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Board Certifications

• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Interventional Cardiology
• Nuclear Cardiology

Hospital Affiliations

• Banner University Medical Center
• St. Joseph's Hospital
• 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. 

 

Testimonials

Dr Khosla is fellowship trained in
interventional pain management,
functional & regenerative medicine. He is
also board certified in multiple specialities
such as neurocritical care, headache
medicine, orthopedic regenerative
medicine and is also a certified brain
injury specialist.

He provides an array of pain treatments
such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), stem
cell regenerative therapies along with
prolotherapy, epidurals, radio-frequency
ablations, peripheral nerve blocks, joint
injections, spinal cord stimulators, vertiflex
interspinous spacer implants,
percutaneous laser disc discectomy
(LASE), and more.

Emily Shortridge, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained Pediatric Ophthalmologist. She specializes in ophthalmic care for children and also for adults with special needs.

Dr. Shortridge’s Pediatric practice is comprehensive and includes a wide range of pediatric eye needs. This includes strabismus, cataracts, tear duct disorders, amblyopia (or “lazy eye”), complex glasses needs, ptosis (drooping eyelids), dermoid cysts, ocular surface problems like pterygium and chronic inflammation, as well as medical glaucoma. She understands the value of education as she partners with patients and parents in making customized medical decisions that are right for them. She strives to create a friendly, welcoming environment, helping make every pediatric patient as comfortable as possible during the clinic visit and exam process.

Dr. Shortridge also devotes her practice to surgical care for special needs adults, an area of medicine that is typically very underserved in Arizona. Dr. Shortridge uses her background in pediatric ophthalmology, and employs exam and surgical techniques that are more suitable for adults with special needs. These patients often include individuals with Down syndrome, severe autism, cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, spina bifida, and genetic disorders that affect intellectual and physical functioning.

Dr. Shortridge graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Biology at Grand Canyon University. She attended the University of Arizona, Phoenix campus for her medical degree. She completed her year in internal medicine at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix and her Ophthalmology residency at UTMB in Galveston, Texas. She then completed a fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus at MUSC in South Carolina, where she trained under Dr. Edward Wilson, the world’s leading expert in pediatric cataract surgery.

Dr. Shortridge enjoys hiking, skiing, tennis, and spending time with her family in Phoenix.

BIOGRAPHY

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

1. 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

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/govardhanan-n-ab26a97/

Dr. Ertz-Archambault is triple board-certified in Hematology, Medical Oncology, and Internal Medicine, dedicated to providing expert and compassionate care to patients facing blood disorders and cancers, with a special emphasis in breast cancer.

Dr. Ertz-Archambault has dedicated her career to serving the Phoenix cancer community. She spent over four years caring for the underserved cancer population at Valleywise Health, where she partnered with the breast cancer team honored with The Spirit of Healing Award from the Cancer Support Community of Arizona in 2022. Her commitment extends beyond the clinic through volunteer work, charity educational programs, and quality improvement initiatives for underserved cancer patients.

Dr Ertz-Archambault is an active member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology. She also serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Creighton University, Phoenix School of Medicine, mentoring the next generation of physicians.
Outside of medicine, she enjoys painting, gardening, and spending time with her family

Dr. Clarence Adoo specializes in hematology, oncology and internal medicine. He joined Arizona Center for Cancer Care in 2008. Dr. Adoo is a member of the American College of Physicians/American Society of Internal Medicine, American Association of Blood Banks, American Society of Hematology and American Society of Clinical Oncologists amongst others. 

Dr. Adoo has publications in several journals and authored many chapters in books, including Acute Myeloid Leukemia, Alternative Management Strategies in Alloimmunized Thrombocytopenic Patients, Infection in the Neutropenic Host, Management of infection in Oncology Patients and Adult Leukemia: American Cancer Society Atlas. In addition to his published work, Dr. Adoo has participated in several presentations at the Hematology Oncology Fellowship Program, National Institute of Health, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society/Cure for Lymphoma Association and Phoenix Veterans Affairs Hospital.

He has been honored as a fellow by the American College of Physicians and lauded by America’s Registry of Outstanding Professionals, among other honors.

HonorHealth LinkedIn

Patient Reviews:

"He was the best. always listened to me and addressed the issue. Vary caring." -Cliff

"We are amazed at how Dr. Adoo makes us feel, very welcoming, is ready to answer any questions we have and even calls other drs if necessary. His bedside manner is the best we have had from any doctor. We would recommend him to anyone and everyone needing a Dr. with his experience." -Casimir

 

Read more & Leave a review

 

Dr. Laeth George grew up in the Phoenix Metro area before completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, earning a Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Physiology. He obtained his M.D. from the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, where he met his wife. Following this, he completed Internal Medicine residency at Case Western Reserve University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio. Thereafter, he completed his fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation – Taussig Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio. 

During these years of training, he published multiple peer-reviewed articles in various medical journals regarding diseases like multiple myeloma as well as kidney cancer. He has presented research at national meetings, including at the 2023 Genitourinary Oncology meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). 

He is excited to return to Phoenix and help serve the community he and his family consider to be home. He has a strong dedication to the care of patients with Hematologic and Oncologic conditions, and has experience treating a broad spectrum of both common and rare disorders in Hematology and Oncology. He believes in partnering with patients and their loved ones to provide compassionate, holistic, and evidence-based care to achieve the best outcomes possible.

Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and family, reading, trying new restaurants, and is an avid sports fan. 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/laethgeorge

Dr Khosla is fellowship trained in
interventional pain management,
functional & regenerative medicine. He is
also board certified in multiple specialities
such as neurocritical care, headache
medicine, orthopedic regenerative
medicine and is also a certified brain
injury specialist.

He provides an array of pain treatments
such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP), stem
cell regenerative therapies along with
prolotherapy, epidurals, radio-frequency
ablations, peripheral nerve blocks, joint
injections, spinal cord stimulators, vertiflex
interspinous spacer implants,
percutaneous laser disc discectomy
(LASE), and more.

Emily Shortridge, MD, is a board-certified, fellowship-trained Pediatric Ophthalmologist. She specializes in ophthalmic care for children and also for adults with special needs.

Dr. Shortridge’s Pediatric practice is comprehensive and includes a wide range of pediatric eye needs. This includes strabismus, cataracts, tear duct disorders, amblyopia (or “lazy eye”), complex glasses needs, ptosis (drooping eyelids), dermoid cysts, ocular surface problems like pterygium and chronic inflammation, as well as medical glaucoma. She understands the value of education as she partners with patients and parents in making customized medical decisions that are right for them. She strives to create a friendly, welcoming environment, helping make every pediatric patient as comfortable as possible during the clinic visit and exam process.

Dr. Shortridge also devotes her practice to surgical care for special needs adults, an area of medicine that is typically very underserved in Arizona. Dr. Shortridge uses her background in pediatric ophthalmology, and employs exam and surgical techniques that are more suitable for adults with special needs. These patients often include individuals with Down syndrome, severe autism, cerebral palsy, hydrocephalus, spina bifida, and genetic disorders that affect intellectual and physical functioning.

Dr. Shortridge graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Biology at Grand Canyon University. She attended the University of Arizona, Phoenix campus for her medical degree. She completed her year in internal medicine at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center in Phoenix and her Ophthalmology residency at UTMB in Galveston, Texas. She then completed a fellowship in Pediatric Ophthalmology and Adult Strabismus at MUSC in South Carolina, where she trained under Dr. Edward Wilson, the world’s leading expert in pediatric cataract surgery.

Dr. Shortridge enjoys hiking, skiing, tennis, and spending time with her family in Phoenix.

Lauren Havard, MD, is a family medicine and primary care physician. She serves patients at HealthyU Clinics at our Phoenix, Arizona, clinic. 

Dr. Havard joined HealthyU Clinics in 2021. She previously worked as an outpatient family physician at two Banner Medical Group clinics in Phoenix, Arizona. She also worked at Banner Boswell Medical Center in Sun City, Arizona, mid-pandemic, as a hospitalist. 

Dr. Havard completed her residency at Abrazo Central Family Medicine Residency Clinic in Phoenix, Arizona. She attended medical school at the American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine in St. Marteen. 

During medical school, she spent her third year in Chichester, England (where she met her husband), and her fourth year in the United States.  

Dr. Havard and her husband love spending time with their dog Lily, playing co-ed soccer, hiking, working out, listening to music, watching binge-worthy shows, and most importantly spending time with friends and family.

 

Dr. Kaplan treats a wide variety of medical oncology, malignant hematology, and benign hematologic disease. She is especially interested in treating breast cancer and general oncology.

Dr. Kaplan enjoys cooking, reading, watching sports, traveling, and spending time with family and her 2 dogs named Penny.

HonorHealth LinkedIn

"Dr. Kaplan was a major part of my father-in-love’s cancer treatment and was one of his biggest champions. Her bedside manner was incredibly personalized, kind, and intentional. He couldn’t say enough wonderful things about her. I highly recommend her!" -Leanne

Read more & Leave a review

BIOGRAPHY

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

1. 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

LinkedIn:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/govardhanan-n-ab26a97/

Dr. Ertz-Archambault is triple board-certified in Hematology, Medical Oncology, and Internal Medicine, dedicated to providing expert and compassionate care to patients facing blood disorders and cancers, with a special emphasis in breast cancer.

Dr. Ertz-Archambault has dedicated her career to serving the Phoenix cancer community. She spent over four years caring for the underserved cancer population at Valleywise Health, where she partnered with the breast cancer team honored with The Spirit of Healing Award from the Cancer Support Community of Arizona in 2022. Her commitment extends beyond the clinic through volunteer work, charity educational programs, and quality improvement initiatives for underserved cancer patients.

Dr Ertz-Archambault is an active member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology. She also serves as an Assistant Clinical Professor at Creighton University, Phoenix School of Medicine, mentoring the next generation of physicians.
Outside of medicine, she enjoys painting, gardening, and spending time with her family

Dr. Laeth George grew up in the Phoenix Metro area before completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona, earning a Bachelor’s degree with Honors in Physiology. He obtained his M.D. from the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Phoenix, where he met his wife. Following this, he completed Internal Medicine residency at Case Western Reserve University Hospitals in Cleveland, Ohio. Thereafter, he completed his fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation – Taussig Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio. 

During these years of training, he published multiple peer-reviewed articles in various medical journals regarding diseases like multiple myeloma as well as kidney cancer. He has presented research at national meetings, including at the 2023 Genitourinary Oncology meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO). 

He is excited to return to Phoenix and help serve the community he and his family consider to be home. He has a strong dedication to the care of patients with Hematologic and Oncologic conditions, and has experience treating a broad spectrum of both common and rare disorders in Hematology and Oncology. He believes in partnering with patients and their loved ones to provide compassionate, holistic, and evidence-based care to achieve the best outcomes possible.

Outside of work, he enjoys spending time with his wife and family, reading, trying new restaurants, and is an avid sports fan. 

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/laethgeorge

Teodor Pitea, MD

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 Deborah Dykema founded The Wellness Center and The Pilot Center and advocates healthy lifestyle choices for her patients and pilots. She is a Board Certified physician and a Commercial rated pilot focusing on providing pilot Flight Medicals and Consults to the aviation community.