Cardiologists

Stewart Allen, MD, FACC

Dr. Stewart Allen brings considerable training and expertise in general and interventional cardiology. He was trained at Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North Carolina and completed fellowships in clinical cardiology, cardiovascular research and interventional cardiology.

Dr. Allen’s expertise includes advanced coronary interventions, peripheral artery interventions, transcatheter aortic valve replacement and pacemaker placement. He predominately uses the radial artery for heart catheterizations, a technique that patients have overwhelmingly preferred in clinical trials. In addition to practicing as an interventional cardiologist, Dr. Allen has a strong interest in a patient specific, preventative approach. He has served as a spotlight series speaker for the American Heart Association and has given numerous lectures on preventative health and risk factor modification. He has also been designated as a specialist in clinical hypertension by the American Society of Hypertension. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, and Interventional Cardiology. Most recently, he has been appointed Medical Director of Cardiology for the Adventist Heart Institute.

Matt Cain, MD

Dr. Matthew Cain, MD, FHRS, is a dedicated board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist committed to improving patients' lives by addressing complex cardiac conditions. With a focus on diagnosing and treating heart rhythm disorders, Dr. Cain offers procedures like pacemaker insertion, cardiac ablation, and defibrillation, alongside medication management. His extensive medical background includes a medical degree from Jefferson Medical College, residency at the University of Chicago, and fellowships in cardiovascular disease and cardiac electrophysiology at the University of Texas Southwestern. Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in cardiac disease and electrophysiology, Dr. Cain is also a Fellow of the Heart Rhythm Society (FHRS). Throughout his career, he has shared his expertise as a clinical instructor and medical director, while contributing to peer-reviewed journals and medical conferences. Dr. Cain finds fulfillment in the immediate impact he makes on patients' lives every day.

Peter Chang-Sing, MD, FACC

Dr. Peter Chang-Sing has been in clinical practice in cardiology since 1991. He received his B.S. in Biological Sciences and M.S. in electrical engineering from Stanford University and was then concurrently enrolled in the M.D. program at Yale Medical School and the PhD program at Harvard Medical School where he also taught. He completed his internship in internal medicine at New York University Medical Center and his residency in internal medicine and fellowships in cardiology and clinical cardiac electrophysiology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

Dr. Chang-Sing is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a Fellow of the Heart Rhythm Society. He is Chief of Cardiovascular Disease and Cardiac Surgery and Medical Director of the Cardiac Electrophysiology Lab at Santa Rosa Memorial Hospital. His practice consists of consultative as well as procedural cardiology, with interests in congestive heart failure, arrhythmia management and coronary artery disease. He enjoys spending time with his wife and two children, traveling, hiking, fishing and Stanford football.

Leonardo Clavijo, MD

Dr. Clavijo is widely recognized as a leader in the field of interventional cardiology with extensive experience in performing complex minimally invasive percutaneous coronary, cardiac structural/valvular, and vascular interventions. He has participated in more than 40 clinical and interventional studies and authored more than 80 articles and abstracts in peer-reviewed medical journals, as well as multiple book chapters. Dr. Clavijo is frequently invited to speak and teach about complex cardiac and vascular interventions.

Prior to joining Adventist Health, he was instrumental in developing a structural cardiology program for a Central Coast-based hospital. He also spent 15 years as a professor of cardiology at the University of Southern California. Originally from Colombia, Dr. Calvijo is fluent in both English and Spanish.

Richard Diets, MD

Dr. Deits is an experienced cardiologist with vast expertise in cardiovascular diseases. His focus in treating patients with heart problems to live fuller and healthier lives is a driving force for his practice. Dr. Deits addresses numerous heart and vascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease and valvular heart disease. His inspiration to practice medicine comes from using science to solve medical issues. Dr. Deits is fluent in English and Spanish, and brings compassion and understanding to the healthcare needs of his patients. He is board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular disease.

Monica S. Divakaruni, MD

Dr. Monica Divakaruni earned her medical degree from University of California San Francisco School of Medicine in San Francisco, CA. She completed her internship and residency in internal medicine at Stanford University Medical Center, where she served as Chief Resident. In addition, she completed a fellowship in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology at Stanford University Medical Center. She is board certified in internal medicine, cardiology and interventional cardiology.

Focusing on innovative treatment options, Dr. Divakaruni keeps at the forefront of new diagnostic testing and the most advanced cardiac catheterization techniques available, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement. She predominately uses the transradial approach for cardiac catheterization which provides patients with a shorter, more comfortable recovery and a reduced risk of bleeding.

Dr. Divakaruni is an expert in women’s heart disease and is passionate about providing all aspects of cardiac care – from education and prevention to diagnosis and treatment.

Susan Judith Eisenberg, MD

Dr. Susan Eisenberg is a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist specializing in innovative ablative procedures for arrhythmias. Dr. Eisenberg has nearly three decades of experience and is highly respected by her peers for her skill and collaborative and individualized approach to patient care.

Dr. Eisenberg earned her medical degree from New York Medical College and continued on to do her internship and residency at University of California San Francisco, where she later completed a fellowship. She has published research and presented internationally on atrial fibrillation and cardiac care.

Dr. Eisenberg is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in clinical cardiac electrophysiology. Before joining the Adventist Heart & Vascular Institute she served as medical director of the John Muir Health Cardiac Rhythm Center.

Maia Eng, MD

Dr. Maia Eng has dedicated her career to the screening, diagnosis and treatment of cardiovascular conditions. She helps her patients understand and manage their condition through lifestyle changes and treatment options that align with their personal health goals. Some of the most common conditions she works with are coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension and cardiac arrhythmias, among others.

A graduate of the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Dr. Eng completed her residency, a cardiovascular medicine fellowship and a cardiovascular imaging fellowship at the University of California Davis. She is board certified in internal medicine as well as cardiovascular disease.

Yonatan “Jon” Bitton-Faiwiszewski, MD

Dr. Yonatan “Jon” Bitton-Faiwiszewski is an interventional cardiologist with additional interest and training in vascular medicine. He is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology and board eligible in vascular medicine and endovascular intervention. Dr. Faiwiszewski is passionate about helping patients experience a healthy cardiovascular system so they can be active and happy members of their families and communities.

A New York City native, Dr. Faiwiszewski completed a fellowship in cardiovascular disease at the University of Colorado, an interventional cardiology fellowship at the University of Utah Health and an endovascular intervention and vascular medicine fellowship at Columbia University Medical Center. He is active in research and publication and noted for his dedication to education and support of his patients’ whole-person health.

John Minotti, MD

Dr. John Minotti is board certified in internal medicine and cardiovascular diseases. He has over three decades of experience helping patients live heart healthy.

Dr. Minotti graduated from Louisiana State University School of Medicine before completing his internship and residency at the University of Southern California. He completed a cardiology fellowship at the Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania. Later, he served on the faculty of the University of California San Francisco Medical School.

A longtime Lakeport physician, Dr. Minotti specializes in treating heart disease with an experienced and comprehensive approach.

Lakshmi Nair, MD, FACC

Dr. Lakshmi Nair, FACC, is a highly-trained, dedicated general cardiologist who is part of the Adventist Heart & Vascular Institute physician team. Dr. Nair brings nearly two decades of training and experience to serve Mendocino County patients with compassionate, patient-centered care. Dr. Nair is triple board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and nuclear cardiology. As a cardiologist with a patient-first philosophy, Dr. Nair prioritizes education and collaboration with her patients and fellow providers. She was in private practice prior to joining the Adventist Heart & Vascular Institute.

Jeong Sik Park, MD, FACC, FAIC, NASPE

Dr. Jeong Sik Park received his medical degree from Seoul National University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea. After an internship and residency at Seoul National University Hospital, Dr. Park completed a fellowship and residency at Loma Linda University Medical Center. He is board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, nuclear cardiology and echocardiography.

David R. Ploss, MD

Dr. David R. Ploss is a board certified cardiologist with over twenty years of active practice experience. He earned his medical degree from Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston, Massachusetts, graduating in 1987. He completed a residency in internal medicine at University of California San Francisco followed by a fellowship in cardiology at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco, CA. He then completed a second fellowship in cardiac electrophysiology at the West Los Angeles VA Medical Center in Los Angeles, CA.

Prior to joining the Adventist Heart Institute, Dr. Ploss grew the Pacific Heart Group to become the largest cardiology practice in Humboldt County. He has served in many leadership roles throughout his career, including Chief of Staff and Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory. His most recent leadership role is Chief of Medicine for Ukiah Valley Medical Center. Dr. Ploss assisted the Community Health Clinic System and St. Joseph Hospital to develop and direct a community Congestive Heart Failure Clinic in Humboldt County. Prior to this, Dr. Ploss was at the Dayton Heart Center in Dayton, Ohio where he developed the cardiac electrophysiology program.

Dr. Ploss brings with him many years of excellence and experience. He is an active member of the Heart Rhythm Society, American College of Cardiology and the American Medical Association. He is interested in the arts and local politics and previously served as president of the Redwood Art Association.

Jon S. Portnoff, MD

Dr. Jon S. Portnoff has been practicing in Ukiah for over 25 years. Dr. Portnoff treats and cares for a patient throughout the entire continuum of cardiac care, whether it be education and prevention, advanced diagnostic testing to a procedure. Dr. Portnoff is a graduate of American University of the Caribbean. He completed his residency at the University of Wisconsin Medical School in Milwaukee, and had his fellowship training at Loma Linda University Medical School before coming to Ukiah.

Kundai Tanganyika, MD

Dr. Tanganyika is a board-certified cardiologist with extensive experience in general and non-invasive cardiology. He grew up in Zimbabwe at a time when the nation’s healthcare delivery system was significantly impacted by political and economic decline. Despite the deterioration of the universal healthcare system, he also had the opportunity to witness the resilience and grit of medical professionals as they cared for vulnerable populations.

Dr. Tanganyika manages general cardiology conditions such as cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure and coronary artery disease. Making a difference in the lives of his patients and teaching them about their heart concerns is a passion for Dr. Tanganyika, who believes that reliable information can improve a person’s health and quality of life.

Dr. Tanganyika is fluent in English and Shona.

Kathleen Tong, MD

Dr. Kathleen Tong is a specialist in the management of heart failure patients, pulmonary hypertension patients and preventive cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation. She completed medical school at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine in Chicago and did her residency in internal medicine at UC Davis Medical Center. She later completed a cardiovascular medicine fellowship at UC Davis Medical Center and an advanced heart failure and heart transplantation fellowship at UC San Francisco Medical Center.

Dr. Tong served as the director of the heart failure program and director of the preventative cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation program at UC Davis Medical Center, where she conducted research on the effectiveness of multidisciplinary strategy in the transition of care of heart failure patients from the inpatient to the outpatient setting. She is board certified in advanced heart failure and cardiovascular medicine.