Nicholas Biondi, DO

Assistant Professor
Internal Medicine
Cardiology
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

Dr. Biondi is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and a non-invasive cardiologist at the University of Kentucky in Lexington. He specializes in advanced cardiac imaging and has a particular interest in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction and myocardial diastolic dysfunction. He is board-certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology. Dr. Biondi received his medical degree from the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at Campbell University Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. He completed his cardiology fellowship at the University of Cincinnati and further specialized in advanced cardiac imaging at the University of Kentucky.

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Anthony DeMaria, MD, MACC

Professor, Medicine
Judith and Jack White Chair in Cardiology
Professor of Medicine
Director, UCSD Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center
UC San Diego School of Medicine
San Diego, California

Dr. DeMaria is the Judith and Jack White Chair in Cardiology, distinguished Professor of Medicine and founding director of the Sulpizio Cardiovascular Center at UC San Diego. He is a general
cardiologist whose research has included many areas but primarily in cardiac imaging. He has served as the President of the American College of Cardiology and the American Society of Echocardiography. He served as Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC) for 12 years. He has served on the Cardiology Board of the American Board of Internal Medicine, and as Chair of the Diagnostic Radiology Study Section of the NHLBI. He has
published over 700 scientific articles.

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Whitley Ellis, PharmD, BCACP

Ambulatory Clinical Pharmacist- Cardiology
UK HealthCare Gill Heart and Vascular Institute
Lexington, Kentucky

Dr. Whitley Ellis received her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky in 2018. She completed a PGY1 pharmacy practice residency in 2019 and PGY2 ambulatory care pharmacy residency in 2020, both at the Lexington VA Health Care System in Lexington, Kentucky. Ellis practices as a clinical ambulatory care pharmacist at UK HealthCare beginning in August 2020. She began as a clinical pharmacist with Family Medicine and now currently practices at UK Gill Heart and Vascular Institute in the general and women’s cardiology clinic settings. Her areas of interest include primary prevention, women’s cardiology, and hyperlipidemia management.

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Simon Fisher, MD, PhD

Director, Barnstable Brown Diabetes Center
Chief, Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

Dr. Simon Fisher currently serves as the Chief of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism, Vice-Chair for Research and Professor in the Department of Medicine and is the Director of the Barnstable Brown Diabetes and Obesity Center at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine.

Dr. Fisher is a distinguished physician scientist and served as principal investigator on JDRF and NIH-funded grants. His research investigates the pathophysiology and treatment of diabetes, insulin action, tissue specific cross-talk, complications of diabetes, and hormonal counterregulation. He is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of diabetes scientists and has been
a mentor to over 70 undergraduate, graduate and post-graduate trainees.

As a board-certified academic endocrinologist, he instructs medical students, residents, and fellows how to treat patients with diabetes and prevent complications associated with diabetes. Dr. Fisher is a member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation and is named in Best Doctors in
America.

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Larry Goldstein, MD, FAAN, FANA, FAHA

Judy and Byron Young Neuroscience Institute Endowed Professor
Chair, Department of Neurology
Associate Dean for Clinical Research, College of Medicine
Co-Director, Kentucky Neuroscience Institute
Co-Director, UK Neuroscience Research Priority Area
Medical Director, UK-Norton Stroke Care Network
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

Dr. Goldstein is the Ruth L. Works Professor and Chair, Department of Neurology, Associate Dean for Clinical Research, College of Medicine, Co-Director of the Kentucky Neuroscience Institute, Co-Director of the UK Neuroscience Research Priority Area, and Interim Director of the UK-Norton Healthcare Stroke Care Network at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Goldstein focuses his clinical, research, and service activities on stroke and related disorders. He has published over 330 peer review journal articles, 51 chapters, 136 editorials, position papers and letters, and 820 professional reports. He has served in multiple leadership positions for the American Academy of Neurology, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association, and the Association of University Professors of Neurology, including each organization's national board of directors. He has also served on review panels for the NIH, the FDA, and other organizations. Dr. Goldstein has received multiple awards for his teaching, research, and service contributions, including the Chairman’s Award from the American Heart Association, the AHA National Volunteer Advocate of the Year Award, the William Feinberg Award for Excellence in Clinical Stroke, and the Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest civilian honor, for his service to the state related to improving stroke care. He currently is the contact Principal Investigator for the Kentucky CDC Coverdell National Acute Stroke Program award.

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Moneera Haque, MD, PhD

Assistant Professor
Internal Medicine
Cardiology
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

Dr. Haque brings innovation and unwavering dedication to this year’s TF Whayne Cardiovascular Symposium as Co-Chair. A passionate advocate for Preventive Cardiology, Dr. Haque seamlessly integrates this critical focus across every facet of the tripartite mission of academic cardiology—education, research, and patient care—transforming the future of cardiovascular health.

Dr. Haque’s career in medicine began at the University of Kansas School of Medicine. She went on to complete her Internal Medicine Residency at Georgetown University, followed by a Cardiology Fellowship at Loyola University. Now serving as an Assistant Professor in the Division of Cardiology, Dr. Haque continues her commitment to Preventive Cardiology.

Dr. Haque is deeply committed to teaching the next generation of cardiologists, guiding residents and fellows with a patient-centered approach to cardiovascular prevention. Their influence extends beyond the classroom, serving as a mentor to aspiring students, instilling a foundation of excellence and innovation in those who will lead the field in the years to come.

In the realm of research, Dr. Haque is at the forefront of groundbreaking projects, including EXCEL HeartLens, a pioneering initiative aimed at advancing early detection and intervention strategies for cardiovascular disease. Through this and other ongoing studies, Dr. Haque is committed to shaping the future of preventive cardiology, ensuring that research findings translate into real-world clinical applications that improve patient outcomes.

As a practicing cardiologist, Dr. Haque embodies the principles of preventive care, empowering patients with evidence-based strategies to mitigate cardiovascular risk factors, optimize heart health, and enhance longevity. Her commitment to patient-centered care underscores a philosophy that prevention is not merely an aspect of cardiology—it is the foundation of long-term wellness.

As Co-Chair of this year’s TF Whayne Cardiovascular Symposium, Dr. Haque is poised to help shape a transformative conversation on Preventive Cardiology, reinforcing its role as the cornerstone of modern cardiovascular medicine.

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Maya Ignaszewski, MD

Assistant Professor Medicine
Gill Heart & Vascular Institute
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

Dr. Maya Ignaszewski earned her medical degree from the Medical University of Warsaw, Poland. She then completed her residency at the SUNY Upstate in New York, followed by a cardiology fellowship at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, NJ. She pursued further specialization with an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology fellowship at Northwestern University in Chicago, IL.

Dr. Ignaszewski is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. She also holds certifications from the Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology and the National Board of Echocardiography.

Since joining the University of Kentucky as an Assistant Professor in 2021, Dr. Ignaszewski has been instrumental in advancing the Cardiogenic Shock Program. Her efforts focus on refining and expanding the program to enhance rapid diagnosis and treatment of cardiogenic shock, improving patient outcomes not only at the University of Kentucky but throughout the greater Bluegrass region.

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Philip Kern, MD

Professor of Internal Medicine
Endocrinology
Co-Director
UK Center for Clinical and Translational Science
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

Dr. Kern is Professor of Internal Medicine in the Division of Endocrinology and co-Director for the UK Center for Clinical and Translational Science. Dr. Kern’s research examines foundational mechanisms of the development of type 2 diabetes, with a particular emphasis on lipid and lipoprotein metabolism and the roles of exercise and obesity to modulate insulin resistance, particularly in fat and muscle. Current research targets the role of beige and brown fat, circadian rhythms, inflammation and changes in RNA structure. Dr. Kern’s research has been continuously funded by the NIH since 1986, he has coauthored over 200 research papers and he is a mentor to many. Dr. Kern is an elected member of the American Society for Clinical Investigation (ASCI) and has been honored at UK as a University Research Professor, and the William R. Willard Dean’s Recognition Award, for longstanding dedication to students and trainees.

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Jessica McFarlin, MD

Associate Professor, Neurology and Medicine
University of Kentucky College of Medicine
Chief, Palliative and Supportive Care
UK HealthCare
Lexington, Kentucky

Dr. McFarlin earned an MD from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine in Lexington, Kentucky. She completed residency at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, followed by duel fellowship training in Neurology and Hospice and Palliative Care at Duke University Medical Center.

Dr. McFarlin is certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Hospice and Palliative Care, and the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Neurology.

Her primary research focus is in communication training of physicians and in the delivery of high quality palliative care in patients in the intensive care setting.

The mission of the Division is to increase patient access to palliative care in the inpatient and outpatient setting and create educational opportunities for primary providers throughout the Bluegrass.

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David Moliterno, MD, FACC, FACP, FAHA, FESC, FSCAI

Professor
Division of Cardiology
Internal Medicine
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

David J. Moliterno, MD is a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Kentucky. He received a bachelor’s degree with honors from the University of Michigan, his medical degree from the Medical College of Virginia, and his Internal Medicine training from Vanderbilt University. He completed a fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine at The University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center, and he completed an additional interventional cardiology fellowship at The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, where he remained as an attending cardiologist for 10 years before joining the University of Kentucky. At the University of Kentucky, he was chief of cardiovascular medicine and then the Jack M. Gill Chair of Internal Medicine for many years.

Dr. Moliterno has been a visiting professor or invited lecturer in more than 30 countries. He is the author or coauthor of over 350 publications and editor of 7 textbooks. He has been the primary author of publications in Annals of Internal Medicine, Circulation, JACC, JAMA, Lancet, BMJ, and the New England Journal of Medicine. He is currently the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of the American College of Cardiology—Cardiovascular Interventions and serves on the advisory board of the US FDA. As a clinical researcher, Dr. Moliterno has been a leader in numerous multinational investigational studies. Collectively, these studies have involved over $1 billion in clinical trial research. His primary research interests involve acute coronary syndromes, antithrombotic therapies, and interventional cardiology.

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Heather Norman-Burgdolf, PhD

Associate Extension Professor
Dietetics and Human Nutrition
College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

Dr. Heather Norman-Burgdolf is an Associate Extension Professor in the Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition in the College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, at the University of Kentucky. In this role, Dr. Norman-Burgdolf serves as a subject-matter expert for Cooperative Extension field staff located in all 120 counties of Kentucky. Her expertise informs Extension programming, projects, and research initiatives that focus on reducing diet-sensitive chronic disease by addressing not only the knowledge, skills and behavior change required for improved health but also addressing social determinants of health that influence food choice, such as food access. Her externally funded work aims to increase positive nutrition-related behaviors while implementing novel strategies that support behavior change in real-world situations and contexts. Often, this work includes community-clinical linkages to holistically support an individual. Dr. Norman considers her work the most translational science that is possible when working with Kentuckians through Cooperative Extension programming.

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James O'Keefe, Jr., MD

Professor of Medicine
University of Missouri-Kansas City
Director
Duboc Cardio Health & Wellness Center
Haverty CardioMetabolic Center
Saint Luke's Mid America Heart Institute
Kansas City, Missouri

James H. O'Keefe MD is Professor of Medicine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Director of the Duboc Cardio Health & Wellness Center and Haverty CardioMetabolic Center at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute. Dr. O’Keefe has contributed 470 articles to peer-reviewed journals, and his articles have been cited over 40,000 times in the medical literature. He recently published an article proposing SGLT inhibitors as the first effective drug to slow aging and improve lifespan and health span. He also has published recent landmark studies on omega-3 and its effects on cardiovascular health and longevity. He is author of The Complete Guide to ECGs, which is used by cardiovascular fellowship training programs as the preferred teaching text for the teaching ECGs. USA Today has listed Dr. O’Keefe among America’s Most Influential Doctors.

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Marc Paranzino, DO

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Division of Cardiology
College of Medicine
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

Dr. Marc Paranzino is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at the University of Kentucky. He received his Bachelor of Science in Biology from Eckerd College in 2009 before attending Lincoln Memorial University College of Medicine. Dr. Paranzino completed his residency in internal medicine and general cardiology fellowship at the University of Kentucky. Following fellowship in 2022, he spent a year gaining additional training and education in sports cardiology before returning as faculty to the University of Kentucky, where he serves as director of the Sports Cardiology Program. The Sports Cardiology Program provides individualized, clinical care and exercise testing to athletes and active individuals.

Dr. Paranzino’s clinical interests include comprehensive cardiovascular care of athletes, exercise physiology and cardiovascular performance, pre-participation sports screening, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Outside of work he is involved in the endurance sport community and has completed numerous Ironman races and marathons including the Boston Marathon.

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Evan Sheets, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine
Associate Program Director, Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship
Internal Medicine
Cardiology
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

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Robert Slocum, DMin, PhD

Narrative Medicine Program Coordinator
University of Kentucky HealthCare
Lexington, Kentucky

Dr. Robert B. Slocum is the Narrative Medicine Program Coordinator at University of Kentucky HealthCare, Lexington, Kentucky. He holds doctorates in law (Vanderbilt), ministry (University of the South), and theology (Marquette). He has experience in pastoral ministry as well as academic teaching and administration. He has taught undergraduate courses in religious studies and ethics. He is currently appointed and in good standing as an Assistant Professor within the voluntary faculty title series in the Department of Behavioral Science and Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. He teaches a fourth-year medical school elective on The Narrative Basis for Patient Care and Resilient Practice, and mentors first-year students who shadow him. He is a member of the Hospital Ethics Committee. He is the author, editor, or co-editor of 13 books, including a journal of reflections. He has published scholarly articles, as well as short fiction and poetry. He is interested in the clinical application of narrative and the significance of narrative for identity formation. He holds a fourth-level black sash in Tai Chi and other internal martial arts, and he teaches a Tai Chi class at the Integrative Medicine Clinic, University of Kentucky HealthCare.

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