Sharp Memorial's Heart and Vascular Medical Directors

Unparalleled expertise and experience ensures you receive the best care.

The Cardiothoracic and Vascular Institute at Sharp Memorial Hospital has more than 20 board-certified cardiologists, cardiac surgeons, vascular surgeons and interventional radiologists. Each cardiac and vascular specialty area offers a highly experience nurse practitioner or senior cardiac nurse specialist who help to coordinate care, provide comprehensive education and offer support after discharge as needed.

Dr. Robert Adamson

Dr. Robert Adamson, medical director, Cardiac Transplant Program at Sharp Memorial Hospital. Dr. Adamson received his undergraduate degree at the University of Utah where he also completed his internship and residency in general surgery. Dr. Adamson went on to complete a fellowship in cardiac transplantation at Stanford University Medical Center. 

Dr. Adamson began his practice in San Diego in 1987. He is board-certified in surgery and thoracic surgery and is a member of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation.
Charles Athill

Dr. Charles Athill, FACC, medical director, Cardiac Electrophysiology Services at Sharp Memorial Hospital. Dr. Athill received his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. Dr. Athill completed his cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology fellowship at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and at University of California at Los Angeles Medical Center.

Dr. Athill is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Cardiovascular Diseases and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology. He is a member of the American College of Cardiology and the Heart Rhythm Society. His presentation and publication topics include: atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardia ablation, ventricular arrhythmias, cardiac pacemakers, implantable defibrillators and biventricular pacing.
Dr. Walter Dembitsky

Dr. Walter Dembitsky, medical director, cardiac surgery and Mechanical Circulatory Support Program at Sharp Memorial Hospital. He received his undergraduate and medical degrees from the University of Missouri, where he also completed his surgical internship. Dr. Dembitsky completed a general surgery residency and was chief resident in general surgery at Washington University in St. Louis. He then went on to complete a residency in cardiothoracic surgery and was chief resident in cardiothoracic surgery at Washington University. Dr. Dembitsky completed research fellowships at Peter Bent Brigham Hospital in Boston, Mass.; Barnes Hospital in St. Louis, Mo.; and Washington University in St. Louis, Mo.

Dr. Dembitsky has been practicing in San Diego since 1978. He is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. He is a noted researcher and author on topics related to the use of mechanical assist device.
Dr. Peter Hoagland Dr. Peter M. Hoagland, FACC, medical director, Cardiology Diagnostic Services at Sharp Memorial Hospital. Dr. Hoagland received his undergraduate degree from Harvard and his medical degree from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons. He completed his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School in Boston, Mass. Dr. Hoagland completed his cardiology fellowship at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston and Bayside Medical Center in Springfield, Mass.

Dr. Hoagland is board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Board of Cardiovascular Disease. He is a member of the American College of Cardiology. He is a published author on the following subjects: aortic stenosis, cardiac transplant, congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease and myocardial infarction.
Brian Jaski

Dr. Brian Jaski, FACC, medical director, Advanced Heart Failure and Clinical Cardiology Program at Sharp Memorial Hospital. Dr. Jaski received his undergraduate degrees in electrical engineering and biology at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and his medical degree from Harvard Medical School. He was a resident in internal medicine at the University of Chicago Hospital and was a clinical research fellow at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and at Harvard Medical School.

Dr. Jaski is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology. He is a noted author and researcher in topics related to heart failure and cardiac transplantation.
David Ostrander

Dr. David Ostrander, FACC, medical director, Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Sharp Memorial Hospital. Dr. Ostrander received his undergraduate degree from Yale University and his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine. After completing his internal medicine training at the University of Chicago, he came to the University of California at San Diego Medical Center for his cardiology fellowship.

Dr. Ostrander is a frequent speaker on a variety of topics including treatment for dyslipidemia, women's heart health and adjunctive pharmacotherapy in coronary intervention. A runner and a cyclist, he is especially interested in cardiovascular health promotion through adoption of a therapeutic lifestyle.
James Lyons

Dr. James Lyon, medical director, interventional radiology at Sharp Memorial Hospital. Dr. Lyon received his undergraduate and medical degrees from Indiana University. He completed his internship, diagnostic radiology residency and fellowship in angiography and interventional radiology at the University of California, San Diego.

Dr. Lyon is board-certified with the American Board of Radiology and has added qualifications in vascular and interventional radiology.

For More Information
To learn more or to find a cardiologist affiliated with the Cardiothoracic and Vascular Institute, please call 1-800-82-SHARP (1-800-827-4277), or search for a San Diego cardiologist.