I am a cardiologist at Memorial Cardiac and Vascular Institute. I treat patients with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias and valvular heart disease, among other conditions. I also focus on cardiovascular prevention through individualized lifestyle changes including nutrition, stress-reduction techniques and physical activity.

I was inspired to become a physician by my father, who has been a cardiologist for more than 30 years in his native Colombia. I was drawn to the complexity of cardiovascular health and disease and its strong foundation in evidence-based medicine. As a doctor, it is a privilege to have the tools to help someone and be there for them when they are at their most vulnerable.

Working with patients is by far the best part of the job, developing relationships and learning from them and their families. I enjoy shedding light on challenging diagnoses, helping to empower patients to take charge of their health and witnessing the healing process.

During my medical training, I served as chief cardiology fellow at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York. I am also a certified medical interpreter (English to Spanish) and have a strong interest in medical interpretation, language access and bridging healthcare disparities.

Hospital Affiliations

• Memorial Regional Hospital

Gender

• Male

Languages

• Spanish

Education

Pennsylvania State Univ College Of Medicine, 2017

Internships

Nyu School Of Medicine, 2018, Internal Medicine

Residency

Nyu School Of Medicine, 2020, Internal Medicine

Fellowships

Mount Sinai Beth Israel - Internal Medicine Program, 2023, Cardiovascular Disease

Certifications

American Board of Internal Medicine-Cardiovascular Disease
American Board of Internal Medicine-Internal Medicine

Publications

Please view Dr. Alvaro F. Vargas Peláez’s publications on PubMed.

Presentations

• Vargas Peláez, A.F., Adinugraha, P., Sharma, A. Himeles, J., Danilov, T. Echocardiagraphic Estimation of Right Ventricular Systolic Pressure Without Using Right Atrial Pressure. Poster session presented at: The Americal College of Cardiology (ACC) annual meeting, Washington, D.C. April 3, 2022.
  
  
• Barbhaiya, C.R., Knotts, R., Vargas Peláez, A.F., Bernstein, S., Park, D., Holmes, D., Aizer, A., Chinitz L.A. Prognostic Significance of Chronic Kidney Disease for Catheter Ablation of Non-Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation. Poster session presented at NYU Department of Medicine's 18th Annual Research Day, New York, New York. April 29, 2019.
  
  
• Vargas, A.F., Romeu, J., Castellanos, P., Vargas, A. Could Non-Anemic Iron Deficiency Precipitate Unstable Agina? Poster session presented at the Society of General Internal Medicine annual meeting, Denver, Colorado. April 11 - 14, 2018.
  
  
• Vargas, A.F., Gao, Z., Ahmad, T.A., Levenberger, U.A, Proctor, D.N., Maman, S.R., & Muller, M.D. Effect of adrenergic agonists on coronary blood flow: a laboratory study in healthy volunteers. Poster presentation at the Medical Student Research (MSR) Symposium, Hershey, Pennsylvania. May 18, 2017.
  
  
• Vargas Peláez A.F. Racism in Medicine: The Racist Patient. “Geld Mining” presentation at: Gold Humanism Honor Society National Conference, Chicago, Illinois. March 30 - April 1, 2017.
  
  
• Vargas Peláez, A.F., Chopra, A, Romeu, J. An Anterior Mediastinal Mass: a Rare Incidental Finding on Lung Cancer Screening. Poster session presented at the American College of Physicians annual national meeting, Washington, DC. May 5 - 7, 2016.
  
  
• Silveyra, P, Vargas Peláez, A, Carmichael, C, Baron, R, Jones, C. Implementing a Medical Student Interpreter Training as a Strategy to Establish Sustainable Language Access Programs. Poster presentation at NHMA 20th Annual Conference, Washington, DC. April 21 - 24, 2016.
  
  
• Vargas Peláez A.F., Gao, Z., Ahmad T.A., & Muller, MD. Noninvasive Measurement of Coronary Blood Flow During Exercise and Adrenergic Receptor Stimulation. Podium session presented at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Chapter of the American College of Sports Medicine (MARC-ACSM) 38th annual meeting, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Nov 6 -7, 2015.
  
  
• Vargas, A, Mendelson, T, Caplan, A, Meltzer, M, Kirkpatrick, JN. Conflicts of Interest in Recent Cardiology Guidelines vs. Other Professional Society Statements. Poster session presented at: AHA/ACC Quality of Care and Outcomes Research Scientific Sessions, Atlanta, Georgia. May 9 -12, 2012.

Awards

• Fellow of the Month, Mount Sinai Health System, 2022
• Howard E. Morgan Graduation Award for Outstanding Achievement in Basic Sciences, 2017
• Medical Student Humanitarian Award, 2016
• American College of Physicians (ACP) Internal Medicine Meeting “Young Achiever,” 2016
• Penn State College of Medicine Class of 1975 Scholarship Fund, 2015
• Martin and Karen Gibbs Prize in Social Sciences, 2013
• Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceutical R&D Graduation Award, 2013
• First Team Academic All-American® Award, NCAA, 2013