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Meet the team

Put your heart in our hands


The doctors at Dignity Health Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Clinic are employed by the Dignity Health Medical Group. They work in partnership with the Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican Hospital San Martin to provide a unique continuity of care that is unmatched in the State of Nevada. The team consists of the medical providers, medical assistants and operational staff who focus on the patient centered care. They work synergistically on the patient's behalf to communicate, navigate and care for the mind body and spirit with humankindness.

 

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    The doctors at Dignity Health Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Clinic are employed by the Dignity Health Medical Group. They work in partnership with the Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican Hospital San Martin to provide a unique continuity of care that is unmatched in the State of Nevada. The team consists of the medical providers, medical assistants and operational staff who focus on the patient centered care. They work synergistically on the patient's behalf to communicate, navigate and care for the mind body and spirit with humankindness.

     

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Neel Dhudshia

A board certified, fellowship-trained Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgeon at the Dignity Health Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Clinic.

He specializes in advanced techniques of cardiac, vascular and thoracic surgery. 

Neel Dhudshia

A board certified, fellowship-trained Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgeon at the Dignity Health Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Clinic.

He specializes in advanced techniques of cardiac, vascular and thoracic surgery. 


Chan Park

Chan Jerome (CJ) Park MD,Ph.D, is a fellowship-trained Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgeon at the Dignity Health Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Clinic.

Dr Park specializes in procedures such as: 

Cardiac surgery: CABG, aortic valve replacement (surgical and TAVR), mitral valve repair/replacement, MAZE for atrial fibrillation

Thoracic surgery: robotic and VATS techniques for lobectomy / biopsy for cancer, mediastinoscopy, sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis, decortication, pericardial window

Vascular: carotid endarterectomy, peripheral bypass, AV fistula, EVAR / TEVAR.

 

Chan Park

Chan Jerome (CJ) Park MD,Ph.D, is a fellowship-trained Cardiovascular Thoracic Surgeon at the Dignity Health Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Clinic.

Dr Park specializes in procedures such as: 

Cardiac surgery: CABG, aortic valve replacement (surgical and TAVR), mitral valve repair/replacement, MAZE for atrial fibrillation

Thoracic surgery: robotic and VATS techniques for lobectomy / biopsy for cancer, mediastinoscopy, sympathectomy for hyperhidrosis, decortication, pericardial window

Vascular: carotid endarterectomy, peripheral bypass, AV fistula, EVAR / TEVAR.

 


Bruce Toporoff

Bruce Toporoff, MD, is a board certified, fellowship-trained Cardiothoracic Surgeon at the Dignity Health Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Clinic. 

Dr. Toporoff has advanced training in Thoracic Endographting, Robotic-Assisted Surgery, Atricure Certification for Atrial Fibrillation, MAZE IV and Convergent Training for the Treatment of AFIB. 

Bruce Toporoff

Bruce Toporoff, MD, is a board certified, fellowship-trained Cardiothoracic Surgeon at the Dignity Health Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery Clinic. 

Dr. Toporoff has advanced training in Thoracic Endographting, Robotic-Assisted Surgery, Atricure Certification for Atrial Fibrillation, MAZE IV and Convergent Training for the Treatment of AFIB. 


Michael Wood

Michael G. Wood is board-certified in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. A New York native, Dr. Wood completed his fellowship at New York University. While training under the direction of Dr. Stephen Colvin, Dr. Wood developed and refined advanced techniques in mitral valve repair and minimally invasive heart valve surgery. Dr. Wood has been recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons for his expertise in cardiovascular surgery.

Michael Wood

Michael G. Wood is board-certified in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. A New York native, Dr. Wood completed his fellowship at New York University. While training under the direction of Dr. Stephen Colvin, Dr. Wood developed and refined advanced techniques in mitral valve repair and minimally invasive heart valve surgery. Dr. Wood has been recognized as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons for his expertise in cardiovascular surgery.


Julie Carabajal

Julie Carabajal is a board certified Nurse Practitioner and First Assist with an extensive background in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery.  She trained at the University Southern California and University Nevada Las Vegas, and provides a variety of surgical services including the management of postoperative inpatients.  She has an extensive background of cardiovascular and throacic surgery for 25 years and offers comprehensive surgical care throughout the preoperative, perioperative, and post operative continuum.  While providing a variety of expert surgical services, Julie remains passionate about patient and family communications throughout the patient experience. 

Julie Carabajal

Julie Carabajal is a board certified Nurse Practitioner and First Assist with an extensive background in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery.  She trained at the University Southern California and University Nevada Las Vegas, and provides a variety of surgical services including the management of postoperative inpatients.  She has an extensive background of cardiovascular and throacic surgery for 25 years and offers comprehensive surgical care throughout the preoperative, perioperative, and post operative continuum.  While providing a variety of expert surgical services, Julie remains passionate about patient and family communications throughout the patient experience. 


Sarah Day

Sarah is board certified in Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN), and Cardiac Surgery Registered Nurse (CSC).

She is also board certified in Cardiac Medicine (CMC).  Sarah earned her undergraduate degree in both Marketing and Sociology with a minor in Kinesiology from University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  She earned a BS in Registered Nursing from Nevada State College. She earned a Master of Science in Adult Gerontology, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner at Grand Canyon University. 

Sarah is experienced within the critical care and CVT. She has been awarded for outstanding academic performance and nursing excellence. She was awarded a VALOR RN Apprenticeship and currently is part of the Sigma Theta Tau Member, International Honor Society of Nursing. 

Sarah Day

Sarah is board certified in Adult Acute Care Nurse Practitioner, Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN), and Cardiac Surgery Registered Nurse (CSC).

She is also board certified in Cardiac Medicine (CMC).  Sarah earned her undergraduate degree in both Marketing and Sociology with a minor in Kinesiology from University of Nevada, Las Vegas.  She earned a BS in Registered Nursing from Nevada State College. She earned a Master of Science in Adult Gerontology, Acute Care Nurse Practitioner at Grand Canyon University. 

Sarah is experienced within the critical care and CVT. She has been awarded for outstanding academic performance and nursing excellence. She was awarded a VALOR RN Apprenticeship and currently is part of the Sigma Theta Tau Member, International Honor Society of Nursing. 


Suzy Elnagar

Suzy is a board certified Nurse Practitioner and First Assist. She trained at the University Nevada Las Vegas, and provides a variety of surgical services including the management of post operative care in patients.  Specially trained as a first assist for the following: coronary artery bypass grafting, valvular repair/replacement surgery (minimally invasive and sternotomy approach), ascending aortic aneurysm/dissection repair, lower limb vascular bypass grafting for limb salvage, robot-assisted thoracic surgery (lobectomy, wedge resection, pleurodesis, decortication), VATS and thoracotomy. 

Suzy Elnagar

Suzy is a board certified Nurse Practitioner and First Assist. She trained at the University Nevada Las Vegas, and provides a variety of surgical services including the management of post operative care in patients.  Specially trained as a first assist for the following: coronary artery bypass grafting, valvular repair/replacement surgery (minimally invasive and sternotomy approach), ascending aortic aneurysm/dissection repair, lower limb vascular bypass grafting for limb salvage, robot-assisted thoracic surgery (lobectomy, wedge resection, pleurodesis, decortication), VATS and thoracotomy. 


Geoconda Hughes

Geoconda (Geo) Hughes is a board certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with the Dignity Health Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Clinic. She specializes in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Critical Care with experience in Surgical and Medical Critical Care.

She has a master’s degree in Acute Care Adult Gerontology from Grand Canyon University, a dual Bachelor’s in Management and Computer Studies. She is fluent in Spanish and has progressive experience in intermediate care and intensive care units.

Geoconda Hughes

Geoconda (Geo) Hughes is a board certified Acute Care Nurse Practitioner with the Dignity Health Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery Clinic. She specializes in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Critical Care with experience in Surgical and Medical Critical Care.

She has a master’s degree in Acute Care Adult Gerontology from Grand Canyon University, a dual Bachelor’s in Management and Computer Studies. She is fluent in Spanish and has progressive experience in intermediate care and intensive care units.


Chad Smith

Chadwycke Smith is a board-certified Acute Care Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner with more than a decade of experience in surgical critical care settings. Following his undergraduate studies in nursing in Kentucky, Chadwycke relocated to Los Angeles, CA. He completed his MSN at California State University, Long Beach, while training as an NP at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Following his work at Cedars-Sinai in the Department of Neurosurgery, Chadwycke gained invaluable cardiovascular surgical experience at Ronald Reagan - UCLA Medical Center. Chadwycke is passionate about using cutting-edge, evidence-based interventions in the surgical setting to help improve outcomes for the people of Southern Nevada.

Chad Smith

Chadwycke Smith is a board-certified Acute Care Adult-Gerontology Nurse Practitioner with more than a decade of experience in surgical critical care settings. Following his undergraduate studies in nursing in Kentucky, Chadwycke relocated to Los Angeles, CA. He completed his MSN at California State University, Long Beach, while training as an NP at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Following his work at Cedars-Sinai in the Department of Neurosurgery, Chadwycke gained invaluable cardiovascular surgical experience at Ronald Reagan - UCLA Medical Center. Chadwycke is passionate about using cutting-edge, evidence-based interventions in the surgical setting to help improve outcomes for the people of Southern Nevada.


Joshua Squiers

Joshua Squiers is a dual board-certified Nurse Practitioner specializing in the care of the critically ill cardiovascular surgical patient. He completed his Master’s degree and Doctorate of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University.  His clinical practice experience as an Intensivist NP spans over two decades and includes previous clinical research into severe heart failure.  He has been recognized as a Fellow of the American College Critical Care Medicine for his expertise in surgical critical care. 

Joshua Squiers

Joshua Squiers is a dual board-certified Nurse Practitioner specializing in the care of the critically ill cardiovascular surgical patient. He completed his Master’s degree and Doctorate of Philosophy at Vanderbilt University.  His clinical practice experience as an Intensivist NP spans over two decades and includes previous clinical research into severe heart failure.  He has been recognized as a Fellow of the American College Critical Care Medicine for his expertise in surgical critical care. 


Henry Van Vleet is a Physician Assistant and First Assist working alongside the Dignity Health Cardiovascular Thoracic Team in the operating room. 

Henry holds a BA in Psychology from Write State University and a Physician Assistant degree from Kettering College of Medical Arts. He is proficient in all aspects of cardiac, vascular and thoracic surgery, including endoscopic vein and radial artery harvest and lesser saphenous vein harvest. He is also highly skilled with thoracotomies, VATS, and robotic thoracoscopic surgery.

Henry Van Vleet is a Physician Assistant and First Assist working alongside the Dignity Health Cardiovascular Thoracic Team in the operating room. 

Henry holds a BA in Psychology from Write State University and a Physician Assistant degree from Kettering College of Medical Arts. He is proficient in all aspects of cardiac, vascular and thoracic surgery, including endoscopic vein and radial artery harvest and lesser saphenous vein harvest. He is also highly skilled with thoracotomies, VATS, and robotic thoracoscopic surgery.