. Dr. Ramu is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Cardiomyopathy, Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia (PSVT), Atrial Tachycardia, Aortic Valve Replacement, and Cardiac Ablation.

. Dr. Brahmbhatt is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Arrhythmias, Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia, Cardiac Ablation, and Pacemaker Implantation.

Shawn Baldwin, MD, became fascinated with cardiology long before he even realized he would become a physician. “God gave me an interest in the heart in elementary school, even before the thought of practicing medicine crossed my mind in college,” he says. Dr. Baldwin says his family’s encouragement helped him choose his career path and he came to Ballad Health CVA Heart Institute with the encouragement of a former colleague. “It is important for patients to know that the medical team cares for them,” he says. “The most important way to know what someone needs is to listen. I enjoy when a procedure works well, and a patient truly feels better.”. Dr. Baldwin is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Atrial Tachycardia, Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia, Cardiac Ablation, and Pacemaker Implantation.

. Dr. Khan is rated as an Advanced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Angina, Coronary Heart Disease, Atherosclerosis, Pacemaker Implantation, and Cardiac Ablation.

I am originally from the Philippines, and grew up in Manila, a big city much like New York or Los Angeles. When I finished medical school there, I began looking for residency programs in the U.S. During an interview at Quillen College of Medicine here in Johnson City, I just fell in love with this place. On my first visit, I was actually shocked at how small it was, but at the same time I liked the green grass, the trees, the quietness, the lack of traffic and how easy it is to get from one place to another in about 15 minutes. The friendliness of the people was one of the things that I noticed often. In big cities people hardly smile at you. But here, even people you don’t know smile at you, ask how you are and strike up conversations. When I was younger, I remember playing “doctor,” and thinking I would like to be one. I would mix powders and water in vials to make “medicine” and inject it into anything. Then in high school I realized how much I did love medicine. It was more of a desire to see people, talk to them, diagnose their problems and, hopefully, help them. It is a privilege to care for my patients; helping them understand what their medical issues are is of utmost importance to me. Cardiology is such a complex specialty, so I try to explain to them what their symptoms are, what could be the reason, and then from there come up with plans to do testing. Including patients as part of the decision-making process is key to growing our relationship as physician and patient it makes it easier when both doctor and the patient understand the plan and the goal. Away from work, I enjoy spending time with my two children and my beautiful wife, Carmina. To de-stress, I run or go to the gym almost every day and work in my yard almost every weekend. Also I spend a lot weekend time driving the kids back and forth to activities. While that may sound mundane, it is one of the most rewarding things I have the privilege of doing. Being a doctor is wonderful, but to me, being a father and a husband is the most special role of all. Dr. Garcia is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Coronary Heart Disease, Angina, Atherosclerosis, Sick Sinus Syndrome, and Pacemaker Implantation.

"When Fawwaz Hamati, MD, grew up in Amman, Jordan, there were only two professions a man could pursue – engineering and medicine. He decided to follow in the footsteps of his oldest brother, who began medical school when Dr. Hamati was in first grade. He moved to the Appalachian Highlands to hone his talents in cardiology. ""I love the friendly people here and that I can be a part of my patients' life,"" he says. Dr. Hamati says his treatment philosophy is rooted in communication. ""By talking, we can make decisions together about the best management plan,"" he says.". Dr. Hamati is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Angina, Arrhythmias, Pacemaker Implantation, and Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR).

Manar Jbara, MD, FACC, FASNC, SCCT, is board-certified in cardiology, internal medicine, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology and cardiac computerized tomography. He has published in multiple scientific journals, including Journal of American College of Cardiology, and participated in national clinical trials for the study of heart and vascular disease. He has received multiple accolades and nominations throughout his training and career. An ETSU Health clinician, Dr. Jbara also serves as a faculty member at ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine. Dr. Jbara has a special interest in preventive cardiology and cardiac rehab, along with the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of cardiology. He is passionate about teaching and mentoring fellows, residents and medical students. In his free time, he enjoys spending time in nature and following sports. Services • Arrythmias • Cardiomyopathy • Congenital heart defects • Coronary heart disease • Heart failure • Hypertension • Peripheral artery disease • Valvular heart disease. Dr. Jbara is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Sengers Syndrome, Cardiomyopathy, Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Heart Attack, and Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI).

I have always called this area “home” since I grew up in the eastern Tennessee and western North Carolina region. Being a doctor has been my calling since childhood; I always knew that I would be a physician one day. I treat my patients with high quality and evidence-guided medical care. Cardiology is a unique specialty, and my interest has really changed over the years. Initially, I was interested because of diagnostics and imaging, being the radiology-based specialty that we are. However, in time I became more interested in the critical care aspect of cardiology and treating acutely ill patients. I actually went back for my MBA, not for the purpose of understanding the financial aspects of medicine, but rather how to deliver value and high quality care as some of the largest cost in medicine deals with cardiovascular disease. I have one child with special needs, so I do a lot of work with Shriners Hospitals for Children. I serve on their hospital board, and it has been a great joy in my life to help with their hospital systems. Shriners give away almost three-fourths of $1 billion dollars each year to support our 22 hospitals. It has been very rewarding to help administer that money, which is funded out of endowments and many individual donations. My particular Shriners Hospital is in Greenville, South Carolina, and many children from our area are treated there. Dr. Ponder is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Mitral Stenosis, Aortic Regurgitation, Atherosclerosis, and Coronary Heart Disease.

. Dr. Borsch is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Apoplexy, Heart Attack, Atherosclerosis, Coronary Heart Disease, and Heart Bypass Surgery.

. Dr. Istfan is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Coronary Heart Disease, Peripheral Artery Disease, Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm, Arterial Insufficiency, and Heart Bypass Surgery.

I am from Nancy, Kentucky, but I came to the area in 1985 to do my internal medicine residency at James H. Quillen. I find cardiology fascinating, complex and challenging. I most enjoy talking with people to solve problems and try to help them understand more about the issues they face. It is important to listen to my patients because they hold the key to solving their healthcare problems. My wife, Marla, and I have four children: Nathan, Jake, Leah and Paul. Outside of work, I enjoy family, astronomy and beekeeping. My other interests include gardening, skiing, bowhunting, camping and fishing. Dr. Merrick is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Atherosclerosis, Coronary Heart Disease, Angina, and Mitral Stenosis.

. Dr. Foley is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Carotid Artery Disease, Arterial Insufficiency, Apoplexy, Pacemaker Implantation, and Angioplasty.

Tom Stathopoulos, MD, provides comprehensive and compassionate cardiovascular care with an emphasis on listening to patients and building trust. He believes clear communication helps create better outcomes. Dr. Stathopoulos was born in Brooklyn, New York, and lived in Chicago for more than 40 years before moving to the Appalachian Highlands. He was drawn to the region’s values and the backdrop of the Blue Ridge Mountains. His interest in medicine was shaped by his parents, whose hopes for him encouraged his pursuit of cardiology. “Listening with patience and understanding leads to a wonderful patient doctor relationship consisting of trust, confidence, and mutual understanding,” he says. Dr. Stathopoulos is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Coronary Heart Disease, Atherosclerosis, Pediatric Myocarditis, and Angina.

Steven Smith, MD, was born and raised in Johnson City and takes great pride in serving his hometown community. Passionate about improving the health of the Appalachian Highlands, he values patient input in their treatment plans. An ETSU Health clinician, Dr. Smith also serves as a faculty member at ETSU’s Quillen College of Medicine. When he's not practicing medicine, Dr. Smith enjoys riding his motorcycle, hunting and fishing. He is also an active member of the Unaka Rod & Gun Club. Dr. Smith is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Sengers Syndrome, Familial Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Atherosclerosis, and Coronary Heart Disease.

. Dr. Counts is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy, Cardiomyopathy, Atherosclerosis, and Coronary Heart Disease.

"As an experienced interventional cardiologist, Nicholas Laffely, MD, enjoys helping patients by using minimally invasive techniques to treat heart and blood vessel diseases. For Dr. Laffely, treating each patient as if they are family helps him build a lasting and compassionate relationship. ""Helping patients will always be a highlight of my profession,"" he says. When Dr.Laffely is not working, he enjoys spending time outdoors with his family and taking his Jeep off-roading. Services". Dr. Laffely is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Necrosis, Aortic Regurgitation, Pediatric Myocarditis, Angina, and Angioplasty.

. Dr. Whitaker is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Angina, Pediatric Myocarditis, Heart Attack, and Pacemaker Implantation.

. Dr. Saha is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Mitral Valve Regurgitation, Heart Attack, Apoplexy, and Atrial Fibrillation.

. Dr. Burress is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Atrial Fibrillation, Coronary Heart Disease, Atherosclerosis, Cardiomyopathy, and Pacemaker Implantation.

Dr. Nafees Mohammed always knew he wanted to practice medicine, and he found his way to cardiology through the influence of many mentors in his journey to become a doctor. Born and raised in the Caribbean islands of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Mohammed found his core motivation in life to be caring for others. “Providing care for those in critical situations allows me to help someone who needs it the most,” he says. “The best part of my job is seeing a patient be discharged, happy to be home with their family and knowing they get to live another day.” Relatively new to the Appalachian Highlands, Dr. Mohammed enjoys the beautiful scenery and welcoming community. Dr. Mohammed is rated as an Experienced provider by MediFind in the treatment of Multifocal Atrial Tachycardia. His top areas of expertise are Coronary Heart Disease, Heart Attack, Angina, Aortic Regurgitation, and Atherectomy.