Georgia Heart Institute welcomes four new cardiologists joining the Non-Invasive and Interventional Cardiology teams. In April 2024, Drs. Penmetsa, Toleva, Rinfret, and George began practicing in the north Georgia communities bringing with them several decades of renowned expertise.

Ram G. Penmetsa, MD | Non-Invasive Cardiology

Before joining Georgia Heart Institute, Dr. Penmetsa spent over 20 years caring for patients all over the Southeast including South Carolina, Louisiana, and South Georgia. His philosophy on patient care is treating patients like friends and providing education on their diagnoses and treatment options so that patients can make better, informed decisions about their care.

Dr. Penmetsa received his medical degree from Maulana Azad Medical College and Master of Surgery from Vardhaman Mahavir Medical College both located in New Delhi, India. He completed a residency in General Surgery at the University of Illinois Metropolitan Hospitals in Chicago as well as an internal medicine residency at Indiana University Medical Center in Indianapolis. His cardiovascular disease fellowship was completed in 1999 at Krannert Institute of Cardiology also located in Indianapolis. Dr. Penmetsa is board-certified in cardiovascular disease.

Olga Toleva, MD | Interventional Cardiology

Having practiced medicine for more than 20 years, Dr. Toleva also is renowned for her extensive experience in teaching, research, and community outreach. She is an Associate Professor at the Emory University School of Medicine and practiced as an interventional cardiologist at Emory St. Joseph's Hospital and at the Emory University Women's Heart Health Clinic. She previously was an assistant professor of cardiology at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada, and an interventional cardiologist at St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg.

Dr. Toleva received her medical degree from the Medical Academy in Sofia, Bulgaria and a Master of Public Health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts. She then completed a family medicine residency at St. Paul’s Hospital and an internal medicine residency both at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. She completed a cardiology residency and interventional cardiology fellowship at the University of Alberta. Dr. Toleva joins Georgia Heart Institute as lead interventionalist for coronary physiology. Dr. Toleva is board-certified in internal medicine and cardiology.

Stéphane Rinfret, MD | Interventional Cardiology

Before joining Georgia Heart Institute, Dr. Rinfret spent over 20 years serving in both professional and academic roles as an associate professor of clinical medicine and various director positions for chronic total occlusion (CTO) programs in Canada and Atlanta.

Dr. Rinfret received his medical degree from the Université de Montréal in Québec, Canada, and Science Master (S.M) in Clinical Epidemiology at the Harvard School of Public Health in Boston, Massachusetts. He completed both surgery and internal medicine residencies before moving on to the cardiovascular disease fellowship program at the Université de Montréal. Dr. Rinfret has an extensive background in interventional cardiology research and peer-reviewed activities as well as active membership and participation in multiple national and international committees. Dr. Rinfret joins Georgia Heart Institute as the director of the complex coronary intervention program. Dr. Rinfret is board-certified in cardiovascular disease.

Zachary George, MD | Interventional Cardiology

Dr. George is highly experienced in coronary and peripheral angiography and interventions, and he has been a pioneer in adopting new technologies. During his years practicing in South Carolina, he was the first physician in the state to use the Impella heart pump and the Diamondback system, and he has been a primary investigator for a host of other devices and procedures.

Dr. George received his medical degree from the Indiana School of Medicine in Indianapolis, Indiana. He then completed his internal medicine residency and cardiovascular disease fellowship as well as an interventional cardiology fellowship at the Krannert Institute of Cardiology in Indianapolis, Indiana. He has served as an attending interventional cardiologist at Prisma Health Greenville Memorial Hospital in South Carolina and Revere Health St. George Hospital in Utah, and he holds a position as assistant professor of clinical medicine at the University of South Carolina. Dr. George is board-certified in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology.