A board-certified nurse practitioner, Kevin Clemans, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, with four decades of nursing experience, is well qualified to address the complex needs of patients. Originally from Indiana, Kevin received his early RN training at South Western Michigan College and earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Bethel College, both in Indiana. He practiced in civilian and military hospitals, including 10 years with medical units at Wright Patterson and Elmendorf Air Force Bases in Ohio and Alaska respectively, achieving the rank of captain. In 2013, he earned a Master of Science in Family Nurse Practice from Goshen College in Indiana. He has since worked as an intensivist nurse practitioner in the fields of cardiovascular surgery, hospital medicine, and primary care. He has participated in numerous activities supportive of nursing and emergency preparedness, including serving as a flight nurse, Red Cross nurse, and Disaster Medical Assistance Team member. His many honors include receiving the Distinguished Duty Medal and Silver Star.
Pulmonary Valve Disease
Paul DiGregorio, CCP
A key member of our heart team, Paul DiGregorio, CCP, is a certified cardiovascular perfusionist with 40 years of experience providing clinical perfusion and other services to patients. His role during heart surgery is operating the heart-lung machine that assumes the functions of a patient’s heart and lung while the surgeon performs surgery on the heart. A Long Island native, Paul completed his perfusion training in 1980 at State University of New York (SUNY) in Syracuse. He was chief perfusionist at Mt. Sinai Medical Center in Cleveland for many years. He has practiced in various clinical settings in Ohio, Indiana, and Florida. Most recently he was senior staff perfusionist at IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, IN. His experience also includes serving as a clinical instructor and faculty member for the American Board of Cardiovascular Perfusion (ABCP). Paul is married with two children. He enjoys golf, dining out, and movies.
Michael Savitt, MD, MSE
A member of our heart and lung team, Dr. Savitt is a cardiothoracic surgeon with over 20 years of surgical experience. His expertise covers a broad range of innovative and minimally invasive techniques for coronary bypass and valve surgery, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). He is also an expert in lung resection and surgical treatment of lung and esophageal cancers. A Milwaukee native, Dr. Savitt earned his medical degree and Master of Science in Engineering from Duke University. He completed his surgical residency at the University of California at San Francisco, where he served as chief surgical resident. He accomplished his cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at the University of Minnesota and later returned to Duke for a clinical lung transplant sabbatical. Dr. Savitt has maintained a dynamic practice at heart and lung centers in the Midwest. Most recently he served as a cardiothoracic surgeon and associate clinical professor at IU Ball Memorial Hospital in association with Indiana University School of Medicine. He is board certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. A member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons and the Western Thoracic Surgical Association, Dr. Savitt has been a frequent lecturer on cardiothoracic topics and has authored numerous manuscripts for various medical journals.
Michael Gooden, MD
Dr. Gooden is a board-certified Vascular/Endovascular surgeon with over 20 years of clinical experience. As a vascular surgeon, he is uniquely qualified to treat, by either open surgical or endovascular means, all aspects of peripheral vascular disease, including carotid stenosis, aortic aneurysms, lower or upper extremity peripheral artery disease, renal and mesenteric stenosis, nonhealing diabetic foot wounds, or dialysis access. This includes the most up to date techniques of carotid endarterectomy/stenting, open AAA repair/EVAR/TEVAR, peripheral artery bypass or stenting/angioplasty.
Originally from Iowa, Dr. Gooden grew up in Tucson, AZ. He served 6 years in the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman, and was recalled for Desert Storm. He received both his Bachelor of Sciences in Molecular and Cellular Biology and MD degree at the University of Arizona. Following General Surgery residency at the University of New Mexico, Dr. Gooden completed a two-year Vascular Surgery Fellowship at Cleveland Clinic in 2004. He is a member of the American Medical Association and a fellow in the prestigious Society for Vascular Surgery. He has worked in a variety of settings over the years, including private practice, academic surgery, and with the VA healthcare system.
“I enjoy working closely with patients and their primary care doctors, treating vascular disease to improve people’s daily lives, prevent stroke and limb loss.” When not working, ” I am spending all the time I can with my wife Erin and our son Colin, doing outdoor or school activities.”
Amanda Weidler, FNP-C
Amanda Weidler, FNP-C, serves in Trinity’s Cardiology Department as a nurse practitioner. She works closely with cardiologists and other clinical staff to provide comprehensive cardiovascular care, including health assessments, care planning, writing prescriptions, and counseling patients on lifestyle changes that can reduce the risk of cardiovascular illness. Originally from Killdeer, Amanda earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing from the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks. She practiced in Bismarck and at Trinity Hospital in Minot, serving patients in the ortho-neuro and post-anesthesia care units. She returned to UND to complete her Master of Science/Family Nurse Practitioner degree. A member of the American Association of Nurse Practitioners and the North Dakota Nurse Practitioners Association, Amanda resides in Velva with her husband, Matt, and their two children.
Samir Turk, MD
Dr. Turk is board certified in general cardiology and interventional cardiology. A graduate of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons, Dublin, Ireland, he completed his residency in Internal Medicine at Worcester City Hospital and University of Massachusetts Medical Center, Worcester, MA. He completed fellowships in peripheral vascular medicine and cardiology at Cleveland Clinic Foundation and MetroHealth Medical Center in Ohio. He was an interventional cardiologist with Health Center – Medical Arts from 1994-1999. He was associated with Ohio Heart Care, Inc., Canton, Ohio, before returning to Minot.
Valentine Chikwendu, MD
Valentine Chikwendu, MD, is a board certified specialist in general cardiology. He provides diagnosis and treatment to people with cardiovascular disease, and also performs invasive/non-invasive cardiology procedures. A graduate of the University of Nigeria College of Medicine, Dr. Chikwendu completed his internal medicine residency and adult cardiology fellowship at Cooke County Hospital in Chicago. He is specially trained to assess heart function by utilizing nuclear cardiology studies and is certified by the Board of Nuclear Cardiology.