Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute has named interventional cardiologist Carlos E. Alfonso, M.D., FACC, FSCAI, director of chronic total obstruction and complex percutaneous coronary intervention. Dr. Alfonso has expertise in percutaneous coronary interventions, structural and valvular interventions and peripheral endovascular revascularization interventions. He is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in the following three areas: Internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology, and also by the Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology. 

Prior to joining Baptist Health, Dr. Alfonso was an interventional cardiologist and medical director of complex percutaneous coronary intervention and chronic total occlusion at the University of Miami Health System. With its highly specialized techniques and procedures, this program became a referral site for the most challenging cases. He also helped launch a microvascular disease program using invasive and noninvasive techniques to evaluate patients with anginal symptoms in the absence of obstructive coronary disease. 

In addition to his clinical expertise, Dr. Alfonso is dedicated to academics and education. He served as professor of medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine as well as director of the cardiology fellowship program based at Jackson Memorial Hospital. 

"We are pleased to welcome Dr. Alfonso to our highly skilled team of medical specialists, dedicated to providing the highest quality care,” said Tom C. Nguyen, M.D., director of minimally invasive valve surgery, chief medical executive of Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, Barry T. Katzen medical director endowed chair, and a professor of surgery at Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. 

Jonathan Fialkow, M.D., FACC, chief medical executive of integrated services and precision care, and chief of cardiology at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute added, “Dr. Alfonso brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our team, enhancing our capabilities to diagnose and manage complex cardiovascular issues through advanced techniques.” 

Dr. Alfonso earned his medical degree at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine. He remained at the university for seven years of clinical training at Jackson Memorial Hospital, completing a residency in internal medicine and two fellowships, one in cardiovascular disease and the other in interventional cardiology.   

Dr. Alfonso’s clinical research has focused on such minimally invasive heart procedures as transcatheter valve replacement, transcatheter aortic valve replacement and other novel structural procedures as well as the use of circulatory support devices for high-risk complex interventions and stem cell therapies for ischemic heart disease. 

His research results have been widely published in high-impact scientific publications. Fluent in English and Spanish, Dr. Alfonso also contributes to the scientific community by serving as an ad hoc reviewer for numerous medical journals.

He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association and the Society of Cardiac Angiography and Interventions. 

Patient-centered care is important to Dr. Alfonso. With the goal of developing a personalized treatment plan, he evaluates each case individually, has open discussions with patients and their family members and collaborates with a multidisciplinary medical team. “I find that compassion combined with open communication and ongoing counseling helps patients and families navigate difficult decisions and better understand potential benefits and risks of treatment,” he said. 

Dr. Alfonso will see patients at Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, located at 8950 North Kendall Drive, Suite 600W, Miami, FL 33176.