Integra Heart Care Team
Experienced cardiovascular care built around expertise, continuity, and a thoughtful understanding of each patient.
Amir H. Najafi, MD, FACC, FSCAI
Dr. Najafi is a board-certified interventional cardiologist with more than 25 years of experience in cardiovascular medicine. His expertise spans preventive and general cardiology, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, coronary intervention, and structural heart disease.
He founded Integra Heart to practice cardiology the way he believes it should be practiced — independently, thoughtfully, and entirely centered on the patient.
That philosophy shapes The Integra Way™: bringing together symptoms, medical history, diagnostic findings, lifestyle, and personal goals into a care plan patients can understand. His goal is for patients to leave each visit knowing not only what to do, but why.
Dr. Najafi is one of a small number of cardiologists nationwide to hold five board certifications: Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology, Echocardiography, and Nuclear Cardiology. He has also been named a Top Doctor by Baltimore magazine for eleven consecutive years, from 2015 through 2025.
Dr. Najafi earned his medical degree from Tehran University of Medical Sciences, graduating at the top of his class. He completed Internal Medicine residency and Cardiovascular Disease fellowship at Georgetown University Hospital/Washington Hospital Center, followed by advanced fellowship training in Interventional Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center. He also completed postdoctoral fellowship work in vascular biology at the MedStar Heart Institute.
His research in atherosclerosis, angiogenesis, and vascular biology has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals, including Circulation and Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. He received the American College of Cardiology Mid-Atlantic Chapter's Capital Young Investigator Award for his cardiovascular research.
For more than a decade, he led the Structural Heart Program at Sinai Hospital, where he helped establish advanced transcatheter therapies for patients with complex cardiovascular disease. He continues to perform cardiac procedures and interventions at Sinai Hospital and serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences.
Dr. Najafi is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions, and a member of the American Heart Association, American Society of Echocardiography, American Society of Nuclear Cardiology, and American Vein Forum.
Dr. Najafi is fluent in English and Farsi and conversational in Spanish. Outside of medicine, he enjoys spending time with his family, as well as cycling, tennis, skiing, and music.
Kristen Caperna, PA-C
Kristen Caperna, PA-C is a board-certified physician assistant with more than 20 years of healthcare experience and a diverse clinical background. She began her career in physical therapy before returning to school to earn her Master of Medical Science from Wake Forest University School of Medicine in 2009.
Throughout her career, Kristen has practiced in emergency medicine, surgery, hospital medicine, and cardiology. Working alongside Dr. Najafi, she cares for patients with a wide range of cardiovascular conditions, with a particular interest in preventive care and helping patients take an active role in their heart health.
Kristen takes a compassionate, approachable, and individualized approach to patient care. She believes in taking the time to listen to each patient, explain their condition and treatment options in plain language, and work collaboratively to develop a plan that fits their individual needs and goals.
She also recognizes the important role that lifestyle changes can play alongside traditional medical therapy and incorporates evidence-based lifestyle interventions into her approach whenever appropriate.
Kristen is passionate about building lasting relationships with the patients she cares for and helping them feel informed, empowered, and confident in their cardiovascular care.
Outside of her professional life, Kristen enjoys spending time with her family and keeping up with her two children. She values an active lifestyle and enjoys reading, swimming, strength training, and Pilates.
Luis E. Cerna, MD
Luis E. Cerna, MD is a board-certified cardiac electrophysiologist with expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of heart rhythm disorders.
A physician with LifeBridge Health, Dr. Cerna works closely with Integra Heart and sees patients at the Integra Heart office in Bel Air, providing convenient access to specialized electrophysiology care.
Dr. Cerna is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, Echocardiography, and Cardiac Electrophysiology. He earned his medical degree from Universidad Dr. José Matías Delgado and completed his Internal Medicine residency at Jacobi Medical Center, affiliated with Albert Einstein College of Medicine.
He subsequently completed his Cardiovascular Disease fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York and his Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology fellowship at George Washington University in 2025.
His clinical interests include atrial fibrillation and atrial flutter, supraventricular and ventricular arrhythmias, heart block, syncope, pacemakers, implantable defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy.
Dr. Cerna is fluent in English and Spanish. Outside of medicine, he enjoys biking, running, traveling, and spending time with family and friends.
Care, Integrated
Expertise, Centered Around You.
From prevention and comprehensive cardiovascular care to advanced diagnostics and specialized cardiovascular procedures, our team brings expertise together around each patient.