Physician Spotlight: Dr. Kevin Kheder, Interventional and Structural Cardiologist

Dr. Kheder, an interventional and structural cardiologist at the Hoag Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute, is passionate about Hoag’s collaborative and innovative approach to cardiovascular care. He shares what inspired his path into medicine, how he found his calling in interventional cardiology, and why Hoag’s multidisciplinary, patient-centered model shapes the way he cares for his patients.

What made you choose to practice medicine in Orange County?

I’m a California native, and with my family here, Orange County felt like the perfect place to live and practice medicine.

At what age did you know you wanted to pursue medicine?

Interestingly, I’m the first physician in my extended family. Most of my relatives work in business-related fields like finance and property management, and for a while, I thought I might follow a similar path. But around the age of 14, after taking high school biology and physiology, I developed a strong interest in how the human body works. From that point on, I knew medicine was the path I wanted to pursue.

How did you end up focusing on heart and vascular care — cardiology specifically?

Heart disease runs in my family, so it was always something I kept in mind. During my undergraduate years, my father had a mild heart attack and needed a couple of stents. That experience became a pivotal moment for me. Originally, I planned to pursue neurology, but seeing what he went through sparked a deeper interest in cardiac physiology.

When I started medical school, everything came together. I realized just how much the heart impacts every part of the body. That connection resonated with me and ultimately led me to specialize in interventional cardiology.

You’ve been with the Jeffrey M. Carlton Heart & Vascular Institute at Hoag for how long now?

I’ve been with Hoag for two years now, and it’s been an incredible opportunity. What makes the Institute unique is its collaborative structure — bringing together cardiac surgeons, cardiologists across multiple subspecialties, and vascular surgeons. This team-based approach truly enhances our ability to deliver personalized, patient-centered care.

What kinds of conditions do cardiologists treat?

Cardiology is the primary specialty, and within it are several subspecialties. I like to refer to myself as the “plumber.” As an interventional cardiologist, my focus is on the arteries of the heart and maintaining healthy blood flow. This includes treating conditions like blocked arteries, heart attacks, and other circulation-related issues in and around the heart.

Does everything start with general cardiology?

Exactly — cardiology is the mothership. Everyone begins with general cardiology training before branching into a subspecialty. As an interventional cardiologist, I focus on blood flow, coronary arteries, and procedures like stenting to restore blood flow and valve interventions to improve heart function

What are other cardiology subspecialties?

One key subspecialty is electrophysiology—often referred to as the “electricians” of the heart. Electrophysiologists focus on arrhythmias and heart rhythm disorders such as atrial fibrillation. They perform procedures like ablations and manage conditions like supraventricular tachycardia (SVT).

What’s the difference between a cardiologist and a cardiac surgeon?

I like to describe interventional cardiologists as minimally invasive heart surgeons. Traditional cardiac surgery involves opening the chest to perform bypass surgery, often using arteries from the leg or chest. This is what most people think of as open-heart surgery. Interventional cardiology, by contrast, has come a long way over the past 15 to 30 years. We can now treat many of the same conditions using far less invasive techniques.

I understand Hoag is a leader in this field—can you tell me more about that?

Absolutely. Hoag has established itself as a leader in Orange County for innovative and comprehensive cardiac care, offering procedures like transcatheter aortic valve replacement, or TAVR. This minimally invasive approach treats failing aortic valves—a condition common in people in their 70s, 80s, and even 90s—without the need to open the chest.

How do you place the valve so precisely? Is a scope used during the procedure?

At Hoag, we use two of the most advanced CT scanners available to carefully plan every procedure. For stenting, we insert a catheter through an artery in the arm or groin to reach the heart. Using fluoroscopy—a type of X-ray combined with contrast dye—we can visualize the arteries in real time and treat any narrowed areas. While it’s not a traditional scope, this imaging allows us to see the vessels clearly and guide the procedure precisely.

What factors determine if a patient is eligible for same-day discharge?

Approximately 85 percent of patients can go home the same day as their procedure. Discharge timing depends on the complexity of the procedure and the patient’s overall health. In some cases, an overnight stay may be recommended for closer monitoring. Even then, recovery is significantly faster compared to the typical five to six-day hospitalization required after traditional open-heart surgery.

What’s coming in 2026 for Hoag?

Hoag’s Sun Family Campus in Irvine is undergoing a major expansion to increase access and deliver high-level care to the growing Orange County population. By mid-2026, it will become a full-service campus, continuing to provide the community with access to comprehensive, world-class care.