Vinod Rustgi, MD - HCA Florida Transplant Specialists

A native of Brazil, Dr. Christiano Caldeira received his medical degree from the Federal University of Minas Gerais School of Medicine. He moved to the United States and performed his residency in cardiothoracic surgery at Case Western Reserve University. He then completed his fellowship in lung transplantation, heart transplantation and ventricular assist devices at the prestigious Cleveland Clinic Foundation. Dr. Caldeira is an expert in high-risk cardiac surgical procedures, and has a special interest in surgical therapies for the treatment of heart failure. In addition to heart and lung transplantation, Dr. Caldeira is experienced in the use of implantable ventricular assist devices and left ventricular reconstruction surgery. He has mastered minimally invasive aortic and mitral valve repairs, surgical treatments for atrial fibrillation, and procedures for the treatment of aortic pathologies. Dr. Caldeira is Board Certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Since completing his training, he has held numerous appointments including Staff Cardiothoracic Surgeon of the Veterans' Administration Office and Case Western Reserve University. He has served as Surgical Director of Lung Transplantation and Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University Hospitals of Cleveland. Dr. Caldeira has served as primary investigator for many clinical research studies and published numerous articles in journals.

Dr. Melissa Wong, MD, FACS, is a board-certified transplant and hepatobiliary surgeon in Largo, Florida. Her professional interests include liver and kidney transplantation, diseases of the liver and bile ducts, and clinical outcomes research.

Dr. Chittoor B. Sai Sudhakar is a board-certified Cardiothoracic Surgeon specializing in Adult Cardiac Surgery. He performs advanced procedures like Heart Transplantation and Aortic Surgery. Dr. Sudhakar combines personalized care with cutting-edge technology to ensure the well-being of patients and their families. His exceptional skills, compassionate approach, and commitment to advancing cardiac care make him a trusted provider.