Metro Heart Group - Our Physicians

Graduated from The University of Missouri-Columbia in 1980. His residency was completed at The University of Texas, Southwestern Medical School at Dallas, Parkland Memorial Hospital in 1983. Fellowships were completed in 1984 and 1986 at The University of Texas, Southwestern Health Science Center at Dallas. Dr. Apprill is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease and Interventional Cardiology.

Dr. Apprill performs cardiac catheterizations, peripheral angioplasties, pacemaker implantation, transesophageal echocardiography, standard echocardiography and Doppler studies, stress Dobutamine echocardiography, PTCAs, and stress testing. Dr. Apprill is the Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at St. Mary's.

Gregory W Botteron MD

Graduated from the University of Kansas in 1989. His residency was completed at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis at Barnes Hospital. Dr. Botteron's fellowships in Cardiology (1996) and Cardiac Electrophysiology (1997) were also completed at Washington University School of Medicine. He is Board Certified in Cardiology and in the subspecialty of Cardiac Electrophysiology. His practice includes all aspects of interventional cardiac electrophysiology, including catheter ablation and device-based therapy for cardiac arrhythmia. Dr. Botteron is also an investigator in a multi-center study utilizing biventricular pacing in patients with advanced congestive heart failure.

Charles F Carey MD FACC

Dr. Carey graduated from The University of Missouri-Kansas City Medical School in 1991. His Internal Medicine residency was completed at Barnes Hospital at Washington University in 1994 and his Cardiology Fellowship at Barnes Hospital at Washington University in 1999. Dr. Carey also served as Chief Medical Resident and editor of the prestigious Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics. After completing his fellowship Dr. Carey served as Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Cardiology Division at Washington University School of Medicine for 5 years before joining Metro Heart Group. Dr. Carey is Board Certified in Cardiology. He is also Board Certified in Adult Comprehensive Echocardiography by the National Board of Echocardiography. He has a special interest in prevention, coronary artery disease, valvular heart diseases, and heart failure.

Duck Sung Chun MD FACC

Dr. Chun graduated from Seoul National University College of Medicine. His residency in Medicine was completed at Wayne State University School of Medicine and Detroit General Hospital. Clinical and Research Fellowships in Cardiology completed at Washington University School of Medicine and The Jewish Hospital of St. Louis. Dr. Chun is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology. He has worked in the St. Louis Area for a number of years and joined Metro Heart Group on May 1, 2001. He works at our South County Location.

Dennis L Disch MD FACC

Dr. Disch is an Honors Program graduate of Baylor University, in Waco, Texas. He graduated from The University of Kansas School of Medicine, in Kansas City, Kansas, in 1988. His internship and residency in Internal Medicine were completed at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Hanover, New Hampshire. Dr. Disch then completed a fellowship in Outcomes Research/Cardiovascular Epidemiology in 1993 at The Center for the Evaluative Clinical Sciences at Dartmouth Medical School. He completed his fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine at Washington University, Barnes Hospital of St. Louis, Missouri in 1997. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Vascular Medicine (RPVI).

Dr. Disch practices invasive and non-invasive cardiovascular medicine including diagnostic cardiac catheterization, exercise stress echocardiography, stress dobutamine echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, and vascular interpretation.

He is the medical director of the Echocardiography and Vascular Laboratories at Metro Heart Group, and is the medical director of the Noninvasive Cardiology Department at St. Anthony’s Medical Center.

David J Dobmeyer MD FACC

Graduated from Ohio State University in 1983. His residency was completed at Barnes Hospital, Washington University in 1986. His fellowship in Cardiovascular Research was completed at Washington University in 1989 and his fellowship in Cardiology Clinical was completed at The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in 1991. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology, as well as Interventional Cardiology. Dr. Dobmeyer performs cardiac catheterizations, stress echocardiography, standard echocardiography and Doppler studies, permanent pacemaker implantation, PTCA, transesophageal echocardiography, stress testing, Dobutamine echocardiography, trans septal catherizations, mitral and aortic valvuloplasties, and peripheral arterial angioplasty and stents.

Manoj K Eapen MD FACC

After graduating from Trivandrum Medical College at Kerala University in India, Dr. Eapen completed a three-year postgraduate residency in General Surgery. In June 1995, he moved to Providence, Rhode Island where he completed an Internal Medicine residency, Cardiology fellowship and Interventional Cardiology fellowship at Brown University School of Medicine.

Dr. Eapen is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases and board eligible in Echocardiography, Nuclear and Interventional Cardiology.

He specializes in adult cardiology, his practice will include all aspects of general cardiology with an emphasis in interventional cardiology, coronary as well as peripheral. Interventional procedures include primary angioplasties, stenting, rotational and directional atherectomies, rheolytic thrombectomies, brachytherapies and intravascular ultrasound studies. He also performs transesophageal echocardiograms and permanent pacemaker implantations.

Darlene L Eyster MD FACC

Leonard F Fagan Jr. MD FACC

Dr. Eyster graduated from St. Louis University School of Medicine in 1992. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at Barnes Hospital (Washington University) in 1995 and completed her Cardiology Fellowship at Barnes-Jewish Hospital (Washington University) in 1998. Board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology, Dr. Eyster is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology. Dr. Eyster specializes in invasive cardiology, nuclear cardiology, and echocardiography (including trans-esophageal echocardiography.) Her special interests include women with heart disease, valvular heart disease, arrhythmia management and the metabolic syndrome.

Kirkwood Bend Office

Graduated from St. Louis University School of Medicine in 1984. His residency in Internal Medicine was completed at Indiana University Medical School in 1987. He completed his Fellowship in Cardiology in 1990 at St. Louis University Medical Center. Dr. Fagan is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology. Dr. Fagan has worked in the St. Louis Area for a number of years and joined Metro Heart Group on May 1, 2001. He works at our Kirkwood Bend Location.

Mark A. Friedman MD

M Carolyn Gamache MD FACC

Born and raised in St. Louis, Dr. Friedman received his undergraduate degree from Washington University in 2000. He then moved to New York where he attained his medical degree, residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine.

Dr. Friedman is board certified in Internal Medicine and Adult Comprehensive Echocardiography and board eligible in Cardiovascular Disease, Nuclear Cardiology and Cardiovascular CT Angiography. He is a member of several medical organizations including the American College of Cardiology, American Society of Echocardiography and the American Society of Nuclear Cardiology.

Having trained as an invasive, non-interventional cardiologist, Dr. Friedman specializes in general cardiology with an emphasis in cardiac imaging, particularly nuclear cardiology, cardiac CT, and echocardiography (including stress echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography). In addition, Dr. Friedman has an interest in preventative cardiology.

He joins Drs. Phillip Apprill, Manoj Eapen, Leonard Fagan, Michael Goldmeier, M. Kiran Kancherla, John Kilgore, and Richard Whiting at Metro Heart Group’s Clayton Office. Hospital services include St. Mary’s Health Center, Missouri Baptist Medical Center and St. Clare Health Center.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Friedman enjoys playing competitive tennis and running and spending time with his wife and three sons.

Michael G Goldmeier MD FACC

Dr Gamache graduated from St. Louis University School of Medicine in 1985. Her residency was completed at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 1988. Her Cardiovascular Diseases Fellowship was completed at St. Louis University Medical Center in 1991, followed by a Cardiac Electrophysiology Research and Clinical Fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine in 1993.

Dr. Gamache performs permanent pacemaker placement, Tilt table testing, standard echocardiography and Doppler studies, stress testing, testing, and follow - up.

Clayton Office
Kirkwood Bend Office

Graduated from Ohio State University in 1986. His residency was completed at Washington University School of Medicine, Jewish Hospital of St. Louis in 1989 and his cardiology fellowship also at Washington University School of Medicine, Jewish Hospital of St. Louis in 1993. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology, as well as Interventional Cardiology. Dr. Goldmeier performs cardiac catheterizations, angioplasty, atherectomy, stent placement and intravascular ultrasound, transthoracic echocardiography, transesophageal echocardiography, (single, bi and multiplane), stress and Dobutamine echocardiography, IABP placement, temporary pacemaker placement and Swan Ganz placement.

Rajiv R Handa MD

St. Charles County Office
Clayton Office

Dr. Handa graduated from Medical College of Baroda, India in 1984. His residency was completed at MCP - Hahnemann University in 2000. Dr. Handa's fellowships in Cardiology (2002) and Cardiac Electrophysiology (2004) were also completed at MCP - Hahnemann University. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology. Dr. Handa's primary location is St. Charles; he is also available to see patients at the Clayton and Kirkwood locations.

M Kiran Kancherla MD FACC

Dr. Kancherla received his undergraduate degree from Duke University. He received his medical degree from the Emory University School of Medicine. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Barnes Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine. He completed his Cardiology fellowship at the Northwestern University School of Medicine and he is Board Certified in Cardiology.

Dr Kancherla is involved in the performance and interpretation of cardiac catheterization, stress echocardiography, swan-ganz/temporary pacemaker insertion, and vascular/cardiac ultrasonography. He is the Medical Director of Nuclear Cardiology for Metro Heart Group and specializes in the performance and interpretation of Nuclear Stress Tests.

David J Kardesch MD FACC

Graduated from The University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Medicine in 1985. His residency was completed at University of Colorado Health Sciences Center in 1988 and his cardiology fellowship at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital, Texas Heart Institute in 1992. Dr. Kardesch is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology, as well as Interventional Cardiology. Dr. Kardesch performs transesophageal echocardiography, stress testing, standard echocardiography and Doppler studies, coronary angioplasty, cardiac catheterizations, direct coronary atherectomy, placement of permanent pacemakers and peripheral vascular angioplasty and stenting.

John W Kilgore MD FACC

Graduated from The University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine in 1980. His residency was completed at The Medical University of South Carolina in 1983 and his cardiology fellowship at The Medical University of South Carolina in 1985. He is Board Certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology. Dr. Kilgore performs cardiac catheterizations, permanent pacemaker implantation, defibrillator implantation, stress testing, standard echocardiography, Doppler studies and stress Dobutamine echocardiography.

David J Morton MD FACC

Roberto Pacheco-Coronado MD

Dr. Morton performs coronary and peripheral vascular diagnostic and interventional procedures. These services include coronary and peripheral vascular angioplasty, atherectomy and stenting procedures; as well as carotid artery stenting. He also performs endovascular (non-surgical) procedures to close congenital defects such as and ASDs and PFOs. He is a local expert on non-surgical or endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. Dr. Morton has been involved in many clinical research trials of cardiovascular medications and interventional procedures and has served as primary investigator for research trials of devices such as the first drug coated coronary stent. He serves as a proctor assisting and teaching other cardiologists in the use of cardiac interventional procedures.

Dr. Morton has served as chief of the section of cardiology and as director of the cardiac catheterization laboratory at Saint Anthony's Hospital before being elected to the hospital's Board of Directors in 2006. He developed the first outpatient cardiac catheterization laboratory in Missouri (Midwest Cardiovascular Center) and serves as its medical director. He was a founder of Metro Heart Group and serves as the group's president.

Kirkwood Bend Office

Born in Costa Rica, Dr. Pacheco-Coronado moved to the United States in 2003 where he completed his residency in Internal Medicine and fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. He then relocated to Providence, Rhode Island where he received his training in Interventional Cardiology at Brown University.

Dr. Pacheco-Coronado is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease and board eligible in Interventional Cardiology. He is a member of several medical organizations including the American College of Cardiology, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions and the Society of Vascular Medicine.

Having completed fellowships in both general and interventional cardiovascular medicine, Dr. Pacheco-Coronado performs consultative cardiology in addition to nuclear cardiology and coronary and peripheral interventions. His special interests include structural heart disease, coronary artery disease, and vascular medicine.

Dr. Pacheco-Coronado joins Drs. Phillip Apprill, Manoj Eapen, Leonard Fagan, Mark Friedman, Michael Goldmeier, M. Kiran Kancherla, John Kilgore, and Richard Whiting at Metro Heart Group’s Kirkwood Office. Hospital services include St. Clare Health Center, St. Mary’s Health Center, and Missouri Baptist Medical Center.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Pacheco-Coronado enjoys deep sea fishing, marathon running and spending time with his wife and son.

James M Perschbacher MD FACC

Born and raised in St. Louis, Dr. Perschbacher received his undergraduate degree from the University of Notre Dame, followed by his medical degree from St. Louis University in 2001. He then moved to Rochester, Minnesota where he completed his residency in Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic. Returning 'home' in 2004, he completed his fellowship in Cardiology at Barnes-Jewish Hospital at Washington University School of Medicine.

Dr. Perschbacher is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease. He maintains affiliations with several medical organizations including the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, and the American Society of Echocardiography.

Having trained as an invasive, non-interventional cardiologist, Dr. Perschbacher specializes in general cardiology with an emphasis in cardiac imaging, particularly nuclear cardiology and echocardiography (including stress echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography). His interests include valvular heart disease, coronary artery disease, and preventive cardiology.

Jeffrey T Reese MD FACC

Missouri South Office

Dr. Reese holds specialty board certifications from the American Board of Internal Medicine in Cardiovascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology, and Internal Medicine. He is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions and Council on Geriatric Cardiology. Dr. Reese received his medical degree from Tulane University in New Orleans and was elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha chapter there. He completed his internship, residency, and fellowships at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta.

Bassam A Roukoz MD FACC

Missouri South Office

After receiving his medical degree from Saint Joseph University School of Medicine in 1995, Dr. Roukoz completed an Internal Medicine residency, Cardiology fellowship and Interventional Cardiovascular fellowship at MCP Hahnemann University Hospitals in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Dr. Roukoz is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases, Interventional Cardiology and Peripheral Vascular Disease. He is associated with many medical organizations including the American College of Cardiology, American College of Physicians and American Heart Association.

David J Sewall MD FACC

Michael L Shapiro MD FACC

Graduated from Boston University School of Medicine in 1988. His residency was completed at Barnes Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine in 1991 and his cardiology fellowship at Barnes Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine in 1994. He is board certified in Cardiology, Interventional Cardiology and Nuclear Cardiology. Dr. Sewall performs cardiac catheterizations, coronary and peripheral interventions including stents and atherectomy as well as permanent pacemaker implantation. He also interprets echocardiograms, and nuclear and echo stress tests. He has a clinical practice in consultative cardiology.

Graduated from New York University School of Medicine in 1987. His residency was completed at Wilford Hall U.S.A.F. Medical Center in 1990 and his cardiology fellowship at Wilford Hall U.S.A.F. Medical Center in 1993. He is Board Certified in Cardiovascular Diseases and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology. Dr. Shapiro performs EP diagnostic studies and all aspects of ablations and device therapy including biventricular pacing.

Robert Snitzer MD FACC

Graduated from the University of Notre Dame, Magna Cum Laude, in 1984. Graduated from Ohio State University School of Medicine in 1988. His Residency was completed at Barnes Hospital in 1991 and his Cardiology fellowship was completed at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee in 1994. Dr. Snitzer also completed his Interventional Cardiology Fellowship in 1995 at Barnes Hospital. He is Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease. Dr. Snitzer currently works out of Metro Heart Group's North County office.

Mark D. Taber MD FACC