How to Choose a Cardiologist in Brandon, FL (2026 Guide)
Updated: 2 hours ago
By Marqus Willard Johnson, PMP | Wheelchair & Stretcher Transportation Services | Updated October 2026
This article is for general information only and is not medical advice. For a medical emergency, call 911. Talk to a licensed physician before making healthcare decisions.
Quick answer: Brandon has several cardiology practices, and this is not a complete list. Two established options are: South Shore Cardiovascular Associates is an independent practice founded in 2009, with five Hillsborough County offices and six interventional cardiologists. Bay Area Cardiology Associates is at 635 Eichenfeld Drive and is part of the BayCare physician network. Which one fits you depends on what you need: general cardiology, a catheter procedure, heart-rhythm care, or heart-failure management. Check each practice's website for current providers, and before you book, call and confirm that the doctor is in-network for your specific plan.
What type of cardiologist do you need?
Before you look at reviews, figure out which kind of heart specialist matches your condition.
General cardiologist. This is where most people start. See one if you have shortness of breath, palpitations, or chest discomfort that has already been checked out, or if your primary care doctor flagged high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or an abnormal EKG. General cardiologists manage long-term conditions such as atrial fibrillation (AFib), hypertension, and coronary artery disease. They also refer you to a subspecialist when needed.
Interventional cardiologist. You need one if a heart catheterization, stent, or angioplasty is being considered. These doctors open blocked arteries and fix some structural heart problems through a thin tube (catheter) instead of open surgery.
Electrophysiologist (EP). EPs treat heart-rhythm problems: AFib, fast or slow heart rhythms, pacemakers, and implanted defibrillators. They also perform ablation, a procedure that treats the heart tissue causing abnormal electrical signals.
Heart failure specialist. For patients with a weak heart pump (low ejection fraction), fluid buildup, and complicated medication plans.
What you're dealing with | Specialist to look for |
High blood pressure, high cholesterol, abnormal EKG | General cardiologist |
Irregular heartbeat, palpitations, diagnosed AFib | Electrophysiologist |
Blocked arteries, prior stent or heart cath | Interventional cardiologist |
Fluid retention, fatigue, low ejection fraction | Heart failure specialist |
Leg pain with walking plus heart disease | Interventional cardiologist with vascular (endovascular) training |
If you're not sure, start with a general cardiologist. They can send you to the right subspecialist, often inside the same practice.
South Shore Cardiovascular Associates (independent practice)
South Shore Cardiovascular Associates has served the Brandon area since 2009. It has five offices and a team of interventional cardiologists, heart failure specialists, and nurse practitioners. The practice says it welcomes new patients and takes appointment requests online at southshorecardio.org.
Physicians:
Harshinder Singh, MD, FACC, FSCAI – Interventional Cardiology
Juan Pablo Cordova, MD, FACC – Interventional Cardiology
Robby R. Singh, MD – Interventional Cardiology
Peeyush Grover, MD, FACC, FSCAI, RPVI – Endovascular Intervention & Interventional Cardiology (useful if you have both heart disease and blocked arteries in the legs)
Khalid Mohammed, DO – Interventional Cardiology
Kevin Klein, MD – Interventional Cardiology
Claudia Monge, DO – Cardiology & Heart Failure
Locations:
Office | Address | Phone |
Brandon (main) | 425 S Kings Ave, Brandon, FL 33511 | (813) 661-6199 |
Brandon testing | 608 Medical Care Dr, Brandon, FL 33511 | (813) 661-6199 |
Riverview | 13127 Vail Ridge Dr, Riverview, FL 33579 | (813) 677-9200 |
Tampa | 14525 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Bldg 5, Tampa, FL 33613 | (813) 988-2754 |
Sun City Center | 4051 Upper Creek Dr, Unit 110, Sun City Center, FL 33573 | (813) 358-7200 |
Services listed by the practice: ablation, arrhythmia care, cardiac catheterization, cardioversion, chest pain evaluation, echocardiogram, EKG, high blood pressure management, Holter monitoring, pacemaker implantation and management, stents, stress testing, and ultrasound.
Testing is done in-house, so the EKG, echo, stress test, and Holter monitor can often happen at the same practice. That usually means less waiting between steps.
Best fit for: patients who want testing, procedures, and follow-up handled by one independent practice.
Bay Area Cardiology Associates (BayCare physician network)
Bay Area Cardiology Associates sees patients at 635 Eichenfeld Drive, Brandon and 13029 Summerfield Square Drive, Riverview. Its cardiologists are part of the BayCare Physician Partners network. Main phone: (813) 684-6000.
Cardiologists include:
Saurabh K. Chokshi, MD – Interventional Cardiology, Cardiovascular Disease (Brandon and Riverview)
Juna Misiri, MD – Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology; affiliated with St. Joseph's Hospital-South
Stephen W. Mester, MD – Cardiovascular Disease; affiliated with HCA Florida Brandon Hospital and HCA Florida South Shore Hospital
Sabanayagam Thangam, MD – Cardiovascular Disease
Ranchhod N. Khant, MD – Cardiovascular Disease
Doctors in this group have ties to both BayCare and HCA hospitals. If you were recently in the hospital, ask which cardiologist can see you at the hospital where you were treated. Keeping the same team usually means fewer repeated tests and smoother follow-up.
Best fit for: patients with complex conditions, patients just out of the hospital, and patients already getting care in the BayCare network.
Insurance: what to confirm before you book
"Do you take Aetna?" isn't enough. Aetna HMO, Aetna PPO, and Aetna Medicare Advantage are three different networks. Ask the office these two questions:
"Is Dr. [name] in-network for [your exact plan name and member ID]?"
"Do I need a referral from my primary care doctor, or can I book directly?" HMO plans usually require a referral.
Medicare: Under original Medicare, cardiology visits and most diagnostic tests are covered by Part B. You pay the Part B deductible and generally 20% coinsurance after that.
Medicaid: Coverage differs by doctor and by Medicaid managed-care plan. A doctor's online insurance list can be out of date or incomplete, so always confirm by phone.
Telehealth: Many cardiology practices offer video visits to established patients for medication checks and test-result reviews. Ask whether your practice does.
Cardiologist appointment or 911?
Call 911 right away. Don't drive yourself, and don't go to urgent care, if you have:
Chest pain, pressure, squeezing, or fullness, especially if it spreads to the arm, jaw, neck, or back
Shortness of breath, with or without chest discomfort
A cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness along with any of the above
Fainting or nearly fainting
Sudden face drooping, arm weakness, or slurred speech (signs of stroke)
The American Heart Association advises calling 911 for heart attack warning signs. Paramedics can start treatment on the way to the hospital. If you're not sure whether chest discomfort is serious, call 911. Urgent care clinics aren't set up to treat a heart attack.
Schedule a cardiologist appointment if you have:
Palpitations that come and go, with no fainting or dizziness
Shortness of breath only during exercise or exertion, which your doctor has already evaluated
Newly diagnosed high blood pressure or AFib
High cholesterol that hasn't improved with primary care treatment
Follow-up after a hospital stay or heart procedure
Ongoing monitoring of a known valve problem or coronary artery disease
Nearest hospitals with cardiac care: HCA Florida Brandon Hospital (119 Oakfield Drive, Brandon) and St. Joseph's Hospital-South (Riverview).
How to get an appointment faster and what to bring
Call in the morning and ask whether any cancellation openings are available. Same-week slots come up more often than online booking shows.
Request online. South Shore takes appointment requests at southshorecardio.org.
Check the referral rule. If your plan needs a referral, ask your primary care office to send it before you call the cardiologist.
Bring to your first visit:
Insurance card and photo ID
A full medication list with doses
Any past EKGs, echocardiograms, stress tests, or heart imaging, even older ones
A written timeline of your symptoms: when they started, how often they happen, and what makes them better or worse
Family history of heart disease, especially early heart attacks in parents or siblings
The symptom timeline is the step most patients skip. Your cardiologist can't recreate months of symptoms from a 15-minute conversation, but you can bring it written down.
Getting to your cardiology appointment
Many patients have trouble just getting to the appointment. This includes wheelchair users, people recovering from a heart procedure, and anyone whose condition makes driving unsafe.
Wheelchair & Stretcher Transportation Services (WSTS) is an AHCA-licensed company that provides wheelchair and stretcher transportation to cardiology offices and hospitals across Brandon, Riverview, Sun City Center, and the rest of Hillsborough County. Our door-through-door service means a driver brings you from your home to the check-in desk and back.
Going home after a procedure: After a heart catheterization, cardioversion, or sedation, most patients aren't allowed to drive for at least 24 hours. Booking your ride home before the procedure prevents the most common discharge delay: waiting for a family member who didn't know they had to leave work early.
Good to know:
WSTS is private-pay. We don't bill Medicaid or Medicare. Call for a quote before your appointment.
We run daily from 5 AM to 11 PM, and every stretcher transport has a two-person crew.
We serve Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk, Manatee, Sarasota, Hardee, and Highlands counties.
Call 813-924-8156 to schedule a ride to any Brandon-area cardiology appointment.
Local discussion: Families in Brandon and Riverview are sharing how they get older parents to and from cardiology procedures in this r/tampa thread. Community posts are personal experiences, not medical or provider advice. Verify details with each practice.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general information only and is not medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Talk to a licensed physician before making healthcare decisions. For a medical emergency, call 911. Physician details came from practice and hospital websites in October 2026 and may change. Confirm with the office before your visit.
Wheelchair & Stretcher Transportation Services 625 E Twiggs St, Tampa, FL 33602 | 813-924-8156 | wheelchair-tampa.com
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