of Cardiology. He is a fellow of the American College of Physicians and a member of the Association of University Cardiologists and Western Association of Physicians. Dr. Crawford is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. His top areas of expertise are Infective Endocarditis, Pediatric Myocarditis, Atrial Fibrillation, Pacemaker Implantation, and Cardiac Ablation.

Brett Laurence is an Infectious Disease provider in Sacramento, California. Dr. Laurence is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. His top areas of expertise are Myelitis, HIV/AIDS, AIDS Dysmorphic Syndrome, and AIDS Dementia Complex. Dr. Laurence is currently accepting new patients.

Dr. Francesca Nesta Delling is a cardiologist with advanced training in echocardiography (heart ultrasound) and cardiac MRI, in which magnetic energy is used to take diagnostic pictures of the heart. She cares for patients with valvular heart disease, with a focus on mitral valve prolapse (when the valve between the heart's left chambers fails to close completely), cardiomyopathies (diseases of the heart muscle) and sudden cardiac death related to valvular disease. She also provides ultrasound guidance for catheter-based procedures (in which the heart is accessed by threading a catheter – a flexible, hollow tube – through a blood vessel), such as MitraClip, a minimally invasive treatment for leaky mitral valves. Delling's research has focused on why some patients with valve disease progress to more severe stages and develop complications. Her investigations are based on genetic analysis and cardiac imaging techniques, such as echocardiography and cardiac MRI, and she collaborates with researchers across the U.S. and Europe, with funding from the National Institutes of Health. Delling earned her medical degree from the University of Brescia in Italy. She completed a residency in internal medicine at Boston Medical Center, a fellowship in echocardiography at Massachusetts General Hospital and a fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. She also has a master of public health degree from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Delling is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. Her top areas of expertise are Mitral Valve Prolapse, Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Cardiac Arrest, Cardiac Ablation, and Pacemaker Implantation.

Jonathan Hemphill is a Cardiologist and an Interventional Cardiologist in Carmichael, California. Dr. Hemphill has been practicing medicine for over 44 years and is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Hypertension, Familial Hypertension, Pacemaker Implantation, and Heart Bypass Surgery. Dr. Hemphill is currently accepting new patients.

Dr. Sam Kalioundji (pronounced Kal-yoon-gee) was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley. He graduated in 2001 from the University of California, Los Angeles with a Bachelor’s Degree in Neuroscience. He then attended Medical School / Fifth Pathway at New York Medical College / Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara. While in medical school, Dr. Kalioundji excelled in his medical coursework and diligently served the indigent with compassion. He graduated in 2007 as a Physician/Surgeon MD.In 2007, Dr. Kalioundji began his medical internship and residency at the University of Southern California. While building on his skills through the medical internship and residency program, he conducted extensive research on antiplatelet therapy and medical compliance. From 2010 to 2013, he completed his cardiology fellowship at USC/LAC.Dr. Kalioundji completed the Interventional Cardiology fellowship at Kaiser Los Angeles Medical Center in 2014. He received sub-specialty training in Interventional Cardiac and Peripheral Interventions with over 1500 cases performed, one of the highest in Southern California. He was nominated by his mentors as a Fellow to the American College of Cardiology (FACC).Dr. Kalioundji is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology through the American Board of Internal Medicine. He is board eligible in Interventional Cardiology.Fluent in English, Spanish, and Arabic, Dr. Kalioundji enjoys traveling and sharing in experiences of different cultures. He has participated in numerous marathons and triathlons including the LA Marathon 9 times and counting. He is an Eagle Boy Scout and assists in numerous philanthropic causes. He truly believes in a sound mind in a sound body.Dr. Kalioundji is honored to join the practice of Dr. Elias under his esteemed mentorship.Spending quality time with each patient and their family to establish the best possible plan to improve the health of each and every one of his patients. Dr. Kalioundji is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. His top areas of expertise are Metabolic Syndrome, Angina, Pulmonary Edema, Pacemaker Implantation, and Endoscopy.

Philip Patel is a Cardiologist in Rancho Mirage, California. Dr. Patel is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Infective Endocarditis. His top areas of expertise are Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Atrial Fibrillation, Necrosis, Angina, and Pacemaker Implantation.