Cardiothoracic Surgeons, Cardiologists, Electrophysiologists, Vascular Surgeons and Other Heart and Vascular Staff

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.

• Adult Congenital Heart Disease
• Aortic Disease
• Arrhythmia and Atrial Fibrilation
• Comprehensive Heart Failure and Transplant
• Coronary Artery Disease
• Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT)
• Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD)
• Preventive Cardiology Program
• Pulmonary Hypertension
• Valvular Disease
• Venous Thrombotic Disease
• Women and Heart Disease

Heart and Vascular Physicians by Discipline

• Adult Congenital Heart Disease Cardiology 
• Cardiothoracic Surgery
• Comprehensive Heart Failure and Transplant
• Electrophysiology
• General Cardiology
• Interventional Cardiology
• Vascular Medicine
• Vascular Surgery
• Vascular and Interventional Radiology

Michael Edward Mitchell, MD
Viktor Hraska, MD, PhD
Ronald K. Woods, MD, PhD

Kristina Copeland, FNP, MSN, BSN
Elizabeth Froelich, PA-C
Adam Holmbeck, APNP
Melissa Kaske, MSN, APNP
Andrew Kennedy, PA-C
Rebecca Miller, MPAS, PA-C
Lindsay Morris, APNP
Gina Muscato, MPAS, PA-C
Chelsea Nettesheim, APNP
Tony Sanders, APNP
Craig Schutta, MSN, APNP
Meg Shannon-Stone, MSP, APNP
Timothy Sie, APNP
Allison Stone, MPAP, PA-C
Heather Sutter, MPAS, PA-C
Mary Theisen, MSN, APNP
Lisa Thomas, MPAS, PA-C
Trisha Wilcox, APNP

Electrophysiologists are cardiologists who specialize in diagnosing and treating irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias) caused by problems with the heart’s electrical system.

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 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).

Ali Kusch, NP 

Debra Lanza, APNP 

Laura Needler, APNP 

Kate Reigle, PA-C 

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.

Lauren Schmidt, APNP

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.

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.

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.

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.