Biography

  • Internal medicine residency and fellowship 1993-2000 University of Texas Medical School in Houston
  • Cardiology faculty 2000-2015 University of Texas Medical School in Houston
  • Distinguished University Professor at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston (since 3/2015 Clinical Professor)
  • Master’s in Healthcare Administration in 2012
  • Private Practice Experience in the greater Houston area since 3/2015

Teaching awards:

  • 3 Cardiology Attending of the Year award
  • 6 Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award
  • 3 Physicians of the year nominations at MHH-TMC
  • “Leonard Tow Humanism in Medicine Award”(2012)

Languages:

  • Italian
  • English
  • Spanish
  • French

Education

Medical Degree
University of Perugia, Italy- Magna cum Laude 1990
Residency in Internal Medicine
University of Texas Health Science Center - Houston 1993-1996
Fellowship in Cardiology
University of Texas Health Science Center - Houston 1996-1999
Fellowship in Intervention Cardiology
University of Texas Health Science Center - Houston 1999-2000
Master Health Care Administration
Texas WU, Houston 2012

Areas of Interest

Clinical Interests

  • Coronary atherosclerosis management from prevention to regression
  • Acute coronary syndromes
  • Invasive and non-invasive management of coronary and peripheral atherosclerosis
  • Nuclear cardiology- Positron Emission Tomography
  • Cardiac rehabilitation
  • Lifestyle modifications for health management
  • Clinical cardiology research
  • Healthcare management – accessible, value based, patient centered Healthcare delivery
  • Population Health

Publications

Visit the PubMed profile page

Author of more than 130 peer review publications (abstracts and full articles)

Honors and Awards:

  • 05/1992 – Umbria Region Award for the best doctoral dissertation in Hematology
  • 11/1997 – Bristol-Myers American Heart Association Cardiology Fellows Abstract Award
  • 10/1998 – Dr. Ward S. Casscells” University of Texas-Houston Cardiology Fellowship Award
  • 11/1998 – Bristol-Myers American Heart Association Cardiology Fellows Abstract Award Program
  • 06/1999 – Leadership in Cardiovascular Medicine Award, University of Texas-Houston
  • 04/2002 – Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award, University of Texas-Houston
  • 06/2002 – Teacher of the Year Award, University of Texas-Houston, Department of Cardiology
  • 09/2002 – Nominated for the ACC Gifted Young Teacher Award
  • 05/2003 – Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award, University of Texas-Houston
  • 05/2004 – Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award, University of Texas-Houston
  • 12/2005 – Physician of The Year Award Nomination (Memorial Hermann Hospital, TMC, Houston)
  • 04/2006 – Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award, University of Texas-Houston
  • 06/2006 – Teacher of the Year, University of Texas-Houston, Department of Cardiology
  • 11/2006 – The Weatherhead Distinguished Chair of Heart Diseases
  • 04/2007 – Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award, University of Texas-Houston
  • 12/2007 – Physician of The Year Award Nomination (Memorial Hermann Hospital, TMC-Houston)
  • 04/2008 – Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award, University of Texas-Houston
  • 06/2008 – Teacher of the Year, University of Texas-Houston, Department of Cardiology
  • 12/2008 – Physician of The Year Award Nomination (Memorial Hermann Hospital, Texas Medical Center, Houston)