Our heart and vascular staff is a multidisciplinary team of doctors, nurses, therapists and others who are committed to putting specialty expertise at the service of patients and their families. 

Physicians and Surgeons

As members of an academic medical center, we are involved in leading edge research and teaching tomorrow’s doctors the latest treatment techniques and best practices. Multidisciplinary teams of cardiologists, vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists and cardiothoracic surgeons work together to focus on providing patients with the best possible treatment options. Included here is a list of physician teams working together by program specialty. A list of heart and vascular physicians by discipline follows.

Physician Teams by Specialty Program

One of the best advantages for our patients  is the multidisciplinary approach to care. This approach gathers experts from many disciplines who specialize in a program area. Follow the links for a list of physicians dedicated to a specific specialty program.

 

Heart and Vascular Physicians by Discipline

Adult Congenital Heart Disease Cardiology

Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program Nurse Practitioners

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Comprehensive Heart Failure and Transplant

Renee Kursel, MD
Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology, Cardiology/Cardiovascular Medicine
Jose C. Mendez, MD
Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology, Cardiology/Cardiovascular Medicine
Eugenia Raichlin, MD
Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology, Cardiology/Cardiovascular Medicine

Electrophysiology

James Oujiri, MD
Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiology/Cardiovascular Medicine
James A. Roth, MD
Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiology/Cardiovascular Medicine

General Cardiology

Interventional Cardiology

Interventional cardiologists are trained in performing catheter-based (non-invasive) treatment of structural heart disease. Procedures include angioplasty, repair of congenital heart disease (e.g., valvuloplasty, ASD and PFO closures) and emergency angioplasty/stenting of blocked arteries for heart attack patients.

Vascular Medicine

Vascular Surgery

Vascular surgeons specialize in surgery of the arteries and veins, and treat disease of the peripheral vascular system (diseases of blood vessels beyond the heart and brain).

Chrystal Craft, DNP, MSN, APNP
Kate Goelz, MPAS, PA-C
Victoria Knutson, MSN, APNP
Ali Kusch, NP
Debra Lanza, RN, MSN, APNP
Mackenzie Mason, RN, MSN, APNP
Laura Needler, MSN, APNP
Taylor Thomas, DNP, BSN, APNP

Vascular and Interventional Radiology

Vascular and interventional radiologists are physicians who interpret images (such as X-rays, fluoroscopy, ultrasound and CT) to guide catheters and other instruments through blood vessels to locate precise areas in the body. Various diagnostic and treatment procedures can be performed using this minimally invasive technique. Many of these procedures provide an alternative to traditional surgery.

Interventional Radiology Nurse Practitioners 

Lauren Schmidt, APNP

Nurses and Medical Assistants

Heart and vascular nurses and medical assistants bring significant experience and practical perspective to heart and vascular care at Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin. They work in close partnership with physicians to provide patients with the best health care available.

Lab Technologists

Our diagnostic laboratories are staffed by an experienced group of certified cardiac cath lab technologists, expert EKG technicians, registered sonographers and vascular and interventional radiology technologists.

Therapists

People with heart and vascular problems can benefit from working with rehabilitation specialists. Our patients have access to physical, occupational and respiratory therapists and certified exercise physiologists.

Other Support Staff

Our patients can rely on a team of support professionals for help with a variety of needs. The support staff includes registered dietitians, transplant coordinators, social workers, administrative assistants, patient schedulers, chaplains and psychologists.

Virtual Visits Are Available

Safe and convenient virtual visits by video let you get the care you need via a mobile device, tablet or computer wherever you are. We'll assess your condition and develop a treatment plan right away. To schedule a virtual visit, call 414-777-7700.

Learn More

Our Cardiovascular Program continues to receive recognition as one of the top programs nationally. We are honored to provide high-quality, effective care for even the most high-risk patients.

  • The Froedtert & MCW health network has built a reputation for clinical excellence and our research draws patients from around the world. Our Heart & Vascular program recognitions include:

    • Premier recognized Froedtert Hospital in 2025 as one of the nation’s 50 Top Cardiovascular Hospitals® according to its independent quality analysis based on a balanced scorecard. The hospitals recognized in the top 50 operated at lower cost and had better outcomes, recording significantly higher inpatient survival rates, fewer patients with complications, lower readmission rates and up to nearly $7,000 less in total costs per patient case. Froedtert Hospital was ranked in the category of top teaching hospitals with a cardiovascular residency program. No other hospital in Wisconsin was recognized with this national distinction.
    • The International Cardio-Oncology Society (ICOS) recognizes our Cardio-Oncology Program as a gold level Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence in 2025. ICOS certification is awarded to institutions and practices that demonstrate superior expertise in the care of patients who have heart disease, are at high risk or experience heart complications with cancer treatment. The ICOS awards bronze, silver and gold certification. Of the two ICOS-certified programs in Wisconsin, we are the only one that meets the stringent requirements needed to be recognized as a gold level Cardio-Oncology Center of Excellence.
    • Healthgrades recognized Froedtert Hospital in its 2024 Specialty Excellence Awards, including one of America’s 50 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Surgery, one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Cardiac Care and one of America’s 100 Best Hospitals for Coronary Intervention, as well as other specialty achievements in various areas.
    • Becker’s Hospital Review recognized Froedtert Hospital within its 2024 list of 100 Hospitals and Health Systems with Great Heart Programs. Hospitals featured on this list are renowned for delivering superior heart and vascular care that results in high-quality outcomes. As part of a health network that includes eastern Wisconsin’s only academic medical center, our heart and vascular specialists treat a high volume of patients with a wide variety of heart diseases.
    • The Society for Vascular Surgery's Vascular Quality Initiative (SVS VQI) recognized Froedert Hospital as a Carotid Care Quality Champion by the SVS VQI‘s clinical registry recognition program in 2024. The VQI recognizes select centers across the country as Carotid Care Quality Champions for their dedication to improving the safety and effectiveness of vascular care through participation and engagement in VQI’s carotid artery stenting and/or carotid endarterectomy registries.
    • The American Heart Association recognized Froedtert Hospital with the following awards that show our commitment to improving care by adhering to the latest treatment guidelines and streamlining processes to ensure timely and proper care for heart attacks.
      • Get With the Guidelines® Heart Failure Gold Plus Award
      • Get With the Guidelines® — Coronary Artery Disease STEMI Receiving Gold Plus with Target: Type 2 Diabetes
      • Get With the Guidelines® — Coronary Artery Disease NSTEMI Gold with Target: Type 2 Diabetes
      • Get With the Guidelines® AFib Gold Award
      • In addition, the hospital was recognized on the AHA’s Target: Heart Failure(SM) Honor Roll and received the AHA’s Target: Type 2 Diabetes Honor Roll™ award.