Sutter Pacific Heart Centers Electrophysiology Program’s team of cardiac specialists possesses extensive experience in cardiology research, electrophysiology studies, cardiac resynchronization therapy, cardiac defibrillator implantation, and arrhythmia patient management. All members are board certified and accredited. They have gained substantial expertise in their specialties through their studies at renowned national and international institutions.

Steven Hao, M.D., FACC

Medical Director Electrophysiology Laboratory

Dr. Steven Hao graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1992 and was awarded his Medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in 1996. His postdoctoral training includes an internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the New York Presbyterian Hospital two fellowships in Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology at the Weill Medical College of Cornell University in New York.
Dr. Hao is board-certified in Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology and is a professional member of the American College of Cardiology, the Council of Clinical Cardiology for the American Heart Association, and the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology/Heart Rhythm Society. He is also a member and fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC). Dr. Hao was honored with the David E. Rogers Memorial Research Award in 2000, the NASPE Advanced Training Clinical Fellowship Award from 2001-2003, the Hannah and Leonard Blank Research Award in 2003, and was a finalist for the AHA Laennec Society Young Clinician Award as well as, the AHA Electrophysiology Poster Competition in 2002. Dr. Hao is the principal investigator for several multicenter trials in electrophysiology, has lectured nationally and internationally on various topics including catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation and acts as a reviewer for the Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology. His bibliography contains numerous publications and abstracts.

Richard Hongo, M.D.

Cardiac Electrophysiologist

Dr. Hongo received his medical degree in 1995 from Loma Linda University School of Medicine. He received his postdoctoral fellowship training in cardiology at California Pacific Medical Center, and completed his fellowship in cardiac electrophysiology at University of California, San Francisco. Dr. Hongo is a member of the American College of Cardiology, and the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He received the American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowship Award for his research on “Electroanatomic Mapping in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia.” Dr. Hongo is board-certified in Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology. His expertise covers the full range of current technology and skills needed for cardiac arrhythmia management, including the implantation of specialized pacemakers for resynchronizing the weakened heart. Dr. Hongo is bilingual in English and Japanese.

Salwa Beheiry, R.N., CCRN

Director, Electrophysiology Services

Ms. Beheiry graduated from Alexandria University in Egypt with a Bachelor degree in Nursing Sciences. She studied nursing education in England and worked as clinical instructor in England, France, and Kuwait. Prior to joining the Electrophysiology team at Sutter Pacific Heart Centers, she was the manager of the Duke University Electrophysiology program, assisting in the design and staffing of the electrophysiology labs. Ms. Beheiry is involved in many national and international efforts to train and educate physicians and other health professionals in new electrophysiology ablation techniques. She helped many hospitals in the US, Europe and South America start new EP services. Ms. Beheiry has a special interest in atrial fibrillation.

Linda Bartek, R.N., M.S.N., ACNP

Nurse Practitioner, Electrophysiology Services

Ms. Bartek started as a Clinical Nurse Research Coordinator developing and implementing a newly designed cardiac research program for the Sutter Pacific Heart Centers. She manages arrhythmia patients who undergoing electrophysiology studies, implants and/or ablation therapy. She is responsible for patient care, working in collaboration with Drs. Hao and Hongo. Ms. Bartek graduated from the University of California, San Francisco with a Masters of Science, Nursing – Acute Care Nurse Practitioner specialty – and holds an Associate Science Degree in Nursing and a Bachelor of Arts in Architecture. Linda is a member of the American Association of Critical Care Nurses and was awarded the prestigious Osher Scholarship from UCSF in 2000-2001.