Dr. Aferdita Spahillari

"I am a cardiologist with a clinical interest in heart failure, including advanced therapies such as cardiac transplantation and mechanical assist devices or “heart pumps."" I became a heart failure cardiologist in order to help patients manage their chronic disease over many months and years. I consider myself strongly committed to compassionate patient care and have a focus on quality-of-life and patient preference. I am an effective communicator with an understanding and sensitivity to diversity and ethical practice. I am part of a clinical care team composed of physicians, nurses, social workers, therapists, and support staff that works together to promptly provide comprehensive patient care. I am motivated to provide state-of-the-art cardiovascular care for my patients.". Dr. Mentz is highly rated in 11 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Heart Failure, Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), Low Blood Pressure, Heart Transplant, and Endoscopy.

I grew up in a small town in Illinois and was inspired by our family physician to pursue a career in medicine. Once in medical school, I chose to specialize in heart disease and heart failure. As a cardiologist, I care for people living with heart failure, including those who have an LVAD (heart pump) or those who have undergone heart transplant surgery. One of the things I love most about practicing cardiology is being able to care for my patients over time. I often first meet patients and their families in a hospital setting, but then see them in clinic afterward as we work together to manage their illness and improve their health and quality of life. I enjoy getting to know my patients and making personal connections with them as we spend time together. My hope is that my patients feel comfortable with me and that they know I am always here for them. Dr. Devore is highly rated in 9 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Heart Failure, Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction (HFpEF), Pulmonary Edema, Heart Transplant, and Endoscopy.

Cardio-oncology is a relatively new field that’s at the intersection of cardiology and oncology. It’s been emerging with the increased awareness of cardiovascular disease in patients who have either been treated for cancer or who are being treated with cancer agents that may potentially cause heart complications. When patients come in, I evaluate if they are at higher risk for developing heart disease or complications and intervene to help prevent any issues. By protecting the heart, it allows us to treat our patients’ cancers as aggressively as possible. I also like to educate patients. This is based on my own experience with physicians. Instructions didn’t resonate with me without an explanation. Understanding gave me more buy-in. Now, when I see patients, I try to spend as much time as possible explaining the issues and find that at times even illustrating with pictures can help make things clearer. I think it helps patients to understand what is going on and feel more invested in their care. Dr. Khouri is highly rated in 17 conditions, according to our data. His top areas of expertise are Cardiac Amyloidosis, Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy, Heart Failure, Cardiac Ablation, and Orchiectomy.