Dana Weisshaar, MD, FACC

Cardiologist | Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology

710 Lawrence Expy 342 Santa Clara CA, 95051 Show map

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About

Dr. Dana Weisshaar is a heart failure and transplant cardiologist who recently retired from The Permanente Medical Group after over two decades of practice within Kaiser Permanente Northern California. Dr. Weisshaar specializes in the care of patients with heart failure, cardiomyopathy and amyloid heart disease as well as those who have received a heart transplant.

In additon to being a dedicated clinician, Dr. Weisshaar is a passionate educator. She teaches physcians, nurses, allied health professionals, patients and students.

Education and Training

The Ohio State University BS 1985

The University of Toledo College of Medicine 1989

Board Certification

American Board of Internal Medicine

Cardiovascular Disease (Internal Medicine)

Provider Details

FemaleEnglish

Dana Weisshaar, MD, FACC

Dana Weisshaar, MD, FACC's Expert Contributions

My Answers

How can high cholesterol affect my heart health?
Elevated cholesterol, particularly elevated LDL cholesterol, can lead to atherosclerosis (plaque deposition in the arteries) which can lead to heart attack, stroke or claudication depending on which arteries are most affected. Controlling your cholesterol, along with aerobic exercise, blood sugar control, blood pressure control, avoiding nicotine products and maintaining a healthy weight are all part of a heart healthy lifestyle to reduce those risks. READ MORE
Are there any specific lifestyle changes I should be aware of to ensure the success of my heart stent?
A heart healthy lifestyle includes a primarily plant-based whole food diet, regular exercise (at least 150 minutes/week), maintaining a healthy weight, getting plenty of sleep, and abstinence from tobacco and recreational drugs. READ MORE
How long do the effects of a heart stent last?
A stent in the coronary artery (which supplies blood to part of the heart muscle) can last a lifetime. There is a 2-3% chance of re-narrowing (called restenosis) within the first 6-9 months. And there is a risk of thrombosis (clotting) which is why your cardiologist will recommend you take two antiplatelet medications for 6-12 months after your stent is placed. In order to reduce the risk of restenosis or worsening of plaque in the remainder of the arteries to the heart, your cardiologist will also recommend several things: 1. lowering your LDL cholesterol to <70, 2. good blood pressure and blood sugar control, 3. exercise, 4. maintaining a healthy weight and 5. abstinence from tobacco. READ MORE
Is it normal to hear your heartbeat when exercising?
Its not unusual to hear your heart beat when you have something covering your ear. The carotid artery runs near the ear canal, so it makes sense that you can hear the heartbeat when the EarPods are in READ MORE
Sore throat
Yes READ MORE
chest pain
In light of the stuffy nose, you most likely have a respiratory infection which is causing your chest tightness when you breathe. Please test for COVID. Most viral infections resolve over 7-10 days. If your symptoms worsen or you become short of breath, see your local physician. READ MORE
Is this an emergency
Blood pressure that high needs to be treated. It may be a side effect of the vyvanse. Talk to your doctor about stopping or changing meds and monitoring your blood pressure READ MORE
Heart rate
A resting heart rate of 53bpm indicates good cardiovascular health. Getting your heart rate up to 155bpm during exercise is perfectly normal. READ MORE
Resting Heart rate below 60
A resting heart rate less than 60 is perfectly normal and a sign of your cardiovascular fitness. Continue your excellent exercise regimen. READ MORE
Restarting interrupted high blood pressure medications
A week should be sufficiently long for the medications to take maximal effect. READ MORE
Heart rate
A resting heart rate in the 50s is perfectly normal for someone taking metoprolol. No reason to worry. READ MORE
Myxomatous Mitral Valve
Thanks for asking. I agree with your doctor. Your symptoms are likely not related to your myxomatous valve which has only trace regurgitation. It will be appropriate for you to get a follow-up echocardiogram every 3-5 years. As you get older the mitral valve may degenerate and require intervention. Good blood pressure control may help slow the progression. Be well. READ MORE
Cardiac arrest and brain function
I am so sorry to hear about your girlfriend's cardiac arrest. That must have been extremely traumatic for you. By providing chest compressions during those precious minutes before EMS arrived you have given her brain the best chance of recovery. Unfortunately, only time will tell how much brain recovery. 48 hours is still early. Hang in there. I'm praying for her recovery. READ MORE
Is sex safe for me if I have heart failure and heart palpitations
Yes. Absolutely. Sex is safe for patients with heart failure and palpitations. In fact, you can think of it as a form of exercise. Cardiovascular exercise (in which your heart rate goes up) is great for general heart health as well as for anxiety. READ MORE
How long will I have to follow diet restrictions after heart stent surgery?
After receiving a stent for coronary artery disease, it is advisable to modify your diet life-long. Doing so can reduce your risk of heart attack, stroke and need for additional stent procedures. A plant based whole food (not processed) diet is the healthiest choice. Not everyone can stick to a strict plant-based (Vegan) diet for life. So, I recommend trying to increase daily intake of vegetables, reduce animal products (specifically limiting beef & pork to 1-2 servings per month) and minimize eating fried foods. Be well. READ MORE

Expert Publications

Data provided by the National Library of Medicine

Association between the chance locus of control belief with self-reported occasional nonadherence after heart transplantation: a pilot study.

Clinical Trials

Confirmation Trial of the Acorn CorCap Cardiac Support Device (CSD) at the Same Time as Mitral Valve Repair

Areas of expertise and specialization

Heart FailureAmyloid Heart DiseaseCardiomyopathyHeart Transplant

Faculty Titles & Positions

Professor KP Santa Clara, Institute of Medical Educators 2022 - Present
Associate Professor, affiliate Stanford Medical Center 2017 - Present
NCAL Hub Medicai Director KP National Transplant Services 2017 - 2023
Chief, Heat Failure/Transplant Department KP Santa Clara 2007 - 2017

Awards

Hicks Williams Community Service Award 2015 Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara
Three Best Rated Cardiologists in Santa Clara CA 2021 Top Docs
Top Cardiologist in Santa Clara, CA 2023 Best In California Magazine

Treatments

Heart Disease
Heart Failure
Cardiomyopathy

Professional Memberships

International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation
American Heart Association
American College of Cardiology

Internships

University of Toledo School of Medicine, Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Internship

Fellowships

California Pacific Medical Center, Cardiology FellowshipCalifornia Pacific Medical Center, Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology Fellowship

Professional Society Memberships

American Heart AssociationAmerican College of CardiologyInternational Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation

Professional Affiliations

The Permanente Medical GroupKaiser PermanenteStanford Medical Center

Articles and Publications

Kurian KC, Weisshaar D, Parekh H, Berry GJ, Reitz B. Primary cardiac angiosarcoma: case report and review of the literature. Cardiovasc Pathol. 2006 Mar-Apr; 15(2):110-2. Review.Kuppahally S, Al-Khaldi A, Weisshaar D, Valantine HA, Oyer P, Robbins RC, Hunt SA. Wound healing complications with de novo sirolimus versus mycophenolate mofetil-based regimen in cardiac transplant recipients. Am J Transplant 2006 May; 6(5 Pt 1):986-92.Weisshaar D, Heiges E. Anxiety and Quality of Life in CHF Patients and Their Caregivers. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2006 February; Vol. 25, Issue 2, S117-S118.Potena L, Holweg CT, Chin C, Luikart H, Weisshaar D, Narasimhan B, Fearon WF, Lewis DB, Cooke JP, Mocarski ES, Valantine HA. Acute rejection and cardiac allograft vascular disease is reduced by suppression of subclinical cytomegalovirus infection. Transplantation. 2006 Aug 15; 82(3):398-405.Kuppahally SS, Valantine HA, Weisshaar D, Parekh H, et al. Outcome in cardiac recipients of donor hearts with increased left ventricular wall thickness. Am J Transplant. 2007 Oct; 7(10):2388-95.Potena L, Fearon WF, Sydow K, Holweg C, Luikart H, Chin C, Weisshaar D, et al. Asymmetric dimethylarginine and cardiac allograft vasculopathy progression: modulation by sirolimus. Transplantation. 2008 Mar 27; 85(6):827-33.Yancy DW, Krum H, Massie BM, Silver MA, Stevenson LW, Cheng M, Kim SS, Evans R and FUSION II Investigators (...Weisshaar D...). Safety and efficacy of outpatient nesiritide in patients with advanced heart failure: results of the second follow-up serial infusions of nesiritide (FUSION II) trial. Circ Heart Failure. 2008 May; 1(1): 6-8.Haddad F, Fisher P, Pham M, Berry G, Weisshaar D, Kuppahally S, Vrtovec B, Deuse T, Virani S, Fearon W, Valantine H, Hunt S. Right ventricular dysfunction predicts poor outcome following hemodynamically compromising rejection. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2009 Apr; 28(4): 312-9.Metra M, Eichhorn E, Abraham WT, Linseman J, Bohm M, Corbalan R, DeMets D, De Marco T, Elkayam U, Gerber M, Komaida M, Liu P, Mareev V, Perrone SV, Poole-Wilson P, Roecker E, Stewart J, Swedberg K, Tendera M, Wiens B, Bristow MR; ESSENTIAL Investigators (...Weisshaar D...). Effects of low-dose oral enoximone administration on mortality, morbidity, and exercise capacity in patients with advanced heart failure: the randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel group ESSENTIAL trials. Eur Heart J. 2009 Dec: 30(24): 3015-26.Hofman JC, Farajifar S, Weisshaar DM, Kiprov DD. Longitudinal Analysis of Immunotherapy for Antibody Mediated Cardiac Transplant Rejection: Utility of Serial Donor Specific Antibody Measurement. Transfusion and Apheresis Science. 2012 Sept; 47(1): S6-S7Haddad F, Khazanie P, Deuse T, Weisshaar D, Zhou J, Nam CW, Vu TA, Gomari FA, Skhiri M, Simos A, Schnittger I, Vrotvec B, Hunt SA, Fearon WF. Clinical and functional correlates of early microvascular dysfunction after heart transplantation. Circ Heart Failure. 2012 Nov; 5(6): 759-68.De Vlamick I, Valantine H, Snyder T, Strehl C, Cohen G, Luikart H, Neff N, Okamoto J, Bernstein D, Weisshaar D, Quake S, Khush K. Circulating Cell-Free DNA Enables Non-Invasive Diagnosis of Heart Transplant Rejection. Genomics. 2014 June:6(241)Epstein FR, Kale PP, Weisshaar DM. Association between the chance locus of control belief with self-reported occasional non-adherence after heart transplantation: a pilot study. Transplantation. 2014 Jul 15; 98(I):e4.Asgari MM, Arron ST, Warton EM, Quesenberry CP Jr, Weisshaar D. Sirolimus use and risk of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs). J Am Acad Dermatol. 2015 Sep; 73(3):444-50.Aymami M, Haddad F, Wheeler M, Amsallem M, Adams J, Marques M, Zeigler S, Verhoye J-P, Weisshaar D, Sallam K, Woo YJ, Ha R, Banerjee D. External validation of right heart failure risk scores following left ventricular assist device implantation and evaluation of the role of emerging echocardiographic indices. JACC,. Heart Failure. 2016 July.Epstein F, Parker MM, Lucero A, Chaudhary R, Song E, Weisshaar D. Association of depression and anxiety before heart transplant with mortality after transplant: a single-center experience. Transplant Research and Risk Management. 2017 March; 9:31-38.Weisshaar D, Lin D, Tucker L, Trammell. Risk Factors Associated with Mortality in Broad HF Population. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2017 April; Vol. 36, Issue 4, S210-S211Ayami M, Amsallem M, Adams J, Sallam K, Wheeler M, Heisinger W, Teuteberg J, Weisshaar D, Verhoye JP, Woo J, Ha R, Haddad F, Banerjee D. The Incremental Value of Right Ventricular Size and Strain in the Risk Assessment of Right Heart Failure Post-Left Ventricular Assist Device Implantation. Journal of Cardiac Failure. 2018 Dec;24(12):823-832.Czobor P, Hung YY, Baer D, McGlothlin D, Weisshaar D, Zaroff J. Amyloid cardiomyopathy in a large integrated health care system. Am Heart J. 2019 Oct;216:42-52.Barrett C, Alexander K, Zhao H, Haddad F, Cheng P, Liao R, Wheeler M, Liedtke M, Schrier S, Arai S, Weisshaar D, Witteles R. Outcomes in Patients with Cardiac Amyloidosis Undergoing Heart Transplantation. JACC Heart Failure. 2020 Jun; 8(6)461-468.Heldman M, et al. (...Weisshaar D...). Covid-19 in hospitalized lung and non-lung solid organ transplant recipients: a comparative analysis from a multicenter study. American Journal of Transplantation. 2021 Aug;21(8):2774-2784.Heldman M, et al. (...Weisshaar D...). (UW COVID-19 SOT Study Team). Changing Trends in Mortality Among Solid Organ Transplant Recipients Hospitalized for COIVD-19 During the Course of the Pandemic. Am J Transplant. 2022 Jan;22(1):279-288.

What do you attribute your success to?

Teamwork. I have been blessed to work with outstanding colleagues and support personnel throughout my career.The 'secret sauce' to outstanding patient care is to meet patients where they are and guide them with love and compassion through their journey.

Areas of research

Heart FailureCardiomyopathyAmyloid Heart DiseaseHeart Transplant Rejection

Awards

MCO Dean's Award for Teaching ExcellenceMCO Internal Medicine Faculty Teaching AwardStrathmore's Who's Who3x Kaiser Permanente All-Star Award (for 100% patient satisfaction over 12 months)Continental Who's WhoContinental Who's Who of National Business Leaders, VIP MemberHicks Williams Community Service AwardThree Best Rated Cardiologists in Santa Clara, CABest in California Magazine, Top Cardiologist in Santa Clara, CA

Philanthropic Initiatives

Relief International/Philippine Disaster Response Team (following Typhoon Haiyan)

Teaching and speaking

Use of Beta Blockers in Heart Failure. 4th Annual Congreso de Cardiologia at Dia in Bucaramanga, ColombiaBuilding an Integrated Advanced Heart Failure/Transplant Program. 1st Annual KP Natl Transplant SymposiumHeart Failure Surgical Therapies and Mechanical Support. KPNC Regional Cardiology WebinarThoracic Multi-organ Transplants. 2nd Annual KP National Transplant SymposiumImproving Outpatient HF Management. KPNC Regional Cardiology WebinarImproving Inpatient HF Management. KPNC Regional Cardiology WebinarKnow Diabetes By Heart. National AHA WebinarHeart Transplant Allocation System. KP Santa ClaraCardiac Amyloidosis. KPNC Regional Cardiology WebinarImposter Syndrome. Silicon Valley Women's Leadership SummitOutpatient Target: Type 2 Diabetes Program Webinar. National AHA WebinarPRA and Donor Specific Antibodies. Stanford AHF/Tx Fellowship Bootcamp

Areas of research

Heart Failure

Amyloid Heart Disease

Heart Transplant for Amyloid Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy

Heart Transplant Rejection

Skin Cancer in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients

COVID Infection among Heart and Lung Transplant Recipients

Dana Weisshaar, MD, FACC's Practice location

Retired in 2023 from Kaiser Permanente

112 Peach Willow Ct -
Los Gatos, CA 95032

Get Direction

New patients: 408-318-1666

Mon:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Tue:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Wed:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Thu:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Fri:09:00 AM - 05:00 PM
Sat:Closed
Sun:Closed

Dana Weisshaar, MD

710 Lawrence Expy 342 -
Santa Clara, CA 95051

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New patients: 408-851-3870

Fax: 408-851-3872

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Media Releases

Get to know Cardiologist Dr. Dana Weisshaar, who served patients in California.

Dr. Weisshaar is an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiologist. She is retired from Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center, where she had been serving as Chief/Medical Director of KPNC Heart Transplant Service for over two decades.

Her areas of expertise include cardiac amyloidosis, cardiomyopathy, heart failure, heart transplant and restrictive cardiomyopathy.

A passionate educator, Dr. Weisshaar teaches physicians, nurses, allied health professionals, patients and students. She is a Professor in the KP Institute of Medical Educators and a Clinical Associate Professor within the Department of Medicine / Cardiovascular Medicine at Stanford Medicine.

Graduating with her Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology from The Ohio State University in 1985, Dr. Weisshaar went on to earn her Medical Degree from the Medical College of Ohio in 1989.

Furthering her training, she completed her residency in internal medicine at the University of Toledo in 1992, followed by fellowships in cardiovascular disease and advanced heart failure/transplant at California Pacific Medical Center in 1996 & 1997.

Board certified in cardiovascular disease and advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology, Dr. Weisshaar is a Diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM). The ABIM is a physician-led, non-profit, independent evaluation organization driven by doctors who want to achieve higher standards for better care in a rapidly changing world.

Dedicated to excellence in heart health, she is an active member of the American College of Cardiology, the American Heart Association, and the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation.

Cardiology is a branch of medicine that deals with the disorders of the heart, as well as the circulatory system. The field includes medical diagnosis and treatment of congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease, heart failure, valvular heart disease, and electrophysiology. Cardiologists are doctors who diagnose, assess, and treat patients with diseases and defects of the heart and blood vessels (the cardiovascular system).

Attributing her success to teamwork, Dr. Weisshaar feels she has been blessed to work with outstanding colleagues and support personnel throughout her career. “The ‘secret sauce’ to outstanding patient care is to meet patients where they are and guide them with love and compassion through their journey.”

Among her various accolades include Hicks Williams Community Service Award – 2015 Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara; Three Best Rated Cardiologists in Santa Clara, California – 2021 Top Docs; and Top Cardiologist in Santa Clara, California – 2023 Best In California Magazine.