Cardiovascular at AHS

Welcome to the Cardiovascular services at Alameda Health System. We are a team of dedicated cardiologists and vascular surgeons, focused on providing compassionate and high quality care. We provide a wide range of services, including preventative, diagnostic and therapeutic care for patients with heart failure, coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, valvular heart disease, aortic and peripheral vascular disease.

Our Wilma Chan Highland Hospital Campus (WCHHC) is an Alameda County designated receiving center for patients with heart attacks and cardiac arrests, and is home to a state of the art cardiac catheterization laboratory. Our non-invasive laboratory is accredited by the Intersocietal Accreditation Commission.

Cardiovascular Non-invasive Lab Services Interventional Services Specialty Clinics
  • Electrocardiography
  • Ambulatory electrocardiography & cardiac event monitoring
  • Echocardiography
  • Nuclear myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI)
  • Cardiac device monitoring
  • Cardiac Stress Testing
  • Vascular Ultrasound
  • Cardiac catheterization
  • Coronary and peripheral arterial angiography
  • Percutaneous coronary intervention
  • Cardiac device implantation
  • Cardioversion
  • Transesophageal echocardiography
  • Patent foramen ovale closure
  • Vascular surgery and endovascular intervention
  • Varicose vein therapies
  • Fistula Access
  • Cardiology Clinic
  • Heart Failure Clinic
  • Vascular Clinic
  • Dialysis Access and Vein Clinic

Staff Biographies

Cardiology

  • Chief of Cardiology

Dr. Marina Trilesskaya is a board-certified interventional cardiologist and the systemwide Chief of Cardiology at Alameda Health System. Dr. Trilesskaya’s past appointments included medical directorship of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, and chair of the Department of Medicine at AHS. She has served on several quality committees. She is passionate about eliminating disparities and optimizing the health of our diverse communities.

Dr. Trilesskaya enjoys staying active and exploring beautiful outdoors of the East Bay. When she is not hiking the hills of Mount Diablo, she can be found practicing drums or watching a cooking show on Netflix.

Languages

English, Ukrainian, Russian

Education

Medical Board Certification:

  • Internal Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine, 2009
  • Cardiovascular Disease, American Board of Internal Medicine, 2012
  • Interventional Cardiology, American Board of Internal Medicine, 2013

Fellowship

  • California Pacific Medical Center, 2012
  • Banner University Medical Center, 2013

Residency

California Pacific Medical Center, 2009

Internship

California Pacific Medical Center, 2007

Medical Degree

University of California Davis, MD, 2006

  • System Wide Medical Director, Non – Invasive Cardiac Laboratory, Alameda Health System
  • Medical Director Cardiology Clinic, Highland Hospital

Dr. Sophie Barbant serves as the System Wide Medical Director of the Non- Invasive Cardiac Laboratory at Alameda Health System and Medical Director of the Cardiology Clinic at Highland Hospital. Her emphasis is in echocardiography, cardiovascular imaging, and general management of cardiovascular disease. She has a clinical interest in valvular disease and medical education. Dr. Barbant enjoys painting, reading, and cooking.

Languages

English, French

Education

Medical Board Certification:

  • Cardiovascular Disease, American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Echocardiography, American Board of Internal Medicine

Fellowship

  • California Pacific Medical Center, Cardiology, 1998
  • UCSF School of Medicine, Clinical Pharmacology, 1995
  • UCSF, Research fellowship, Echocardiography, 1992

Residency

California Pacific Medical Center, 2000

Medical Degree

University Rene Descartes Paris, MD, 1987

  • Cardiologist

Dr. Robert Gwynn is a cardiologist at Alameda Health System, Highland Hospital with over 30 years of experience. He completed his undergraduate studies at Stanford University and his medical degree at Cornell University. He was formally one of the founding members of the Cardiovascular Consultant Medical Group and a recipient of the American Heart Association “Medical Heart of Gold Award”. He is passionate about providing individualized cardiac medical care. In his free time, Dr. Gwynn enjoys spending time with family, reading, and hiking.

Languages

English

Education

Medical Board Certification:

  • Cardiovascular Disease, American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Echocardiography, American Board of Internal Medicine

Fellowship

University of California, San Francisco, Fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease

Residency

New York Hospital

Medical Degree

Cornell University JS Weill Medical College, MD, 1965

  • Cardiologist

Dr. Alvaro Waissbluth is a cardiologist with over 25 years of experience. He received his medical degree at the Ohio State University and continued at the institution for his internal medicine residency. He then received his cardiovascular fellowship training at Washington University in St. Louis. He practiced interventional cardiology for 20 years in Cincinnati before following his daughter to California. He switched gears in California and decided to pursue noninvasive cardiology. His favorite hobbies include mountain biking and reading non-fiction. Dr. Waissbluth loves connecting with patients and helping them with any and all of their heart issues. He speaks English and Spanish and is primarily located at Alameda Hospital, Marina Wellness Clinic, and Hayward Wellness Clinic.

Languages

English, Spanish

Education

Medical Board Certification: Cardiovascular Disease, American Board of Internal Medicine, 2013

Fellowship

Cardiovascular fellowship at Washington University in St Louis, 1999

Residency

Internal Medicine Residency at Ohio State University, 1995

Medical Degree

Ohio State University, MD, 1992

  • Interventional Cardiologist

Yemisi Adejumo, MD, is an interventional cardiologist at Alameda Health System, Highland Hospital. Dr. Adejumo is board certified in Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease, Echocardiography and Internal Medicine. She specializes in minimally invasive procedures that increase blood flow to the heart, diminish chest pain and decrease the risk of heart attack. She also closes small holes in the heart via a minimally invasive approach. Her desire is to be an active partner with her patients and help them improve their quality of life and life expectancy through building long term relationships with them in an outpatient setting. She is passionate about educating patients about their options and how they can be an active participant in their own cardiovascular health.

Dr. Adejumo enjoys, cooking, hiking, spending time outdoors exploring California with her husband, and kids.

Languages

English, Yoruba

Education

Medical Board Certification:

  • Cardiovascular Disease, American Board of Internal Medicine, 2019
  • Interventional Cardiology, American Board of Internal Medicine, 2020
  • Echocardiography, American Board of Internal Medicine, 2019

Fellowship

New York Presbyterian Hospital – Weill Cornell, 2019

Residency

University of Michigan, 2016

Internship

Stony Brook University School of Medicine, 2013

Medical Degree

University of Virginia, MD, 2012

  • Director, Cardiac Cath Lab, Highland Hospital
  • Chief, Interventional Cardiology, Alameda Health System

Dr. Xin Yang is the Director of Cardiac Cath Lab and Chief of Interventional Cardiology at Alameda Health System. He is board certified in Cardiovascular Medicine, Nuclear Cardiology, and Interventional Cardiology. Dr. Yang has a clinical interest in high risk / complex coronary interventions and percutaneous ventricular assist devices. He is passionate about improving quality of care and deeply committed in realizing Alameda Health System’s vision to promote wellness, eliminate disparities, and optimize the health of our diverse communities.

Dr. Yang is an active member of the Highland Interventional Cardiology team and cardiac catheterization laboratory since its inception in 2011.

Languages

English, Dutch, Mandarin, Cantonese

Education

Medical Board Certification:

  • Cardiovascular Medicine, American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Nuclear Cardiology, Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology
  • Interventional Cardiology, American Board of Internal Medicine

Fellowship

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 2010

Residency

Duke University Medical Center, 2006

Medical Degree

University of Cambridge, MD, 2001

  • Director, Cardiac Electrophysiology

Dr. Steven Kang is the Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology at Alameda Health System. Dr. Kang is board certified in Cardiac Electrophysiology. He specializes in implantation and management of cardiac implantable electronic devices, cardiac ablation for the treatment of arrythmias, and comprehensive management of atrial fibrillation. Dr. Kang enjoys spending time with his wife who is a practicing neurologist in Berkeley, California and his three kids and three dogs. He is currently learning to play guitar and enjoys fishing and tennis.

Languages

English

Education

Medical Board Certification:

  • American Board of Internal Medicine, Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, 2019
  • American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, 2003

Fellowship

  • Harbor – University of California Los Angeles, Cardiology, 2003
  • Harbor – University of California Los Angeles, Cardiac Electrophysiology, 2003

Residency

George Washington University, 1999

Medical Degree

George Washington University, MD, 1996

Vascular

  • Assistant Professor of Surgery, UCSF
  • Head of Vascular Surgery and Medical Director Vascular Laboratory, Alameda Health System
  • Assistant Trauma Director, Alameda Health System

Dr. Shahram Aarabi is Head of Vascular Surgery at Alameda Health System. Dr. Aarabi performs the full range of elective and emergent complex open and endovascular procedures, based at the San Francisco East Bay’s only level 1 trauma center, Highland Hospital. Additionally, Dr. Aarabi has operating privileges at UCSF Parnassus Medical Center.

Dr. Aarabi is passionate about improving population health for underserved patients, focusing his energies on the care of peripheral vascular and trauma patients. In addition to his clinical and administrative roles, Dr. Aarabi is a nationally funded researcher with >$2M in current grant funding to develop emergency medical devices that help vulnerable populations.

Dr. Aarabi loves spending time with his spouse and their two children. In his free time, he enjoys being outside skiing, hiking, swimming, and paddling an outrigger canoe. When he’s tired, he likes to lay in the grass or BBQ with his family and friends.

Languages

English (fluent), Farsi (fluent), Spanish (Basic)

Education

Medical Board Certification:

  • General Surgery, American Board of General Surgery
  • Surgery Critical Care, American Board of Surgery Critical Care
  • Vascular Surgery, American Board of Vascular Surgery

Other Certification

  • American College of Surgeons, Advanced Trauma Life Support Instructor
  • American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography, Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation
  • American Heart Association, Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support Provider

Fellowship

  • University of Washington, Trauma Critical Care, 2015
  • University of Washington, Vascular Surgery, 2017

Residency

University of Washington, General Surgery, 2013

Medical Degree

New York University, MD, 2007

  • Attending Vascular Surgeon

Dr. Arnold Levine is a vascular surgeon at Alameda Health System and has been practicing for over 30 years. Dr. Levine is board certified in Vascular Surgery and is also a registered vascular technologist and registered vascular physician interpreter (RVPI).

Dr. Levine enjoys skiing, swimming, biking, piano, and reading history.

Languages

English

Education

Medical Board Certification: Vascular Surgery, American Board of Vascular Surgery, 1989

Fellowship

Medical College of Wisconsin Vascular Surgery, 1984

Residency

Medical College of Wisconsin General Surgery, 1983

Medical Degree

Northwestern University, MD, 1978

Advance Practice Provider

  • Physician Assistant

John Puccini, PA-C, is a physician assistant at Alameda Health System. He is passionate about the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, hypertension, interventional structural heart therapies, atrial fibrillation management, and orthopedic therapies for joint disease of shoulder, hip, and knee.

John enjoys camping, gardening, woodworking, and leading Cub Scouts into the outdoors.

Languages

English, Spanish (Conversational)

Education

Masters: Samuel Merritt University

  • Nurse Practitioner, Vascular Surgery

Britton Hart, NP, is a nurse practitioner at Alameda Health System. She is a ANCC Board Certified Adult Nurse Practitioner and has a passion in dialysis access and varicose veins.

Britton enjoys traveling, horseback riding, and football – she is a huge Buffalo Bills fan.

Languages

English

Education

Masters: University of Rochester, 2011

Awards and Recognition

  

Patient Comments

“Dr. Barbant is my cardiologist & she is THE MOST WONDERFUL person! I am so lucky to have her in charge of the medical issue that dominates my life! She is absolutely AWESOME! FANTASTIC”

“I switched to Alameda Health just to follow Dr. Yang. He’s the best ever.”

“Dr. Adejumo was on time, friendly, attentive, caring, responsive and thorough in discussing my health and future.”