About our specialists

Electrophysiologists are cardiologists with additional training in electrical impulses in the heart. They diagnose and treat disruptions in the normal heart rhythm (arrhythmias), including AFib, and are trained to use specialized testing, devices, and catheterization procedures, including catheter ablation. Other medical specialists who are a part of the Inova AFib Center include cardiologists, sleep specialists, weight management specialists, behavioral health specialists, and clinical pharmacists.

AFib care is complex. We achieve the best outcomes by expertly managing the underlying risk factors that contribute to AFib onset and progression and using advanced treatment techniques.

 

Electrophysiologists

Brett D. Atwater, MD

Brett D. Atwater, MD

D'Aniello Chair, Atrial Fibrillation
Section Chief, Electrophysiology
Inova Schar Heart and Vascular

Specialty: Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology

Dr. Brett Atwater is a specialty care physician board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular medicine and clinical cardiac electrophysiology. He joined Inova Health System in 2020 and has been practicing since 2002. Prior to joining Inova, Dr. Atwater was an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiology at Duke University.

Stephen A. Gaeta, MD, PhD

Stephen A. Gaeta, MD, PhD

Specialties: Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiovascular Disease and Internal Medicine

Dr. Stephen Gaeta is a specialty care physician board certified in clinical cardiac electrophysiology, cardiovascular disease and internal medicine. He has been practicing since 2011. He has a special interest in the management of heart rhythm disorders, including atrial fibrillation, supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), ventricular tachycardia (VT) and premature ventricular contractions (PVCs). At Inova, Dr. Gaeta serves as the Director of Electrophysiology Outreach, which focuses on bringing needed cardiac care to the underserved areas in our region.

Elizabeth Held, MD

Elizabeth Held, MD

Specialties: Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiovascular Disease and Internal Medicine

Dr. Elizabeth Held is a specialty care physician board certified in cardiovascular disease at Inova Health System. She joined Inova in 2022 and has been practicing since 2014. Before joining Inova, Dr. Held was a clinical cardiac electrophysiology fellow at Cedars-Sinai Smidt Heart Institute in Los Angeles.

Zachary T. Hollis, MD

Zachary T. Hollis, MD

Specialties: Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiovascular Disease and Internal Medicine

Dr. Zachary Hollis is a specialty care physician board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular medicine and clinical cardiac electrophysiology. He joined Inova Health System in 2021 and has been practicing since 2010. Dr. Hollis has a special interest in treating atrial fibrillation, atrial arrhythmias, left atrial occlusion devices, ventricular arrhythmias, pacemakers, defibrillators and cardiac resynchronization therapy. Prior to joining Inova, Dr. Hollis was a cardiac electrophysiologist in Winchester, VA.

Vineet Kumar, MD

Vineet Kumar, MD

Specialties: Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiovascular Disease and Internal Medicine

Dr. Vineet Kumar is a cardiac electrophysiologist board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, clinical cardiac electrophysiology, echocardiography and nuclear medicine. He has been practicing since 2007 and has a special interest in management of heart rhythm disorders, particularly atrial fibrillation, premature ventricular contractions and ventricular tachycardia.

Marc H. Wish, MD

Marc H. Wish, MD

Specialties: Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease

Dr. Mark Wish is a cardiac electrophysiologist board certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and clinical cardiac electrophysiology. He has been practicing since 1979.

Eunice Yang, MD

Eunice Yang, MD

Specialties: Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, Cardiovascular Disease and Internal Medicine

Dr. Eunice Yang is a specialty care physician board certified in cardiovascular disease, internal medicine and clinical cardiac electrophysiology at Inova Health System. She joined Inova in 2022 and has been practicing since 2013.

Sleep Specialist

Eric B. Sklar, MD

Eric B. Sklar, MD

Medical Director, Inova Sleep Disorders Program

Specialties: Neurology, Sleep Medicine, Vascular Neurology and Clinical Neurophysiology

Dr. Eric Sklar is a neurologist who is board certified in neurology, sleep medicine, clinical neurophysiology and vascular neurology. He has been practicing since 1998. He treats patients with a wide variety of neurological disorders, including sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome, narcolepsy, migraine headaches, dementia and epilepsy. He serves as Medical Director of the Inova Sleep Disorders Program.

Meet Dr. Eric Sklar

Weight Management

Pamela Brandt, DO

Pamela Brandt, DO

Specialty: Internal Medicine

Dr. Pamela Brandt is a specialty care physician board certified in internal medicine. She joined Inova Health System in 2021 and has been practicing since 2012.

Dr. Brandt enjoys working with patients who are ready to focus on changing their lifestyles to improve their long-term health and functional lifespan. She hopes to inform patients in a way that enables them to feel empowered and make choices that they feel are right for their situation and goals. Her aim is to make patients to feel respected and seen, and she doesn’t want her patients to feel uncomfortable in a healthcare setting.

Advanced Practice Provider

Courtney J. Channels, AGPCNP

Courtney J. Channels, AGPCNP

Nurse Practitioner

Courtney Channels is a board certified Adult-Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner. She has been working in cardiology since 2010 and practicing as a nurse practitioner in cardiology since 2016.

Additional Members of the AFib Center Team Include:

  • Behavioral Health Practitioners
  • Pharmacists
  • Weight-loss Specialists

Benefits of a Team-Based Approach

Early studies show that multidisciplinary team-based approaches to treat AFib patients are associated with improved outcomes, including:

  • 49% reduction in all-cause mortality
  • 42% reduction in cardiovascular hospitalizations
  • 50%–82% reduction in emergency department visits
  • Significantly shorter wait times to see an electrophysiologist (a specialized doctor trained to diagnose and treat arrhythmias)