Our Team

Our Providers

Suraj Rasania, MD, FACC, FSCAI

Medical Director and Managing Partner

Dr. S. Rasania completed his Internal Medicine residency training at Seton Hall University in NJ, followed by a Geriatric Medicine fellowship at Harvard Medical School in Boston. Subsequently, he went to Geisinger Health System in PA to complete a Cardiovascular fellowship followed by an Interventional Cardiology fellowship at the world-renowned Mount Sinai Medical Center/Icahn School of Medicine in NYC. He is Board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Medicine, Interventional Cardiology, as well as Certified in Echocardiography and vascular ultrasound. Within General Cardiology, he has an interest in treatment of CAD, preventive cardiology, arrhythmias, valvular heart disease, heart failure, as well as complexities of management and treatment decisions that go into taking care of geriatric cardiovascular patients.

Read More Read Less

Dr. Rasania has significant training in performing complex cardiac coronary interventions and utilizing the latest available diagnostic tools, including IVUS, iFR, FFR, and OCT along with a special skill set for therapies such as Impella assisted PCIs and cardiogenic shock therapies like LV and RV assist devices He is experienced in performing the most complex rotational, orbital, and laser atherectomy and intervenes on left main, bifurcation/trifurcation lesions, and is trained in chronic total occlusions (CTOs) as well. Dr. Rasania also performs structural heart procedures such as balloon aortic valvuloplasty and TAVR. Dr. Rasania serves as the Medical Director of Cardiac Catheterization Labs at San Antonio Regional Hospital, where he has worked with many other Cardiologists to assist them in getting through the most complex cardiac procedures with successful outcomes. He is the Medical Director and Managing partner at United Heart Institute. He is married and has a 8 year old son. He overall believes in kindness and compassion and providing all alternatives for the patients to make a good informed decision in his overall practice to help heal patients. He enjoys doing charity medical work, traveling, giving community lectures and spending time with family.

Larry Chan, DO , FACC

Director of Vascular Services

Dr. Larry Chan has finished an Advanced Structural Interventional Cardiology Fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, California. He is a native of Hong Kong and was raised in Akron, Ohio. Dr. Chan attended Ohio University in Athens, where he received his dual undergraduate degrees in Biological Sciences and Microbiology. He then attended Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana, where he obtained a Master’s of Science degree. Dr. Chan received his medical degree from Lake Erie College of Medicine in Erie, Pennsylvania and then completed his Internal Medicine Residency, General Cardiology Fellowship, and Advanced Interventional Cardiology Fellowship at Plaza Medical Center in Fort Worth, Texas. Dr. Chan is board certified in Internal Medicine, General Cardiology, and Interventional Cardiology.

Read More Read Less

Due to his extensive training, he is able to offer non-invasive, invasive, interventional, and structural cardiology services, including Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) and Watchman Left Atrial Appendage Occluder Implantation. In addition, he is trained in peripheral arterial and venous procedures, including transcatheter atherectomy and embolectomy for deep vein thrombosis, pulmonary emboli, and venous compression disease. Dr. Chan serves as CCU Medical Director at SARH.

Samir Samarany, MD , FACC

Director of Cardiovascular Imaging

Dr. Samir Samarany is a cardiovascular specialist. He was born and raised in Lebanon and is trilingual in English, French, and Lebanese. He is a very thorough and caring physician and believes in the value of patient education. He also has personal interest in information technology and electronic devices, and he is always looking for ways to better utilize modern technology and improve patient care and medical practices. Outside of medicine, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing soccer, and exploring new places. He has two daughters, Chloe and Zoe, and is married to a lovely French lady, Danielle, who carries a major in interior architecture.

Read More Read Less

His clinical interests and experience include evaluation and advanced treatment of structural heart disease with non surgical interventions (TAVR, MitraClip, Tricuspid clip , TMVR, Watchman device, Valve in valve, PFO closure), evaluation and treatment of peripheral arterial disease, chronic venous insufficiency and veno-occlusive disease, and evaluation and treatment of pulmonary hypertension. Dr. Samarany has a strong background in care management and treatment, including advanced therapies of heart failure. He is a specialist in cardiac CT, cardiac MRI , echocardiogram 2D/3D, nuclear imaging and vascular imaging. Dr. Samarany’s training includes advanced cardiac imaging at Yale University Hospital in New Haven, a cardiology fellowship at Yale University Hospital, an internal medicine residency and chief residency at St. Raphael Hospital in New Haven, and medical school at Lebanese University in Beirut, Leba.

Samit Bhatheja, MD , FACC

Director of Structural Heart Interventions

The latest addition to our group, Dr. Bhatheja trained at Mount Sinai Medical Center, in NYC, where he did 2 years of Interventional, Research and Structural Cardiovascular Fellowship. He has introduced Mitra-Clip to the community for helping patients with significant mitral valve disease. He also is trained in performing other structural cardiac procedures including TAVR, PFO/ASD closures and Left atrial appendage closure device therapies among others. He has a keen interest in AI, and web-based teaching and App development for other Interventional Cardiologists to use across the nation. He is married and has 2 daughters. He enjoys listening to music during his spare time and being with his family.

Byung Don Ahn, MD , FACC

Director of Rhythm and Pacer Services

Coming Soon

Shuchi Parikh, FNP-C

Cardiovascular Nurse Practitioner

Shuchi Parikh is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner who completed her RN degree at Mount San Antonio College in 2009, followed by completing her Masters and NP degree at the top of her class at Western University of Health Sciences in 2017. Preceding her NP degree, she worked in the Coronary Care Unit for 7 years and as a Charge Nurse for 2 years. She has experience as a Critical Care Educator at Key Medical Resources and is currently also a Clinical Instructor for medical students at Western University of Health Sciences. Shuchi is an active member of the California Association for Nurse Practitioners, the American Association of Nurse Practitioners, and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses.

Amgad Alfred, PA-C

Cardiovascular Physician Assistant

Amgad Alfred is a foreign medical graduate currently residing in California. He received his medical degree from Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt, in 2002 and subsequently completed his residency training in anesthesia at the National Institute of Urology and Nephrology. In 2008, he decided to pursue his career in medicine in the United States and obtained his ECFMG certification in June 2009 after passing his USMLE exams.

However, despite his best efforts, Amgad was not able to secure a residency program, and he found himself at a crossroads in his career. Determined to continue making a difference in the healthcare industry, he began teaching various healthcare topics such as anatomy, physiology, nursing, chiropractor, medical assistant, and billing and coding at different career colleges and universities. This experience allowed him to develop his skills as an educator, and he found great fulfillment in helping students achieve their goals in the medical field.

Read More Read Less

In 2018, Amgad decided to further his own education and enrolled in Loma Linda University, where he earned a Master’s degree in Physician Assistant Health Sciences. This degree allowed him to expand his knowledge and skills, and he was eager to put his new expertise to work in the medical field.

Amgad began practicing in Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, Urgent Care, and Emergency Room settings at San Antonio Hospital, where he quickly established himself as a respected and valued member of the healthcare team. His extensive experience and expertise allowed him to provide exceptional care to his patients, and he was praised for his compassionate and empathetic approach.

Alfred PA-C started to join the Elite Cardiology Group in September of 2024, and under Dr. Rasania’s supervision, he continues to give care to his patients who suffer from chronic cardiac diseases such as congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease, atrial fibrillation, and other conditions.

Despite the challenges he faced early in his career, Amgad’s determination and commitment to the healthcare industry have allowed him to make significant contributions to the field. He is a passionate educator and practitioner, and he continues to inspire others with his dedication to improving the lives of his patients.

Angela Grace L

Nurse Practitioner- MSN, FNP-C

Angela Grace Villanueva is a board-certified Family Nurse Practitioner who earned her RN degree from West Coast University in 2012 and later completed her Master’s and Nurse Practitioner degree in 2024. Before transitioning into her current role, she dedicated 13 years to working as a Telemetry nurse across various hospitals, where she served as a primary nurse, charge nurse, mentor for new hires, and was an active advocate for quality improvement within her unit. During this time, she cared for a diverse patient population with acute and chronic cardiac conditions, including congestive heart failure, hypertension, heart attacks, and arrhythmias. She is currently an active member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners.