About

Hearts and Minds at the Leading Edge Can Change the Trajectory of Cardiac Care

A patient’s life can change for the better in a heartbeat. Even patients who have currently limited treatment options and a poor prognosis can gain new hope through advances in minimally invasive procedures and other cutting-edge techniques. At Ascent Cardiovascular Center, we share a determination to help everyone who struggles with heart disease. With our hearts and minds focused on new approaches to healing, each day we challenge the status quo in cardiac care with confidence our treatments add up to something of immeasurable value to patients:

The gift of health and time.

Sachin Diwadkar, MD

A native of Tampa, Dr. Sachin Diwadkar completed his undergraduate education at one of the nation’s top public universities, the University of Florida, where he graduated at the top of his class and was inducted into several prestigious honor societies including Phi Beta Kappa. Following graduation, he returned to his hometown to attend the University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine. He completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Mount Sinai Beth Israel, one of New York City’s historic and preeminent hospitals known for its unique approach to combining medical excellence with clinical innovation.

Following residency, he returned to Tampa to complete his fellowship in Cardiovascular Diseases at the University of South Florida and Tampa General Hospital, a cardiac program consistently ranked in the top 30 in the nation by US News & World Report. He then completed a subspecialty fellowship in Interventional Cardiology at Tampa General Hospital and University of South Florida-affiliated institutions including the James A. Haley VA Medical Center. Throughout his training, Dr. Sachin Diwadkar was the recipient of many accolades by his attending physicians, colleagues, staff and patients.

Dr. Sachin Diwadkar has been actively involved in a variety of research projects spanning multiple different cardiac subspecialties. His research includes investigation on the role of echocardiography in the diagnosis of left ventricular noncompaction, a specific and rare genetic disorder of the heart, and exploration on the potential role of cardiac biomarkers in the monitoring of proteasome inhibitor-induced cardiotoxicity during treatment of plasma cell cancers. He has presented his research at several conferences and has published multiple peer-reviewed journal articles.

Dr. Sachin Diwadkar is board certified in five medical and cardiac subspecialties. He is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of South Florida College of Medicine at USF Health. As Collaborative Faculty, he helps educate our next generation of cardiologists.

As a member of the interventional and cardiogenic shock call teams at Tampa General Hospital and St. Joseph’s Hospital, he is part of a highly select group of interventional cardiologists in Tampa responsible for treating the most acute and complex cardiac emergencies with life-saving therapies. He is also a member of the cardiorenal transplant program at Tampa General Hospital which oversees the cardiac care of patients before and after kidney transplantation.

Dr. Sachin Diwadkar is also a Cardiology Consultant for major professional sports teams in the United States and Canada including the Tampa Bay Lightning and Toronto Raptors.

Kristina Maher, PA-C

Kristina Maher is a nationally certified physician assistant. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree in Food Science and Human Nutrition from the University of Florida followed by her Master of Medical Science at Nova Southeastern University. She excelled throughout her academic career graduating with honors from both esteemed programs. She maintains certification with the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Kristina began her career under the guidance and mentorship of Dr. Eric Harrison, a renowned cardiologist with a large footprint in the Tampa area. With over 10 years of dedicated outpatient cardiology experience, she is very proficient in the diagnosis and management of acute and chronic cardiovascular diseases, advanced cardiac imaging, and cardiac implantable electronic device management. Highly respected by her patients and colleagues, Kristina effectively communicates and collaborates with many providers throughout the community. Given her long tenure and dedication to a singular practice, she has developed an extremely loyal patient following. Kristina is described as compassionate, caring, knowledgeable, thorough, and attentive by longstanding and new patients alike.