Our community is incredibly fortunate to have Dr. Edris. We’re lucky to have somebody who received world-class training in his area of expertise, logged many years of prestigious experience, and has now come to care for the patients in our community.
—Dr. Mark Carvalho, Chief Executive Officer of Montage Medical Group
Alex Lee, an 87-year-old avid swimmer and woodworker, divided much of his free time between the pool and his workshop. But when Lee started experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, and low energy, he could no longer do what he loved.
“I didn’t feel like doing the things I used to enjoy doing,” Lee said. “It was slowing me down to the point where I couldn’t function like I was before, so I decided to see a doctor.”
He turned to Montage Medical Group and was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the aortic valve, blocking blood flow and forcing the heart to work harder. Without intervention, he was told that he was at significantly increased risk of dying in the next two years.
Lee found a remedy and relief through Dr. Ahmad Edris, the new Director of Interventional Cardiology and Structural Heart Disease program with Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula’s Tyler Heart Institute.
Dr. Edris and a multidisciplinary team of physicians and nurses evaluated Lee and determined he was a candidate for TAVR — transcatheter aortic valve replacement — in which a degenerative heart valve is replaced through a small incision in the leg rather than open-heart surgery, resulting in a much faster recovery.
“The next day, I was a new man,” Lee said. “I had no pain, I could walk around easily, I wasn’t short of breath. I just felt rejuvenated. Dr. Edris is a life-changer. He’s very skilled at what he does, and Monterey is a better place because of it.”
Dr. Edris specializes in interventional cardiology, a non-surgical approach to treat certain heart conditions using a small, flexible tube called a catheter to repair damaged or weakened vessels, narrowed arteries, or other heart issues.
Dr. Edris studied or practiced at leading institutions including the Cleveland Clinic, UCI Medical Center and UCLA Medical Center. He was a key member in helping establish the Cleveland Clinic in Abu Dhabi as the premier interventional and structural heart disease program in the region.
“Our community is incredibly fortunate to have Dr. Edris,” said Dr. Mark Carvalho, Chief Executive Officer of Montage Medical Group. “We’re lucky to have somebody who received world-class training in his area of expertise, logged many years of prestigious experience, and has now come to care for the patients in our community.”
Dr. Edris is the latest cardiology expert to be recruited to Tyler Heart Institute and Montage Medical Group, all part of Montage Health. Bringing together innovative cardiac procedures and the experts to perform them were key goals when Tyler Heart Institute was founded with a generous donation from William and Susanne Tyler.
In addition to building a talented team, Montage Health has made significant investments in technology to provide leading-edge care. All the services are connected under the Tyler Heart Institute umbrella.
“Patients can stay in our community,” said Dr. Steven Cabrales, Vice President and Chief Medical Officer at Montage Health. “They don’t have to leave the area to get world-class care.”
Dr. Edris said that minimally invasive structural heart interventions like TAVR are “changing the way we treat patients, many of whom were previously not candidates for traditional cardiovascular surgery and had limited treatment options. I am continually impressed by the evolution of devices and techniques and feel that it is incredibly important to stay on top of developments in the field.”
After Dr. Edris’ intervention, Alex Lee is back to working on the things he loves.
“After the procedure, I felt so wonderful that I was finally able to fill my new shed with all my tools. I'm glad to get back to doing what I love, which is building things,” Lee said. “I appreciate all that the hospital did for me and couldn’t be happier with my experience there. Dr. Edris coming along at the right time made a tremendous difference in my life.”
Tyler Heart Institute
Tyler Heart Institute is the cardiovascular department at Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula, Montage Health’s hospital. Find comprehensive, personalized care for all ages and stages of cardiovascular health. Learn more
Montage Medical Group
Montage Medical Group is a multispecialty network of physicians in Monterey, Carmel, and Marina, California. Find a doctor who gets to know you and provides personalized care for a healthy, happy life. Learn more.
