Find a Top Cardiologist Near Me in Torrance, CA – Book an Appointment Instantly

Dr. Afshine Emrani is a cardiologist who serves the residents of Tarzana, California, in addition to the greater Los Angeles area. At Los Angeles Heart Specialists, the doctor and his staff offer a variety of cardiology services including preventative care for heart disease, stress testing, treadmill testing, and treatment of many different kinds of health conditions including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, thyroid disorders, and peripheral arterial disease. Dr. Emrani specializes in identifying biomarkers and other naturally occurring identifiers that help him treat heart disease in both men and women. He offers a wide variety of services to his patients including weight management plans, the control and maintenance of cholesterol levels, and nutritional plans geared towards a more heart-healthy lifestyle. An on-site lab makes testing quick and cost-effective.

Dr. Emrani attended the University of California, Los Angeles where he obtained his Bachelor of Science degree where he was inducted into the Biological Honors Society. He also attended the University of California, San Diego where he completed his medical degree. During that time, he participated in two sub-internships, one in Cardiology and the other in Intensive Care. He also worked at the Cedar Sinai Medical Center and completed an additional sub-internship infectious disease. An internship was also completed during the years he worked with the Veteran's Affairs Administration. While working at the Kaiser Permanente campus of the University of Southern California, Dr. Emrani earned a fellowship in the field of Cardiology.

With more than twenty years of experience, Dr. Emrani is a leader in his field. His knowledge of cutting-edge technology and the use of state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment allows him the privilege of offering his patients the best cardiac care possible. He continues his education on a regular basis by attending classes and seminars that allow him to stay abreast of the latest advancements in the field of cardiology and infectious diseases. His certification in both basic and advanced cardiac life support makes him one of the most prominent cardiologists in Southern California.

Stacey Shoop is a physician assistant; specializing in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, diabetes and obesity.  She graduated with honors from Western University of Health Sciences in 2014. 

Mabel Ra is a board-certified Physician Assistant specializing in cardiovascular medicine. She earned her Master of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Chapman University, where she also completed her Bachelor of Science with minors in Spanish and Psychology.

Mabel is dedicated to providing compassionate and evidence-based medical care. She believes in an approach centered on patient education and is committed to helping patients make informed decisions to achieve their long-term wellness goals. She cares for patients with a broad spectrum of cardiovascular conditions, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, arrhythmias, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, and venous insufficiency.

Outside of work, Mabel enjoys exploring new restaurants and cuisines, being outdoors—whether hiking or relaxing at the beach—and spending time with friends and family!

Elaine Peterson, DMSc, PA-C, is a physician assistant (PA) specializing in cardiovascular disease practicing at Coastal Heart Medical Group in Santa Ana, California. She has several years of clinical experience dedicated exclusively to cardiology. 

Elaine earned her Bachelor’s degree from Chapman University Cum Laude, before completing her physician assistant studies at Chapman University, graduating with honors. During PA school, she was inducted into the Pi Alpha National Honor Society for Physician Assistants in recognition of her academic excellence, leadership, and service.

In May 2026, Dr. Peterson earned her Doctor of Medical Science (DMSc) degree, further advancing her expertise and commitment to evidence-based patient care. Her professional focus centers on the management and treatment of cardiovascular diseases, where she is passionate about improving patient outcomes through compassionate, comprehensive, and collaborative care. She currently performs Varithena, sclerotherapy, and loop recorder implantations in our office, in addition to diagnosing and treating various cardiovascular diseases.

With nearly four decades in practice as a physician, Anil V. Shah, MD, FACC, FSCAI, is an innovative leader in the field of cardiology. Dr. Shah cares for patients at Coastal Heart Medical Group, a state-of-the-art cardiology practice located in the heart of Santa Ana, California.

After earning his medical degree from the Topiwala National Medical College in India, Dr. Shah completed his residency at the University Bombay Hospital. He then relocated to the United States to complete extensive cardiology fellowship training through the University of California, Los Angeles at the Wadsworth VA Medical Center.

Dr. Shah went on to become board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease through the American Board of Internal Medicine. He also maintains his role as a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, as well his position as a fellow of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions.

Because Dr. Shah is a highly experienced interventional cardiologist, he’s able to diagnose and treat a wide variety of complex cardiac and vascular conditions. He’s successfully performed thousands of angioplasties, pacemaker procedures, and stent implants, to name a few common treatments.

Dr. Shah has special interests in vascular imaging with the latest noninvasive techniques, such as CT scanning, ultrasound imaging, and nuclear technology. He also focuses on modern interventions for complex peripheral arterial disease and venous management, as well as amputation prevention for diabetics.

With his passion for preventive care and early intervention, Dr. Shah continues to stay active in research and the ever-changing field of cardiology. Dr. Shah has even been awarded multiple community leadership awards, including “Visionary of the Year” by community colleges in Orange County.

Being fluent in English, Hindi, and Gujarati gives Dr. Shah the opportunity to communicate with patients who may otherwise struggle with language barriers. Patients of Dr. Shah commend his calm and caring bedside manner, and his ability to make his patients smile, even under the toughest of circumstances.

Brett Wertman, MD, FACC, is a triple board-certified cardiologist who is widely respected for his treatment and care for patients at Coastal Cardiology of Orange County in Ladera Ranch and Irvine, California.

Dr. Wertman, who twice has been named a Physician of Excellence by the Orange County Medical Association, also leads the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program at Hoag Hospital Irvine in Irvine. 

An Orange County native, Dr. Wertman graduated summa cum laude and with Phi Beta Kappa Society honors in earning his Bachelor of Arts degrees in biochemistry and molecular, cellular, and developmental biology from the University of Colorado Boulder in Boulder, Colorado.

Dr. Wertman then completed his medical degree from the University of Washington in Seattle, Washington, and went on to finish his internship and residency training in internal medicine at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles, California.

He completed his fellowship training in cardiology and interventional cardiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, also in Los Angeles.

Dr. Wertman has authored numerous publications in leading peer-reviewed journals and participated in live case transmissions to national meetings, demonstrating new techniques in the treatment of coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease. 

Dr. Wertman is highly trained in the percutaneous treatment of valvular heart disease, including aortic valve replacement using the Edwards Sapien heart valve system, as well as mitral valve repair using the Abbott MitraClip™ system. He also has significant experience in other novel interventional therapies.

He looks forward to welcoming new patients and offering superior care to those returning to Coastal Cardiology of Orange County.

In Dr. Wertman’s spare time, he enjoys relaxing with his family, traveling, and exercising.

Teferi Mitiku, MD, FACC, is a board-certified cardiologist in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology and Cardiovascular Disease. He specializes in cardiac electrophysiology (EP) and provides the entire spectrum of arrhythmia treatments, including medical therapy, catheter ablation, and device-based therapy. Dr. Mitiku strives to provide compassionate care for his patients at Coastal Cardiology of Orange County in Irvine and Ladera Ranch, California.

Dr. Mitiku earned his Bachelor of Science in molecular cell and development biology from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), graduating magna cum laude. He went on to attend the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, receiving his Doctor of Medicine. 

He then completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Stanford University Hospital in Stanford, California, before completing cardiovascular medicine and electrophysiology fellowships at Yale New Haven Hospital in New Haven, Connecticut.

He previously served as the Director of Electrophysiology and an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at the University of California, Irvine (UCI) School of Medicine and Wayne State University School of Medicine.

During his academic appointments, Dr. Mitiku enjoys teaching medical students, residents, and cardiology fellows. He was awarded Outstanding Teacher of The Year for three consecutive years and was granted entry into the Gold Humanism Honor Society.

Dr. Mitiku is affiliated with UCI Medical Center in Orange, California, and serves as the director of electrophysiology at Hoag Irvine Hospital in Irvine, California. At Hoag, He was awarded the top quality performer within the Cardiology peer group for 2019 and 2020. He is also a member of the American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, and the American Medical Association.

He looks forward to welcoming new patients and providing excellent care for those continuing at Coastal Cardiology of Orange County.

Dr. Nguyen grew up in Irvine and received his Bachelor of Arts in biology from the University of California, Irvine. 

He then earned a master's in applied physiology and earned his medical degree from Chicago Medical School, one of the graduate schools of the Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science in North Chicago, Illinois. 

Back in Orange County, he completed his internship and residency in internal medicine, as well as his fellowship training in general cardiology, all at UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, California.

He then moved to New York to complete his interventional cardiology fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, where he was awarded Outstanding Interventional Cardiology Fellow of the Year.

Throughout the course of his training, Dr. Nguyen has given numerous lectures and presentations, and has authored publications in peer-reviewed journals on various topics in both general and interventional cardiology.  

He was involved with and participated in live case demonstrations at Mount Sinai Hospital, focusing on complex coronary interventions.

Dr. Nguyen believes in a patient-centric approach to cardiovascular care and focuses on the collaborative efforts with his patients in optimizing their outcomes.

In his spare time, Dr. Nguyen enjoys spending time with his family, watching movies, playing basketball, and surfing.

Arash Aghel, MD, is a board-certified internist and cardiologist at COR Healthcare Medical Associates in Los Angeles. He sees patients at the Torrance, California office where he specializes in general cardiology, interventional cardiology, structural heart, and peripheral vascular interventions.

Dr. Aghel earned his medical degree from Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in Iran before moving to Cleveland for his internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship at Cleveland Clinic and Case Western Reserve University.  He then moved to Colorado and completed 2 additional years of training in interventional cardiology and advanced structural and vascular interventions at the University of Colorado in Denver.

Dr. Aghel joins COR Healthcare Medical Associates from Colorado where he was busy practicing interventional cardiology for the past 7 years. He treats the entire scope of cardiac disease including complex coronary interventions, transcatheter aortic valve replacement, and peripheral vascular intervention with a focus on limb salvage/preservation.

He is board certified in cardiovascular medicine, interventional cardiology, echocardiography, vascular interpretation, and endovascular medicine.

Dr. Aghel is fluent in English and Farsi.

Outside of work, Dr. Aghel enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and two daughters.

Nadia Jafar Curran, MD, is a board-certified internist and cardiologist at COR Healthcare Medical Associates. She specializes in women’s cardiovascular disease, general cardiology, echocardiography, and nuclear cardiology.

Dr. Curran earned her medical degree from New York University School of Medicine, where she received the Gilda Lipton Memorial Award for compassionate care and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She then moved to San Francisco to complete her internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). During her training, Dr. Curran developed a curriculum that focused on women’s heart disease while researching lifestyle interventions in postpartum women with pregnancy complications. This research resulted in multiple presentations and publications, and informed the most recent guidelines on adverse pregnancy outcomes and cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Curran is excited to join COR Healthcare Medical Associates and brings her expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular conditions, including risk factor assessment, prevention, microvascular dysfunction, coronary artery disease, spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD), valvular heart disease, heart failure and cardiomyopathies, preconception counseling, and pregnancy-related heart health.

When she is not taking care of patients, Dr. Curran enjoys spending time with her husband and exploring all that the South Bay has to offer, including swimming, surfing, and great dining.

Gaurav Banka, MD, is a board-certified cardiologist with a wide range of experience in both cardiology and internal medicine. Dr. Banka is proud to bring integrative care to the communities of Los Angeles at COR Healthcare Medical Associates in Torrance and Redondo Beach, California.

A longtime academic, Dr. Banka graduated with honors in biology and health policy from Harvard University. Before attending Stanford University School of Medicine, he spent a year building the Indian government's healthcare system with the Clinton Foundation. He later completed his internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Ronald Reagan Medical Center. Dr. Banka is trained in all aspects of cardiology but specializes in cardiac imaging. He’s currently Director of Echo at Torrance Memorial Medical Center and part of the Department of Radiology, where he interprets cardiac CTs. He is board certified in internal medicine, cardiology, echo, CT, nuclear medicine, and certified in cardiac MRI. He has served on national guideline committees for cardiac care and has published over 20 research publications and presentations at international medical conferences.

With more than eight years of experience, Dr. Banka performs several services at COR Healthcare Medical Associates, including heart disease management, heart attack treatment, valvular disease, congestive heart failure, preventative cardiac care, and treatment for hypertension (high blood pressure) and high cholesterol.

When he isn’t working with patients, Dr. Banka loves playing saxophone and guitar and spending time with his wife and daughter.

Sang Yong Ji, MD, is a board-certified adult cardiologist and cardiac electrophysiologist at COR Healthcare in Torrance, California. His board certification also includes internal medicine, nuclear cardiology, and echocardiography.

Dr. Ji was born in South Korea and moved to Paraguay during his junior high school year. He earned his medical degree from Asunción National University, Paraguay. He then moved to New York City to complete internal medicine residency and cardiology fellowship at Albert Einstein College of Medicine before completing a cardiac electrophysiology fellowship at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He graduated as the Best Resident of the year and with Program director's award & Chief of Division award from internal medicine residency program and cardiology fellowship program respectively. He also served as chief fellow at both Montefiore cardiology fellowship program and Johns Hopkins University cardiac electrophysiology fellowship program. He provides state of the art care including complex ablations for different arrhythmias and implantation of cardiac electronic devices. He shares his expertise by authoring numerous publications in highly respected scientific and medical journals. He continues to stay active as current Principal Investigator in several clinical research projects at Torrance Memorial Medical Center as well.

Dr. Ji is fluent in English, Spanish, and Korean. When he’s not treating patients, Dr. Ji enjoys spending time with his wife, who is an internal medicine physician and their four children.

Eric Castleman, MD, is a board-certified cardiologist and internist at COR Healthcare Medical Associates in Los Angeles. He currently sees patients at the practice’s locations in Torrance and Redondo Beach, California, where he brings more than 35 years of experience specializing in general cardiology, and adult congenital heart disease.

Dr. Castleman earned his medical degree at Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City before moving to California for his medical training. He completed his internal medicine residency at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center and a cardiology fellowship from UC Irvine Medical Center in Orange, California.

Dr. Castleman has many interests outside of work. He loves spending time with his wife, who is a nurse, and their four children. He loves gardening, traveling, and tinkering in the garage repairing things.

James Matchison, MD, is an experienced physician at COR Healthcare Medical Associates who holds board certifications in internal medicine, interventional cardiology, adult cardiovascular disease, and adult comprehensive echocardiography. With a broad range of experience, Dr. Matchison is proud to serve the communities of Torrance and Redondo Beach, California.

Dr. Matchison earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Arizona in Tucson, before attending Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio. He later completed his residency at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in Torrance, California, and a general cardiology and interventional cardiology fellowship at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center in Los Angeles.

As an experienced cardiologist, Dr. Matchison specializes in the management of advanced cardiac disease, cardiac catheterization, coronary stent placement,  echocardiography, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), and stress echocardiography.

He stays up-to-date with the latest treatments and is a member of the American Society of Cardiology and American Society of Echocardiography. Dr. Matchison has practiced in the South Bay area since 2012. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his family outdoors and exercising.

Sagar Patel, MD, is a general cardiologist at COR Medical Associates. He specializes in non-invasive cardiology and advanced imaging.

Dr. Patel earned his medical doctorate at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California. He completed his internal medicine residency at LAC+USC Medical Center/Keck Hospital of USC and his cardiovascular disease fellowship at the University of California, Riverside. Dr. Patel is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Adult Echocardiography, Cardiovascular Computed Tomography and Nuclear Medicine, and is board-eligible in Cardiology.

He has clinical interest in preventative cardiology, cholesterol management, hypertension, heart failure, cardiomyopathies, valvular heart disease, atrial fibrillation, and coronary artery disease.

As a southern California native, Dr. Patel is a huge fan of LA sports teams. He is an avid traveler, including exploring new national parks. He also enjoys live music and regularly attends concerts. He is proficient in Spanish.

Ankush Chhabra, MD, is a board-certified internist and cardiologist at COR Healthcare Medical Associates in Los Angeles. At the practice in Torrance and Manhattan Beach, California, he specializes in cardiovascular disease, nuclear cardiology, and peripheral vascular cardiology. 

Dr. Chhabra earned his medical degree at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee, before moving to Michigan for his internal medicine residency, which he completed at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor. Dr. Chhabra received advanced training at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), completing a cardiology fellowship in 2004 and an interventional cardiology fellowship in 2005. Wanting to offer patients the highest level of care possible, Dr. Chhabra also completed a peripheral vascular fellowship through Harvard University at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston in 2006.

Dr. Chhabra speaks English and Hindi.

When he’s not caring for patients at COR Healthcare Medical Associates, Dr. Chhabra enjoys reading about the history of the United States presidency, as well as traveling and playing tennis.

A triple diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, Matthew Ostrom, MD, is board-certified in clinical cardiac electrophysiology, cardiovascular disease, nuclear cardiology, and internal medicine. Dr. Ostrom, who has more than 15 years of experience, serves the Los Angeles communities of Torrance and Redondo Beach, California, at COR Healthcare Medical Associates.

Born and raised in Seattle, Dr. Ostrom received his Bachelor of Science in microbiology from the University of Washington in 1999. Throughout his undergraduate studies, Dr. Ostrom was actively involved in cardiovascular research at the university and at the local biotechnology company ZymoGenetics, Inc.

Shortly after graduating, Dr. Ostrom began his medical studies at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. He completed an internal medicine internship and residency through the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) system. In addition, Dr. Ostrom pursued cardiology and electrophysiology fellowships at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center in West Carson, California, and at Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Medical Center in Los Angeles. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the Heart Rhythm Society. 

Today, Dr. Ostrom is a practicing electrophysiologist, specializing in catheter and device-based therapies in the treatment of complex arrhythmias, syncope, sudden cardiac death, and heart failure.

His research interests include the ablation of complex arrhythmias and device-based treatments for sudden cardiac death and congestive heart failure. Dr. Ostrom has authored or co-authored numerous articles in peer-reviewed cardiology and electrophysiology journals.

In addition to his work at COR Healthcare Medical Associates, Dr. Ostrom is on staff at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center and Torrance Memorial Medical Center.

Away from work, Dr. Ostrom loves spending time outdoors with his wife and children.

As a triple diplomate with the American Board, Erol Kosar, MD, holds board certifications in clinical cardiac electrophysiology, cardiovascular diseases, and internal medicine. At COR Healthcare Medical Associates in Los Angeles, Dr. Kosar proudly brings his 30 years of experience to patients of all ages at the practice’s location in Torrance, California.

He is also certified by the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (IBHRE). 

After earning his medical doctorate at Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Thomas Jefferson University, in Philadelphia in 1989, Dr. Kosar completed an internal medicine internship and residency at the University of Pittsburgh in 1992. He later received additional training through a cardiology and electrophysiology fellowship at the University of Southern California (USC) in Los Angeles. After completing his fellowship, Dr. Kosar served as a full-time assistant professor of medicine at USC.

Continuing education is a top priority for Dr. Kosar, who is a Western regional trainer for excimer laser lead extraction — developed by Spectranetics® — which uses laser technology to remove permanent pacemaker lead.

Dr. Kosar is highly trained in all aspects of cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology, but his special research interests include cardiac resynchronization, sudden cardiac arrest, lead extraction, and atrial fibrillation.

As a leader in his field, Dr. Kosar has authored numerous publications in Circulation, Journal of the American College of Cardiology, and Cardiac Electrophysiology Review.

Not only does Dr. Kosar work with patients at COR Healthcare Medical Associates in San Pedro, CA, but he is also on staff at Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center in Torrance, and Torrance Memorial Medical Center