Our physicians

Vijay Swarup, MD, FACC, FHRS

Founder, President and Clinical Director · Cardiac Electrophysiology

• Founder and Executive Director, Arizona Heart Rhythm Center
• Founder, Heart Health Center
• President, Arizona Cardiovascular Research Foundation

Dr. Swarup founded Heart Health Center in 2017 as one of the nation's first dedicated heart rhythm ambulatory surgery centers, and between 2017 and 2023 developed it into one of the highest-volume outpatient atrial fibrillation ablation programs in the United States. During the pandemic the center performed cardiac ablation under the CMS Hospitals Without Walls waiver and published that outpatient experience in Heart Rhythm, and he maintains one of the largest ASC-based electrophysiology outcomes datasets anywhere. He was among the first physicians in Arizona to perform epicardial ventricular tachycardia ablation, robotic catheter ablation, and left atrial appendage occlusion device implantation, and he serves as a principal investigator on arrhythmia treatment protocols.

Clinical focus

• Atrial fibrillation ablation
• Ventricular tachycardia ablation
• Three-dimensional electroanatomical mapping
• Left atrial appendage occlusion

Sudarone Thihalolipavan, MD

Cardiac Electrophysiology

Dr. Thihalolipavan is a cardiac electrophysiologist with a particular interest in the treatment of complex arrhythmias. His experience spans catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation and for premature ventricular complexes and ventricular tachycardia, left atrial appendage occlusion, and the implantation of pacemakers, defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization devices. He was an early adopter of epicardial and fluoroless ablation techniques, has published peer-reviewed work on atrial fibrillation management, and has enrolled patients in multi-center international ablation trials.

Clinical focus

• Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation
• PVC and ventricular tachycardia ablation
• Left atrial appendage occlusion
• Pacemaker, defibrillator, and CRT implantation

Sina Nafisi, MD, FACC

Interventional Cardiology

Dr. Nafisi is an interventional cardiologist whose practice covers complex coronary artery disease, vascular medicine, and endovascular intervention. He is Chief of Staff at HonorHealth Tempe Medical Center and serves as Assistant Professor and cardiology clerkship director at Creighton University School of Medicine, where he mentors physicians in training. He has previously served as Chief of Cardiology at Four Peaks Medical Center and at Tempe Medical Center.

Clinical focus

• Complex coronary artery disease
• Endovascular intervention
• Lower extremity revascularization
• Vascular medicine