Dr. Shereef Hilmy II

Dr. Hilmy is a board certified interventional cardiologist with extensive experience in multiple cardiac sub-specialties. He is a graduate of All India Institute Of Medical Sciences. He completed his post graduate medical training at New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York. His training at that institution included medical internship, medical residency, general cardiology and interventional cardiology. He also sewed as the Chief Medial Resident and Ilnstructor of Medicine at the same institution.

Dr. Blake and Dr. Hilmy Were the original founders of the Heart Clinic group, an organization that revolutionized cardiology practice in the Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Hilmy was involved in initiating multiple programs for cardiac care since his arrival in the Rio Grande Valley. Some of these programs include:
– Coronary angioplasty
– Coronary stenting
– Peripheral artery disease therapy
– Coronary and peripheral atherectomy
– Nuclear cardiology
– Trans-esophageal echocardiography
– Cardiac Pacemaker and Defibrillator implant, including Biventricular Pacemakers and Defibrillators
– Carotid artery angioplasty and stenting

 

 

Dr. Hilmy was the principal investigator for the SAPPHIRE WORLD WIDE TRIAL in the Rio Grande Valley.

Dr. Hilmy is board certified in the specialty of Internal Medicine, the sub-specialty of Cardiovascular Diseases, and NASPE/HRS electrophysiology Certified Cardiac Device Management. He is a fellow of the American College Of Cardiology, Fellow Of the American College Of Chest Physicians, Fellow Of The Society Of Cardiac Angiography And Interventions, Member Of The American Heart Association. He is a lifetime member of the Texas Medical Foundation. Dr. Hilmy is the recipient of The American Heart Association Thomas Robertson Award and Heart Of Gold Award in recognition of his role in the development of numerous cardiac programs in the Rio Grande Valley. Dr. Hilmy is also a licensed nuclear cardiologist.

Dr. Hilmy’s research included the evaluation of the role of hydrochlorothiazide in altering vascular intra-cellular sodium content in hypertension, the evaluation of newer calcium channel blockers in management of cardiomyopathy, and the role of carotid stenting in the management of carotid stenosis.

Dr. Hilmy is the chief of cardiology and director of the cardiac catheterization laboratory at Harlingen Medical Center. He also serves as the chief of the medical executive committee and chief of the credentials committee at the same institution. He previously served as the chief of medicine, chief of cardiology, and director of the cardiac catheterization laboratory at Rio Grande Regional Hospital and McAllen Heart Hospital. Dr. Hilmy is also an instructor for aneurysm repair at Medtronic. Dr. Hilmy has staff privileges at:

– Harlingen Medical Center
– Valley Baptist Medical Center
– Knapp Medical center
– Solara Hospital

Dr. Hilmy and his partners at South Heart Clinic in Harlingen and Weslaco are accepting new patients who require cardiac care.

HUGO G. BLAKE, M.D., F.A.C.C.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine
Board Certified in Cardiovascular Disease
Board Certified in lnterventional Cardiology
Founded Heart Clinic, PA in 1983 and subsequently South Heart Clinic, PLLC

Dr. Blake was born in Mexico City, Mexico. He graduated from Escuela Preparatoria#5 Mexico City, Mexico with a Bachelor in Chemistry and Biology. He received his Medical Degree from Facultad de Medicina Univ. Nacional Autonoma, Mexico City, Mexico in 1974. Dr. Blake completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Maryland General Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland. He completed his Fellowship in Cardiology at University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas. He obtained an M.B.A. at the University of Texas-Pan American, Edinburg, Texas.

Dr. Blake is a Fellow of American College of Cardiologist and a Fellow in the American College of Chest Physicians.

He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Board Certified in cardiology and is trained in all aspects of interventional cardiology. Dr. Blake founded Heart Clinic, PA in 1983. He also founded Cardio Pulmonary Rehabilitation Center, the first rehabilitation center, McAllen, Texas. Dr. Blake assisted Dr. Shereef Hilmy with the first Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA) procedure at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen. He also additional founded McAllen

Heart Hospital, McAllen, Texas and Harlingen Medical Center, Harlingen, Texas. He has privileges at Harlingen Medical Center, Valley Baptist Medical CenterHarlingen and Knapp Medical Center. Dr. Blake is married and has five children which keep him involved in his love for sports.

MICHAEL D. EVANS, M.D., F.A.C.C.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine
Board Certified in Cardiovascular Disease
Board Certified in Interventional Cardiology
Board Certified in Nuclear Cardiology

Dr. Evans was born in Ottawa, Canada. He attended State University of New York at Buffalo with a degree in BA, BS Cum Laude, in 1977. He attended New York Medical College Valhalla, New York with a degree in Doctor of Medicine in 1981. He did his internship, residency and cardiology fellowship in Westchester County Medical Center, New York Medical College in Valhalla, New York. In 1984-1986 while doing his cardiology fellowship he had electrophysiology training under Dr. D.A. Rubin. Dr. Evans was a Clinical Instructor in Medicine at New York Medical College, Valhalla, New York in 1986. He is a member of North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology. A Fellow of American College of Physicians, Fellow of American College of Chest Physicians, Fellow American College of Cardiology and a Member of American Society of Nuclear Cardiology. Dr. Evans has served on the Board of Trustees at McAllen Medical Center and Rio Grande Regional Hospital, Chief of Staff at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen from 2010-2015. He has served in the Advisory Committee for STEAC for over ten years. During his medical career he has also served as Medical Director, Chief of Medicine and Cath Lab Director. He has also been in the Cardiac Care Committee, Credentials Care Committee Continuing Medical Education committee, Vice Chairman of Medicine committee, Vice President of the Medical Board in different hospitals. He continues to be Adjunct Associate Professor Department of Medicine at UT Health Science Center at San Antonio since 2000. Dr. Evans is very involved in the UTRGV Physicians Assistant Program. He actively has privileges at Harlingen Medical Center, Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen, Knapp Medical Center and Solara in Harlingen. Dr. Evans has two sons and has been in practice at South Heart Clinic since 1987. He and his wife Ruth enjoy kayaking, mountain climbing, fishing and hiking.

Eduardo D. Flores, M.D., F.A.C.C.

Dr. Flores was born in Edinburg, Texas and attended the University of Texas at Austin graduating Cum Laude with a Bachelors’s degree in Biochemistry in 1981. He obtained his medical degree from Harvard Medical School in 1985. He went on to complete his cardiology fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Dallas affiliated hospitals: Parkland Memorial and Dallas Veterans Administration Medical Center in 1991. He completed an advanced fellowship in Interventional Cardiology at Mid-America Heart institute and St. Luke’s Hospital of Kansas City Missouri under the tutelage of Dr. Geoffrey Hartzler, an early pioneer in the field. He has been in private practice at South Heart Clinic (initially founded Heart Clinic, P.A.) since 1992. Dr. Flores is an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine at Regional Health Academic Center, Harlingen University of Texas Health Science Center of San Antonio since 2000, and currently director of Cardiology education for the UT RGV School of Medicine Knapp program.

He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, ABIM Cardiovascular Diseases, ABIM Interventional Cardiology, and the National Board of Echocardiography.  He is a member of multiple professional societies include Fellow of American College of Cardiology, Texas Medical Association, Professional Member of American Heart Association, and Member of American College of Physicians.  He was also Councilor of Senate District 27 Texas Chapter of American College of Cardiology 2005-2006. He is a member of The Philosophical Society of Texas Society that was founded in 1837 by Mr. Sam Houston which is dedicated to the collection and diffusion of knowledge, elected October 2014 by a ballot of peers.

Dr. Flores has served on the Quality Improvement and Ethics Committees of Harlingen Medical Center. He has active privileges at Harlingen Medical Center, Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen, Knapp Medical Center, Solara Hospital of Harlingen, and Doctors Regional Medical Center in Corpus Christi.   He recently has added Trasvascular Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) to his many skills.  He has two daughters and lives in Edinburg with his wife Cristela Hernandez, M.D.

Current Board Certifications in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases, Interventional Cardiology, and Echocardiography.

Juan Joel Garza, M.D., F.A.C.C., F.S.C.A.I.

Board Certified in internal Medicine
Board Certified in Cardiovascular Disease

Dr. Garza was born in McAlIen, Texas; in 1993 he graduated from Texas A & M University at college Station with a BA. in Biology degree. He attended Medical School at the University of Texas Medical Branch-Galveston from 1993-1997. He did his Residency at Scott and White Hospital Department of Medicine Temple, Texas from 1997-2000. Dr. Garza did his Cardiology Fellowship and lnterventional Cardiology Fellowships at Scott and White from 2000-2004. He is a member of Texas Coronary Angiographers and Interventionist, Member of American Society of Nuclear Medicine and also a member of American Heart Association. Throughout his medical career Dr. Garza has held many positions such as Chief Medical Officer at Harlingen Medical Center, Chief of Medicine at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen, and Cath Laboratory Director at Knapp Medical Center. He has and is involved in numeroerous committees in different hospitals. He is Adjunct Associate Professor Department of Medicine/Education programs with UT Health Science Center at San Antonio. He has privileges at Harlingen Medical Center, Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen, Knapp Medical Center and Solara in Harlingen. He has been practicing in private practice at South Heart Clinic, PLLC in Harlingen and in Weslaco since 2004. Dr. Garza lives in Weslaco with his wife Xenia and four children.

Dr. David E. Yardley

Dr. Yardley is a Cardiologist with extensive clinical and research experience in multiple Cardiology disciplines. He graduated Magna Cum Laude from Illinois State University, then matriculated from Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine. After a residency in Internal Medicine at University of California at Davis, he finished his Invasive Cardiology training at Yale-affiliated Saint Vincent Hospital in Bridgeport, Connecticut. In addition to general consultative cardiology, his skills include:

  • Coronary and Peripheral Angioplasty
  • Coronary and Peripheral Stenting
  • Coronary and Peripheral Atherectomy
  • Coronary Laser
  • Peripheral Arterial Disease
  • Cardiac Pacing
  • Heart Failure Management
  • Nuclear Cardiology
  • Echocardiography

As an Interventional Cardiologist, Dr. Yardley holds board certifications in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, and Interventional Cardiology, and is also recognized as a Nuclear Cardiologist by the American Board of Nuclear Cardiology. He is a m Fellow of the American College of Cardiologists. He is a member of the Texas Medical Association and American Medical Association.

As Director of Clinical Research and Director of the Heart Failure Clinic at Saint Anthony Medical Center in Rockford, Illinois, Dr. Yardley participated in projects including testing of numerous drugs for treatment of Heart Failure. He was also a lead investigator in use of Excimer Laser in Coronary Vein Graft Revascularization. Other research trials included a pilot study for use of Hirudin for prevention of coronary clots during Coronary Stenting.

As a Partner in South Heart Clinic, Dr. Yardley is known as a strong patient advocate. He has served in various capacities at Valley Baptist, Harlingen, including Chairman of Medicine, Member of Executive Committee, Physician’s Advisory Committee, and Director of Infusion Unit.

Dr. Yardley has staff privileges at:

  • Harlingen Medical Center
  • Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen
  • Knapp Medical Center
  • Solara Hospital

Dr. Yardley and his partners at South Heart Clinic are accepting new patients at their clinics at Harlingen and Weslaco.

FRANK MAZZOLA, M.D., F.A.C.C.

Board Certified in Cardiovascular Disease
Board Certified in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology

Dr. Mazzola was born in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from University of Hartford with a Bachelor’s degree in Music. He Majored in Piano Performance with a Minor in Earth Science. He graduated in 1987 at the University Of Connecticut School Of Medicine. Dr. Mazzola did his Internship and residency in Internal Medicine at New York University and Bellevue Hospital Center where he was then Chief Medical Resident from 1990-1991. He then continued and did his Fellowship in Cardiology . From there, he did a Fellowship in Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing from 1993-1994 at the University of Massachusetts and a second year in Cardiac Electrophysiology at the University of California in San Diego. He has been a Member of American Autonomic Society since 1998. His Board Certifications include Cardiovascular Disease and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology. He has been Medical Director of the Cardiac Electrophysiology Program at Mission Regional Medical Center in Mission, Texas and at Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville, Texas. He currently leads our Cardiac Electrophysiology Program at Harlingen Medical Center, and is the co-director of our Arrhythmia Center and Device Clinic. He practices all aspects of Cardiac Electrophysiology, including catheter abiations, complex ablations for atrial fibrillation and ventricular tachycardia, management of complex pacemaker and defibrillator problems, laser endocardial lead extractions, management of dysautonomic syncope, and clinical arrhythmia management He is currently beginning a program with left atrial appendage closure (Watchman), and the leadless pacemaker. His prior research includes being Primary investigator in the CELESTIAI. study, (LV resynchronization lead post-market study); and the PEGASUS CRT Trial ( Pacing Evaluation -Atrial Support Study in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy). He was a co-investigator in the Pocket study (D-Stat to prevent Hematoma Formation in Prepectoral Pockets), intrinsic RV study (inhibition of Unnecessary RV Pacing with All Search Hysteresis in ICD’sZ}, and the APL Study (Advanced Pacing Lead Polyurethane Clinical investigation).

Throughout his medical career Dr. Mazzola has had many Publications, and he was an contributing author in Cardiology Review. He is involved in various Organizations and Committees in Valley Hospitals. He has active privileges at Harlingen Medical Center, Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen, Knapp Medical Center, Valley Baptist Medical Center-Brownsville, Valley Regional Medical Center in Brownsville, St. David’s Medical Center in Austin, St. David’s South Austin Medical Center, Austin and Westlake Medical Center in Austin, Texas. Dr. Mazzola resides in Brownsville.

Michael Balderas, M.D.

Dr. Balderas, a native of the Rio Grande Valley, obtained his medical degree from Ross University School of Medicine in 2011. He then chose to return to the Valley and completed his internal medicine internship and residency at UTHSCSA-RAHC under the direction of James Hanley, MD. During his internship year, Dr. Balderas was voted Outstanding Intern of The Year and UTHSCSA Medicine Clerkship Intern of The Year. In his final year of residency, Dr. Balderas was voted Outstanding Resident of The Year and was awarded the prestigious Kleberg Foundation research grant. He then completed a cardiology fellowship at UTHSCSA under the direction of John Erikson, MD, where Dr. Balderas was voted Outstanding Fellow of The Year in 2015-2016 and was given the title of Chief Fellow for the 2017-2018 academic year. He then completed an interventional cardiology fellowship under the direction of Steven Bailey, MD. Dr. Balderas is well versed in all aspects of general cardiology and interventional cardiology, including coronary and peripheral interventions. Additionally he has extensive experience in structural cardiology and has participated in numerous TAVR’s, ASD, PFO and VSD closures.

Danielle M. Stone, M.D.

Dr. Danielle Stone was born in St. Joseph, Missouri. She received her Associate in Science Degree from Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri, and her Bachelors of Science in Biology Degree from Benedictine College in Atchison, Kansas. Dr. Stone graduated from medical school in 2013 from the Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara. She then went on to complete her pre-internship year at New York Medical College where she served as chief pre-intern. She completed her Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Texas at Houston in 2018 in Houston, Texas. She also completed her Cardiology fellowship in 2021 at the University of Texas at Houston. She has specialized imaging training in Cardiac CT angiography. She is also trained in Nuclear Cardiology, Pacemaker Implantation, Echocardiography, Vascular Imaging, Cardio-Oncology, Pulmonary Hypertension, Coronary and Peripheral Angiography, Congestive Heart Failure, Cardiac Transplantation, Varicose Vein Therapy, Preventative Cardiology and Cardiac Disease in Women.

Dr. Stone is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology.

Board Certified in Internal MedicineBoard Certified in Nuclear Medicine
Board Certified in Echocardiography
Board Certified in Cardiovascular Disease
Board Certified in Cardiac CT

Dr. James Stone

Dr. James Stone was raised in Brownsville, Texas. He received his Biomedical Science Degree from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. Dr. Stone graduated from Universidad Autónoma de Guadalajara Medical School with his wife, Dr. Danielle Stone, where they both went on to complete Internal Medicine Residency in 2018 and Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship in 2021 from the University of Texas Health Science Center in Houston. Dr. James Stone was awarded Clinical Cardiovascular Disease Fellow of the Year by MD Anderson Cardiovascular Cancer Center in 2019. He then went on to complete Interventional Cardiology Fellowship at William Beaumont University in Michigan in 2022. Dr. James Stone has specialized training in high-risk percutaneous coronary intervention and cardiovascular disease. He looks forward to joining South Heart Clinic and will be taking new patients starting September 1, 2022.

Board Certified in Internal Medicine
Board Certified in Cardiovascular Disease
Board Eligible in Interventional Cardiology

Dr. Deanna Yamamura

Dr. Deanna Yamamura D.O. was raised in the suburbs of Chicago, IL, and earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Loyola University Chicago, studying Japanese language in Tokyo, Japan. She worked as a schoolteacher in Japan prior to earning her doctorate in osteopathic medicine from A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine in Missouri. Dr Yamamura completed her Internal Medicine residency and Cardiovascular Disease fellowship in Corpus Christi, TX, where she served as chief resident and chief fellow.

Dr. Yamamura is board-certified in Internal Medicine, board-certified in Cardiovascular Disease, and board-eligible in Interventional Cardiology. She is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, Texas Osteopathic Medical Association, and the American College of Cardiology. She completed her Interventional Cardiology subspecialty fellowship training in 2022 at Ascension Providence Hospital in Michigan. She has a special interest in high-risk coronary interventions and peripheral arterial disease.

Dr. Yamamura is excited to become a part of South Heart clinic and welcomes new patients from September of 2022.

Board Certified in Interventional Cardiology
Board certified in Cardiovascular Disease
Board certified in Internal Medicine
Advanced Cardiac Life Support