Cardiologist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Chiropractor providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Dentist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Dermatologist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Family Physician providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
OB-GYN providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Ophthalmologist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Orthopedic Surgeon providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Pediatrician providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Physical Therapist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Podiatrist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Psychiatrist providers include doctors, nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. They often maintain long-term relationships with you and advise and treat you on a range of health related issues.
Krystal is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner and is board certified with the American Nurses Credentialing Center. She specializes in Bio-identical Hormone Replacement Therapy, Pain Management, Internal Medicine, and Addiction Medicine. She completed her Bachelor's of Science in Nursing and Master’s of Science in Nursing at Grand Canyon University. Krystal was an ICU nurse for over 10 years, this gave her the unique experience to really connect and bond with her patients, ultimately exceeding her patient's expectations, calm their fears and deliver exceptional medicine.
“Very personal and kind!! She really wanted to know about me and was very knowledgeable on what I was doing!! Asked lots of questions. I was very comfortable with her to trust what she was doing!”
Krystal Cherapan, ACNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner
6328 East Brown Road
Suite 106
Mesa, AZ 85205
5.0(20)
4.88
(18)
Dr. Shantha Kumar, MD
Cardiovascular Disease Physician 14.1 mi
Dr. Shantha Kumar is an interventional cardiologist specializing in Interventional Cardiology and Adult Cardiology. He received his medical degree from Bangalore Medical College and has been in practice for more than 20 years. Dr. Kumar is qualified to deliver comprehensive care for your cardiovascular system and heart. Dr. Kumar may see patients for symptoms like difficulty breathing, dizziness or chest pain. Cardiovascular issues that may be identified and cared for by a cardiologist can include congenital heart defects, angina, arrhythmia, heart failure, rheumatic heart disease, heart aneurysms and coronary artery disease.
Dr. Nagaiah received his medical degree from MGR Medical University in India and has been in practice for more than 20 years. His residency and internship were completed at Mercy Catholic Medical Center in Pennsylvania, and he completed a fellowship at West Virginia University. He earned a Masters in Clinical Research from the MGH Institute of Health Professions in Boston. Dr. Nagaiah has expertise in treating lymphoma, lung cancer, and breast cancer, among other conditions.
PHILOSOPHY
I believe that being an oncologist is a privilege that is not to be taken lightly. I strive to provide evidence-based care that is appropriate to my patients’ particular problem, recognizing and respecting individual patient’s wishes. I take a multidisciplinary approach to care, including alternative therapies that have been shown to be effective.
RESEARCH PUBLICATIONS
Nagaiah G, Hossain A, Mooney CJ, Parmentier J, Remick SC. Anaplastic thyroid cancer: A review of epidemiology, pathogenesis, and treatment. J Oncol.2011;2011:542358. 2. Batalo M, Nagaiah G, Abraham J. Cognitive dysfunction in postmenopausal breast cancer patients on aromatase inhibitors. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther.2011;11(8):1277-1282. 3. Nagaiah G, Remick SC. Combretastatin A4 phosphate: A novel vascular disrupting agent. Future Oncol. 2010;6(8):1219-1228 4. Mooney CJ, Nagaiah G, Fu P, et al. A phase II trial of fosbretabulin in advanced anaplastic thyroid carcinoma and correlation of baseline serum-soluble intracellular adhesion molecule-1 with outcome. Thyroid. 2009;19(3):233-240. 5. Nagaiah G, Almubarak M, Khan M, Altaha R. Cerebrospinal fluid leak during treatment with bevacizumab and irinotecan after carmustine-impregnated wafers placement in patients with grade 2 oligodendroglioma and glioblastoma multiforme: Report of two cases and review of literature. Cancer Invest. 2010;28(10):1048-1053
Board-certified internal medicine physician, William Nassour, MD, provides integrative health care at Leading MDs in Goodyear, Tempe, Sun City, and Mesa, Arizona. His expertise includes all aspects of adult health care, however, he has a special interest in cardiovascular disease, diabetes, geriatrics, and post-acute care.
Dr. Nassour is well-respected for go-to advice, with peers seeking his assistance and guidance in geriatrics and post-acute care, and patients depending on his understanding to provide honest evaluations and recommend individualized care.
Dr. Nassour received his medical degree from Tishreen University in Latakia, Syria, and completed his residency training in internal medicine at the New York University Langone Health in Brooklyn, New York.
With more than a decade of experience as a practicing physician in hospital medicine, including outpatient and subacute care, Dr. Nassour has developed extensive knowledge and skills that help him better understand each patient and create effective treatment plans.
He has successfully filled leadership roles as the medical director in different medical settings. He also remains active on various hospital committees.
Dr. Nassour welcomes new and current patients at Leading MDs, where he collaborates with each person to improve their health and well-being.
Mohammad Nasser, MD, founder of Leading MDs in Goodyear, Tempe, Sun City, and Mesa, Arizona, is a board-certified internal medicine physician and population health specialist. Dr. Nasser has a special interest in complex patient care, gaining extensive experience as a hospitalist and internist providing care in hospitals, long-term acute care centers, and subacute rehabilitation.
With a well-known reputation as an exceptional health care innovator, Dr. Nasser creates and implements programs that improve the quality of care and diminish costs for hospitals and skilled nursing facilities.
Born and raised in Michigan, Dr. Nasser received his bachelor’s degree from Wayne State University in Detroit Michigan. After receiving his medical degree at the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in Sint Maarten, he completed his internship and internal medicine residency at Ascension Providence Hospital, Michigan State University College of Human Medicine in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Dr. Nasser is known for numerous accomplishments in his field. He was the medical director at Arkos Health and managed more than 200,000 patients through his transitional care management program.
During his tenure at Arkos Health, Dr. Nasser developed an inpatient program that shortened hospital stays and mobilized patients to the next level of care. He also implemented a skilled nursing program that improved the post-discharge process.
As a respected author, Dr. Nasser published articles in medical journals as well as the well-known book, “Management of Chronic Kidney Disease.” He also served as a manuscript reviewer for medical journals, including the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
Dr. Nasser is a proud member of the Phoenix community, where he welcomes patients and is highly regarded for his quality of care and leadership roles.
Teodor Pitea, MD, is a board-certified gastroenterologist and founder of Interventional Endoscopy Associates PLLC in Peoria, Scottsdale, and Phoenix, Arizona.
Dr. Pitea received his medical degree from Iuliu Hațieganu University of Medicine and Pharmacy in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, before moving to the United States in 2001 to pursue a career in gastroenterology. Following a residency in internal medicine, he completed a fellowship in gastroenterology at Mount Sinai Morningside (formerly St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital Center), an affiliate of Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons. During that time, he also completed a postdoctoral research fellowship on the role of insulin resistance in patients with metabolic syndrome and trained for six months as a hepatology fellow in the Liver Transplant Program at Mount Sinai Hospital. As a gastroenterology fellow, Dr. Pitea discovered his passion for endoscopy, which led him to pursue further training in advanced therapeutic endoscopy under the mentorship of Dr. Stavros Stavropoulos, one of the pioneers of endoscopic surgery, at Winthrop University Hospital in Long Island, New York.
In September 2012, Dr. Pitea launched the Interventional Endoscopy Service at Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center in Sun City West, Arizona. Over the next four years, he spearheaded the building of a new endoscopy unit and developed a highly trained medical team dedicated to interventional endoscopy. Dr. Pitea joined the Digestive Institute at Banner-University Medical Center Phoenix in 2016, and together with Rawad Mounzer, MD, he established the Interventional Endoscopy Service there in collaboration with University of Arizona faculty.
During his role as the Director of Endoscopy and Chief of the Advanced Endoscopy Program, he developed a comprehensive program for the management of acute and chronic pancreatitis, and he has continued to advance the field of endoscopic surgery in Arizona by providing complex, cutting-edge endoscopic interventions.
Dr. Pitea has published multiple abstracts and has been an invited speaker at national conferences. He is a diplomat of the American Board of Internal Medicine as well as the American Board of Gastroenterology.
Dr. Faran Bashir received his training at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, University of California, Irvine, and the University of Colorado in Denver. Dr. Bashir is board certified in the fields of cardiovascular diseases, Nuclear and Interventional Cardiology. Additionally, he has received specialized training in the performance of intracardiac echocardiography, percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale and atrial septal defects, valvuloplasty and Watchman device implantation. He has presented several studies at national Cardiology meetings and has published many journal articles in major Cardiology journals.
Dr. Bashir is currently serving as Chief of Cardiology and CVT Surgery at Banner Estrella Medical Center. He also holds the position of Clinical Assistant professor of Medicine at Banner University Medical Center – Phoenix. He is a member of faculty both in the Cardiology as well as Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Programs and is actively involved in teaching future cardiologists. Dr. Bashir’s clinical skills are outstanding and he will be happy to provide timely and professional care.
Dr. Bashir is currently accepting new patients. Schedule an appointment by calling the office or booking a consultation online today.
Zaher Akkad, MD, FACC, is a cardiologist at Affiliated Cardiologists of Arizona, with four locations in Phoenix, Maricopa, Goodyear, and Chandler, Arizona. Dr. Akkad holds multiple board certifications, including internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, interventional cardiology, nuclear cardiology, and echocardiography, as well as Endovascular Medicine.
Dr. Akkad was trained at Wayne State University-affiliated hospitals in Detroit, Michigan. Before joining Affiliated Cardiologists of Arizona, Dr. Akkad was an Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Cardiology at Wayne State University. During this time, he was the Interim Director of the Echocardiography Lab.
He has published multiple textbook chapters in the fields of cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, and congestive heart failure.
Dr. Akkad’s clinical skills are outstanding. He is a multi-talented cardiologist, he is experienced in all aspects of non-invasive cardiology, including echocardiography, transesophageal echo, and nuclear cardiology. He is a fully-trained interventional cardiologist with superb skills in all aspects of cardiac Catheterization and stents also endovascular, carotid and peripheral interventions as well as pacemaker implantation. He is experienced in Structural Cardiac interventions including TAVR and Watchman procedures.
Dr. Akkad is very compassionate and has exceptional patient skills. His philosophy is to treat his patients as if they are family and provides prompt, cutting-edge, and evidence-based treatments. He is currently accepting new patients and eager to help them get healthy as soon as possible. Please check the testimonials from some of our patients below. On behalf of Dr. Akkad and his team, we look forward to taking care of you.
Banner Estrella Medical Center, Chief of Cardiology 2023 to present
Abrazo Hospital
Shishir Murarka, MD, is the Chief of Cardiology at Banner Estrella Medical Center.
Dr. Murarka is a board-certified interventional cardiologist at Affiliated Cardiologists of Arizona in the Phoenix and Goodyear locations. He is a young cardiologist with excellent clinical skills and patient rapport. He offers a fresh approach to cardiovascular care.
Dr. Murarka completed his training at the University of Maryland Prince George's Hospital Center in Cheverly and Banner University Medical Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
He is board-certified in interventional cardiology, cardiovascular disease, internal medicine, and nuclear cardiology. Dr. Murarka has co-authored more than 20 publications in various medical journals, over a dozen abstracts, and two book chapters in the subjects of percutaneous mitral valve repair and recanalizing total occlusion in the periphery.
He is currently accepting new patients and looks forward to helping them on their health care journey.
Zaher Akkad, MD, FACC, is a cardiologist at Affiliated Cardiologists of Arizona, with four locations in Phoenix, Maricopa, Goodyear, and Chandler, Arizona. Dr. Akkad holds multiple board certifications, including internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, interventional cardiology, nuclear cardiology, and echocardiography, as well as Endovascular Medicine.
Dr. Akkad was trained at Wayne State University-affiliated hospitals in Detroit, Michigan. Before joining Affiliated Cardiologists of Arizona, Dr. Akkad was an Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and Cardiology at Wayne State University. During this time, he was the Interim Director of the Echocardiography Lab.
He has published multiple textbook chapters in the fields of cardiomyopathy, myocarditis, and congestive heart failure.
Dr. Akkad’s clinical skills are outstanding. He is a multi-talented cardiologist, he is experienced in all aspects of non-invasive cardiology, including echocardiography, transesophageal echo, and nuclear cardiology. He is a fully-trained interventional cardiologist with superb skills in all aspects of cardiac Catheterization and stents also endovascular, carotid and peripheral interventions as well as pacemaker implantation. He is experienced in Structural Cardiac interventions including TAVR and Watchman procedures.
Dr. Akkad is very compassionate and has exceptional patient skills. His philosophy is to treat his patients as if they are family and provides prompt, cutting-edge, and evidence-based treatments. He is currently accepting new patients and eager to help them get healthy as soon as possible. Please check the testimonials from some of our patients below. On behalf of Dr. Akkad and his team, we look forward to taking care of you.