Cardiac Care Consultants: Staff page

Dr. Vincent J. Nicchi has been serving Sun City and Sun City West residents since 1987 as an Interventional Cardiologist. He came to Sun City in 1987 after completing a cardiology fellowship at Deborah Heart & Lung Institute in New Jersey. Dr. Nicchi received his undergraduate training at Brooklyn College and his medical degrees from Northeast University in Tampico, Mexico and his Fifth Pathway from Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York. His postgraduate training included an internal medicine internship and residency at Maimonides Medical Center, also in Brooklyn, New York. Dr. Nicchi is board-certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease and Nuclear Medicine. He offers non-invasive, invasive and interventional cardiology services in Sun City, and Sun City West.

Dr. Marc A. Petein has been serving the Sun City area since 1985 as an Interventional Cardiologist. He receiving his medical degree from the University of Louvain in Belgium. Dr. Petein obtained his postgraduate training in Internal Medicine and Invasive Cardiology both in Belgium and the United States. While at the University of Minnesota Dr. Petein held a position of Assistant Professor of Medicine. He then returned to private practice and relocated to the Sun City area in 1985. Dr. Petein is board certified in Internal medicine and Cardiovascular disease. He offers non-invasive, invasive and interventional cardiology services in both Sun City and Sun City West areas.

Dr. Jeffrey L. Pakula is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology. He received his medical degree from the University of Health Sciences in Missouri. Dr. Pakula's Internal Medicine training was completed at the University of Illinois. He received his Cardiology fellowship at the University of Health Sciences at the Chicago Medical School in Illinois. After completing his fellowship, he served as the Director of Medical Education at Cook County Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Pakula has been practicing medicine in Arizona since 1997. He joined Cardiac Care Consultants, Dr. Nicchi and Dr. Petein in January 2001. Due to his extensive training he is able to offer invasive and non-invasive cardiology services in the Sun City and Sun City West area.

Dr. Norman Shaia, a native of Orange County, attended California State University at Fullerton where he received his undergraduate degree in the Biological Sciences. He then moved to Omaha, Nebraska to complete his Doctor of Medicine at Creighton University. Dr. Shaia began his Internal Medicine Residency at St. Joseph's Hospital in Phoenix, Arizona in 1998. After completing his residency in 2001, he began his Cardiology Fellowship training at UCLA-Harbor Medical Center in Torrance, California. After graduating from UCLA in 2004, he pursued an advanced Fellowship in Interventional Cardiology at University of Arizona. He joined Cardiac Care Consultants, Dr. Nicchi, Dr. Petein, and Dr. Pakula in September 2005. Due to his extensive training, he is able to offer non-invasive, invasive, and interventional cardiology services in both Sun City and Sun City West areas.

Dr. Charanjit Kapoor is board certified in General, Nuclear, and Interventional Cardiology. Dr Kapoor received his medical degree from Government Medical College in Patiala, India. He completed his internship and residency at Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix where he was appointed Chief Medical Resident. Dr Kapoor received his Advanced Heart Failure, Cardiac Transplantation, and Cardiology fellowship training at the Ochsner Clinic and Medical Foundation in New Orleans. After completing this fellowship Dr Kapoor completed an Interventional Cardiology fellowship at Brown University in Rhode Island. Dr Kapoor has been practicing medicine for over 10 years, the last 9 years in the Sun City areas. Dr Kapoor’s extensive training allows him to offer non-invasive, invasive, and interventional cardiology services in both Sun City and Sun City West areas.

Dr. Brian H Perlmutter, a native of Los Angeles, is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology. He received his medical degree from the University of Arkansas for Medical Science. Dr Perlmutter completed his Cardiology fellowship training at University of California Los Angeles School of Medicine in LA. He also completed an Interventional Cardiology fellowship at the Indiana Heart Institute at St Vincent’s Hospital in Indiana. In addition, Dr Perlmutter obtained his PhD in Physiology and Biophysics from the University of Arkansas for Medical Science. Dr Perlmutter has been practicing medicine for over 15 years, the last 5 years were right here in Sun City. Due to Dr Perlmutter’s extensive training he offers non-invasive, invasive, and interventional cardiology services in both Sun City and Sun City West areas.

Physicians Assistant

Debra A. Pierce is a Physician Assistant Masters degree graduate of Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She grew up in southern Arizona and received her Bachelor’s of Science in Molecular and Cellular Biology and Masters of Science in Interdisciplinary Physiology at the University of Arizona in Tucson. She is board certified by National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and is licensed by the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants. Debra joined Dr. Vincent Nicchi and Cardiac Care Consultants in November 2006 and works at both Banner Boswell Medical Center and Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Arizona State Association of Physician Assistants.

Physicians Assistant

Cardiac Care Consultants

Catherine Munsterman is a native to Phoenix. She attended Arizona State University where she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Cellular Biology. She then went on to earn a Masters of Medical Science in Physician Assistant Studies at Midwestern University in Glendale, AZ. Catherine is board certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and is licensed by the Arizona Regulatory Board of Physician Assistants. Catherine joined Cardiac Care Consultants in October of 2010, and works at both Banner Boswell Medical Center and Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center. She is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, American College of Cardiology and the Arizona State Association of Physician Assistants.

Nurse Practitioner

Kimberly K. Tarallo is an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner receiving her Master’s degree from the University of Alabama in Huntsville. She is board certified by the American Nurses Credentialing Center for nurse practitioners. As a NP she has experience in cardiac and internal medicine along with palliative care. She is an experienced Registered Nurse since 1995 working in critical care and emergency departments. She obtained her Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nursing from Middle Tennessee State University, Murfreesboro Tennessee. The American Association of Critical Care Nurses has credentialed her with her CCRN since 2000. She is a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses. Kimberly has joined Cardiac Care Consultants in May of 2011, and works at Banner Boswell Medical Center and Banner Del E. Webb Medical Center.

Practice Administrator

cardiac care consultants

Tracie Cobos is our Practice Administrator who graduated from the University of Phoenix in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Business Accounting. Tracie joined Cardiac Care in 1998 and has been the Office Manager since 2003. She is a member of the Arizona Medical Group Management Association, the American College of Cardiology, and the Society for Human Resource Management.