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.
Empower your health with Dr. Shari Spitzer. Dr. Spitzer is a board-certified family physician whose career has spanned more than 25 years guiding patients through recovery from cardiac surgery, coronary artery stenting, and post-myocardial infarctions using the power of exercise. As she observed how lifestyle changes positively impacted her patients' overall health, Dr. Spitzer decided to pursue the field of lifestyle medicine.
Now fully certified in both family medicine and lifestyle medicine, Dr. Spitzer is passionate about providing holistic healthcare and lending her expertise to Southwest Mind & Body Care in Dallas, TX. She leads a team of holistic wellness specialists using clinically proven therapeutic lifestyle interventions alongside natural medicine to treat and prevent chronic conditions. Dr. Spitzer is ready to help you make some positive changes to your health and wellness. She can help set goals and make life-changing choices.
When she’s not helping patients, Dr. Spitzer is exercising, cooking, traveling, and spending time with her family.
“Dr. Spitzer was just amazing helped her non english speaking patient understand that she could still enjoy life thru food by limiting quantities and what to include in diet”
Dr. Afia Umber has joined our esteemed team as of recently. She received her medical degree from Dow medical university 1998. After medical school, she did internships in pediatrics, emergency room, and orthopedics. After that, she pursued further education in US. She finished her Internal Medicine residency at Alameda county Medical Center, Oakland, California in 2008.
She served as faculty at University of North Texas and has been actively involved in teaching medical students and Internal medicine trainees . Her training was further enriched by nephrology, hypertension, and kidney transplant fellowships. She also served as faculty at UT Southwestern and Parkland hospital in the department of internal medicine and Nephrology.
She holds board certifications in both Internal Medicine and Nephrology along with certification from American Society of transplantation. She is also Wound care and point of care ultrasound certified. Dr. Umber brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise due to her extensive training and work experience in different patient care settings, including inpatient, outpatient, urgent care and emergency room. Notably she is fluent in English,Urdu , Hindi along with conversational Arabic and Spanish.
Board-certified osteopathic physician who specializes in Infectious Disease, Wound Care, Undersea (Dive) and Hyperbaric Medicine, and Natural Pain Management - with the use of Osteopathic Manipulative medicine and other modalities. He runs a multidisciplinary medical practice with primary interest in Natural Pain Relief
Ramon (Ray) Kumar, M.D., is board-certified in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology. He specializes in coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, congestive heart failure, palpitations, and valve disease. Dr. Kumar practices at HeartPlace Allen, Texas, where he is committed to providing the highest quality of care to his patients.
Dr. Kumar earned his Doctor of Medicine degree at UT Southwestern in Dallas, Texas. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Harvard Medical School/Beth Israel in Boston, Massachusetts, followed by multiple fellowships at the prestigious Texas Heart Institute in Houston, Texas.
Dr. Kumar has long served as a leader in the field of cardiology. His extensive experience includes directing catheterization labs and serving as STEMI Director in multiple healthcare systems, ensuring optimal care for acute heart attack patients. With his expertise in peripheral vascular interventions, complex coronary revascularization, and valve disease procedures, Dr. Kumar often manages challenging cases referred from across Texas and beyond.
Dr. Kumar’s dedication to his patients stems from a personal commitment to treating each individual like family, inspired by his own experiences. Outside of his medical practice, Dr. Kumar enjoys spending time with his wife and three children, weightlifting, swimming, playing pickleball, and exploring physics and philosophy.
BOARD CERTIFICATIONS:
Cardiovascular Disease
Interventional Cardiology
EDUCATION:
Fellowship, Interventional Cardiology: Texas Heart Institute, Houston, TX
Residency, Internal Medicine: Harvard Medical School/Beth Israel, Boston, MA
Medical School, MD Degree: UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX
HONORS & AWARDS:
Outstanding Resident Teacher Award, Harvard Medical School
Chief Interventional Fellow, Texas Heart Institute
OFFICE LOCATION:
HeartPlace Allen 1105 N. Central Expy., Bldg. 2 Ste. 2330 Allen, TX 75013
Nominated for Best Resident Teacher Award by medical students as residents (2002)
Elected UW Alumni Representative for class 2001 - University of Washington School of Medicine (2001)
Klea Bartirakas Award - Western Regional Medical Student Research Forum, Carmel, CA, Best Oral Presentation out of over 400 medical students from all over North America (2000)
Best Oral Research Presentation, National Student Research Forum, Galveston, TX - In Epidemiology and Infectious Diseases for AIDS project in North India (1999)
Elected Medical Student Association (MSA) Class Secretary (1999)
Registered Physician of Vascular Interpretation (RPVI)
Nuclear Cardiology
Echocardiography
Internal Medicine
ECFMG Certification
LANGUAGES:
English
Hindi
Telugu
HOSPITALS:
Medical City McKinney
EDUCATION:
Fellowship, Cardiovascular Disease: Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI
Residency, Internal Medicine: Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI
Medical School, MBBS Degree: Sri Venkat Sai Medical College, Mahaboobnagar, Telangana, India
Undergraduate, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery: Sri Venkat Sai Medical College, Mahaboobnagar, Telangana, India
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:
American College of Cardiology (ACC)
American Society of Nuclear Medicine (ASNC)
American Society of Echocardiography (ASE)
American College of Physicians (ACP)
Society of Cardiovascular CT (SCCT)
PUBLICATIONS:
Peer Reviewed Journal Articles/ Published Abstracts
Drug Eluting Stents vs. Bare Metal Stents in Octogenarians. [J Am Coll Cardio 2009 53: A1-99]. Authors: Nitin Mahajan, Ashok Kondur, Rajeev Sudhakar, Vikas Veeranna, Ashutosh Niraj, Luis Afonso, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Predictors of Cardiovascular Events Following Percutaneous Coronary Intervention: Role of Non HDL Cholesterol in Risk Stratification in Octogenarians. Poster presentation at SCAI 2009. Authors: Nitin Mahajan, Ashok Kondur, Rajeev Sudhakar, Samrat Bhat, Luis Afonso, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Echocardiography in CAD: Extending Stress Echo Applications Exercise Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) Imaging or Exercise Echocardiography? A Meta-Analysis of Exercise Testing for Diagnosis of High-Risk Coronary Artery Disease. Oral presentation at AHA scientific sessions-Orlando 2010. Authors: Nitin Mahajan, Rajeev Sudhakar, Brian Ference, Joel Ager, Yun Wang, Williams KA, Luis Afonso, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Prognostic Utility of Lipid Parameters in Prediction of New Onset Microalbuminuria in Hypertensive Patients. Poster presented at NLA Scientific sessions in 3/2010. Authors: Palaniappan Manickam, Praveen Guntipalli, Ankit Rathod, Pawan Hari, Rajeev Sudhakar, Vikas Veeranna, Sony Jacob, Luis Afonso, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Derivation and external validation of a simple clinical prediction model for Peripheral Arterial Disease in asymptomatic patients. American College of Cardiology 59th Annual Scientific Session in Atlanta. Authors: Ankit Rathod, Apurva Badheka, Aditya Bharadwaj, Palaniappan Manickam, Rajeev Sudhakar, Tamam Mohamad, Sony Jacob, Luis Afonso, Wayne State Univ, Detroit, MI
Role of Novel Biomarkers in Prediction of New Onset Microalbuminuria and its Impact on Cardiovascular Outcomes in Hypertensive Patients. American College of Cardiology 59th Annual Scientific Session in Atlanta. Authors: Palaniappan Manickam, Ankit Rathod, Rajeev Sudhakar, Pawan Hari, Vikas Veeranna, Apurva Badheka, Sony Jacob, Luis Afonso, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Gender and Ethnic Differences in Cardiovascular Events and Mortality in Patients with Depressive Symptoms. American College of Cardiology 59th Annual Scientific Session in Atlanta. Authors: Pawan Hari, Vikas Veeranna, Rajeev Sudhakar, Palaniappan Manickam, Ashutosh Niraj, Ramanjit Kaur, Sony Jacob, Luis Afonso.
Does the Presence of Microalbuminuria Portend a Worse Outcome in Non-Diabetic Patients with Metabolic Syndrome? American College of Cardiology 59th Annual Scientific Session in Atlanta. Authors: Pawan Hari, Vikas Veeranna, Rajeev Sudhakar, Palaniappan Manickam, Ramanjit Kaur, Jyotiranjan Pradhan, Sony Jacob, Luis Afonso.
Microalbuminuria in non-diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome is a strong predictor of subclinical atherosclerosis: A Multi-Ethnic Perspective. American College of Cardiology 59th Annual Scientific Session in Atlanta. Authors: Pawan Hari, Vikas Veeranna, Palaniappan Manickam, Rajeev Sudhakar, Jyotiranjan Pradhan, Ashutosh Niraj, Sony Jacob, Luis Afonso.
Microalbuminuria in non-diabetic patients with metabolic syndrome is strongly associated with systemic inflammation. American College of Cardiology 59th Annual Scientific Session in Atlanta. Authors: Pawan Hari, Vikas Veeranna, Palaniappan Manickam, Rajeev Sudhakar, Mengistu Simegn, Sandeep Zalawadiya, Sony Jacob, Luis Afonso.
Small Artery Elasticity as a predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes in a nationally representative cohort. Publication status± submitted in American College Cardiology 60th scientific sessions in New Orleans, 2011. Authors: Rajeev Sudhakar, Ankit Rathod, Aditya Bharadwaj, Apurva Badheka, Vikas Veeranna, Sony Jacob, Luis Afonso, Wayne State University/Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI.
Cocaine Use and All Cause Mortality: Insights from NHANES III. Publication status± submitted in American College Cardiology 60th scientific sessions in New Orleans, 201. Authors: Aditya S. Bharadwaj, Apurva O. Badheka, Ankit Rathod, Rajeev Sudhakar, Vikas Veeranna, Sony Jacob, Luis Afonso, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Insurance Status is an Independent Predictor of All Cause and Cardiovascular Mortality: Insights from NHANES III. Publication status± submitted in American College Cardiology 60th scientific sessions in New Orleans, 2011. Authors: Apurva Badheka, Aditya S. Bharadwaj, Ankit Rathod, Rajeev Sudhakar, Vikas Veeranna, Sony Jacob, Luis Afonso, University of Miami, Miami, FL, Wayne State University/ Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI.
Correlation of Anthropometric Measures of Obesity in middle aged adults with Risk Stratification Groups Based on Short-term and Lifetime Risk for Cardiovascular Events. Publication status± submitted in American College Cardiology 60th scientific sessions in New Orleans, 2011. Authors: Aditya S. Bharadwaj, Ankit Rathod, Apurva Badheka, Rajeev Sudhakar, Vikas Veeranna, Hardik Doshi, Sony Jacob, Luis Afonso, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Outcomes after Heart-Lung Transplantation in Patients with Severe Pulmonary Infections prior to Heart-Lung Transplantation. Publication status ± Abstract Accepted in Society of Health care and epidemiology-2011 scientific sessions. Authors: Palaniappan Manickam, Rajeev Sudhakar, Rajesh Krishnamoorthi, Teena Chopra, Dror S, Keith Kaye, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Spectrum of illnesses and outcomes of Hypothermia in patients admitted in Intensive care unit. Publication status± accepted in American Thoracic Society scientific sessions in Denver, 2011. Authors: Rajeev Sudhakar, Charles Jaiyeoba, Anupama Tiwari, Ayman Soubani, Wayne State University/ Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI Am J Respir Crit Care Med 183;2011:A4713
Impact of Hepatitis C virus seropositivity in Lung transplantation. Publication status± accepted in American Thoracic Society scientific sessions in Denver,2011. Authors: Palaniappan Manickam, Rajesh Krishnamoorthi, Rajeev Sudhakar, Ankit Rathod, A Muthuswamy, Teena Chopra, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
Insulin resistance is Associated with Cardiovascular Events in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis ± accepted in ATVB scientific sessions in Chicago,2011 Authors: Rajeev Sudhakar, Kashish Goel, Palaniappan Manickam, Vikas Veeranna, Luis Afonso, Wayne State Univ, Detroit, MI
Lack of association between H.pylori seropositivity and the progression of atherosclerosis in healthy adults ± accepted in National Lipid Association scientific sessions in New York, May 2011 Authors: Palaniappan Manickam, Rajeev Sudhakar, Praveen Guntipalli, Rajesh Krishnamoorthi, Ankit Rathod, Luis Afonso Wayne State Univ, Detroit, MI
Favorable Effect of Helicobacter Pylori on Serum Lipid Profile ± accepted in National Lipid Association scientific sessions in New York, May 2011Authors: Palaniappan Manickam, Rajeev Sudhakar, Praveen Guntipalli, Arun Muthuswamy, Rajesh Krishnamoorthi, Ankit Rathod, Luis Afonso Wayne State Univ, Detroit, MI
Effect of Body Mass Index on outcomes in Pediatric heart transplant recipients± Accepted in 6th Congress of International Pediatric Transplant Association for Oral presentation and accepted for Distinguished trainee award. Rajeev Sudhakar, Kashish Goel, Adeeba Khan, Palaniappan Manickam, Pawan Hari, Luis Afonso, Wayne State University/ Detroit Medical Center, Detroit, MI
Cardiovascular Preventive Care In Patients Using Psychotropes: Impact On Primary Care ± Accepted in Epidemiology and Prevention/Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism(EPI/NPAM) 2012 Scientific Sessions (Abstract # 628) Rajeev Sudhakar, Arun Muthusamy, Diane Levine, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, USA
Fellowship, Interventional Cardiology: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Fellowship, Cardiovascular Disease: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Residency, Internal Medicine: Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX
Medical School, MD Degree: Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth, Richmond, Virginia
Graduate School, Masters of Science in Physiology Degree: Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth, Richmond, Virginia
Undergraduate, Bachelors of Science in Biology Degree (Departmental Honors): Mary Washington College, Fredericksburg, Virginia
PROCEDURAL SKILLS:
Complex Coronary & Peripheral Interventions
Heart Catheterizations
Percutaneous Support Devices (Impella, IABP)
Venous Reflux Disease & Ablation Therapy
TAVR
PUBLICATIONS/MEDIA:
Publications:
Brown WR, Levine, G. “Chest Pains and Angina”. In Levine, G, Cardiology Secrets (4th , pp. 110-116). Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Saunders. (2014).
Salloum FN, Abbate A, Houser J, Mudrick C, Roy S, Brown WR, Qureshi I, Prabhakar S and Kukreja R. “Sildenafil (Viagra) Attenuates Ischemic Cardiomyopathy and Improves Left Ventricular Function in Mice”. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2008 Mar;294(3):H1398-406. Epub. Jan 25, 2008.
Majid M, Brown WR, Divakaran V, Virani S. “Pulmonic Valve Endocarditis, A Case Report.” Submitted to Texas Heart Inst Journal.
Divakaran VG, Brown WR, Virani S. “Images in Echocardiography: A Freely Floating Saphenous Vein Graft.” Echocardiography. Vol 26. Aug, 2009.
Brown WR. Assisted Drs. R. Kukreja and F. Salloum in the investigation of PDE-5 inhibitors and their role in cardio protection. “Chronic Inhibition of PDE-5 with Sildenafil (Viagra) Attenuates Ischemic Cardiomyopathy and Improves Left Ventricular Function in Mice”. 2007.
Brown WR. Worked with Dr. T. Duane (Trauma Surgery) in the Medical College of Virginia Emergency Department. This research considered the value of pelvic/cervical spine films, and outcomes in various patient populations, including the obese and the diabetic patient. “The Role and Influence of Plain Films and Patient Demographics on Outcomes in the Trauma Bay." 2006.
Brown WR. Worked with Dr. J. Feher to complete a thesis in physiology research. “Continuous Chemiluminescent Measurement of Superoxide in Intact Rat Hearts During Ischemia-Reperfusion.” 2002-2003.
Brown WR. As a candidate for Biology departmental honors, worked with Dr. K. Loesser to complete a thesis in biological research. In May of 2001, presented research to the Virginia Academy of Science. The work subsequently appeared in the Academy’s publication. “Vitamin E: Efficacy of Gamma-Tocopherol vs. Alpha-Tocopherol in Atherosclerosis Prevention.” 2000-2001.
Poster Presentations:
Oliver PA, Brown WR, Regan C, Stoltzfus J, Ornato JP. “Correlation Between Heart Rate in Pre-Hospital Patients In Atrial Fibrillation With Rapid Ventricular Response And Blood Serum Magnesium Levels”. AAEM meeting, Las Vegas, NV. Feb 2010.
Salloum F, Abbate A, Brown WR, Hoke N, Kukreja RC. “Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors Reduce Myocardial Infarction, Apoptosis and Improve Post Ischemic Ventricular Function in Female Mice”. ACC meeting, Chicago, IL. March, 2008.
Fellowship, Cardiology: UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX
Residency, Internal Medicine: UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX
Internship, Internal Medicine: UT Southwestern, Dallas, TX
Medical School, MD Degree: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA
Graduate,Master of Public Health, Epidemiology: Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA
Undergraduate,Bachelor of Science Biochemistry/BA Classics (Summa Cum Laude): Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY
PROCEDURAL SKILLS:
Transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiograms
Cardiac stress tests
Cardiac CT angiography
Cardiac CT structural imaging
LEADERSHIP & VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES:
Session Leader: Led medical student small group sessions teaching cardiology skills, including EKG interpretation and echocardiography performance (2021–Present)
Orientation Coordinator: Organized a dozen orientation lectures for incoming cardiovascular disease fellows (2021)
Writer: Contributed to bi-monthly primary literature evaluation of Journal Watch, a resident-led online journal (2017–2019)
Editor: Served as editor to bi-monthly primary literature evaluation of Journal Watch, a resident-led online journal (2019–2020)
Hoeting, N, Oster, M. “Systolic Ejection Click vs. Split S1: Are Our Ears Deceiving Us?” Abstract accepted for oral presentation at American Academy of Pediatrics annual meeting, October 2016.
Hoeting, N. “Pre-operative Clearance: A Risky Business”. January 2022.
Hoeting, N. “Racial and Social Determinants of Health in the Congenital Heart Disease Population". April 2021.
Research
Analyzed coronary artery calcium on CT scans to improve cardiac preventative care across multiple centers. Developed analysis plan; first author on manuscript. July 2022–2023.
Collaborated with internal medicine residents to establish a standardized echocardiography teaching curriculum; led didactics and hands-on sessions. August 2022–2023.
Created medical education initiative to expand and standardize echocardiography curriculum for cardiology fellows. Selected dozens of high-quality echocardiography exams for a foundational lecture series. January 2022–2023.
Analyzed Dallas Heart Study using novel Liposcience algorithm for improved characterization of HDL particle sizes. Abstract written and presented at multiple research meetings in 2018. November 2017–June 2019.
Fellowship, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA
Fellowship, Cardiovascular Disease: Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA
Residency, Internal Medicine: University of Arizona College of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ
Medical School, MD Degree: Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC
Undergraduate, BS in Chemical Engineering: University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Undergraduate, BS in Chemistry: University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC
Undergraduate, Spanish Language Internship: Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain, Spanish Language Internship
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS:
American College of Cardiology
American College of Physicians
American Society of Nuclear Cardiology
American Medical Student Association
American Medical Association
HONORS/AWARDS:
Louisiana Chapter ACC FIT Jeopardy: First Place (2020)
Louisiana Chapter ACC FIT Jeopardy: First Place (2019)
Resident Research Academic Excellence Day Banner University Medical Center: First Place (2017)
High Value Competition Award Banner University Medical Center: First Place (2016)
PGY-1 Poster ACP Arizona Chapter Scientific Meeting: First Place (2015)
Medical University of South Carolina: Research Grant Awarded (2014)
University of South Carolina: Dean's List (2002-2007)
PUBLICATIONS:
Shao, Wanda; Drutel, Robert; Weiss, Jessica; Gerkin, Richard; et al. “QTc Prolongation Associated with Psychiatric Medications: A Retrospective Cross-sectional Study of Adult Behavioral Health Inpatients”. J Clin Psychopharmacol. 2019 Jan/Feb;39(1):72-77.
Drutel R.; Payne J.; Glancy L. “Bradycardia in a Man with Hypertension”. American Journal of Cardiology. Oct. 2019.
Jakkoju A.; Drutel R.; Ahmed J.; Cox-Alomar P.; Lelorier P.; Glancy L. “Myocarditis Presenting as Sudden Cardiac Death”. Journal of the Louisiana State Medical Society. 2019.
Kern J.; Drutel R.; Leanhart S.; Bogacz M.; Pacholczyk R. "Reduction of T cell receptor diversity in NOD mice prevents development of type 1 Diabetes but not Sjögren’s syndrome". PLoS One. 2014 Nov 7;9(11).
Drutel, R.; Jain, N.; Helmcke, F. “Chemotherapy Responsive Apical Left Ventricular Metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma". (2020, Accepted).
