VHL Team

Dr. Paul A. Iaizzo has been at the University of Minnesota since 1990, performing research and teaching graduate and undergraduate courses. In 1997, Dr. Iaizzo and his coworkers began working on large mammalian isolated heart models, and thus the Visible Heart® Laboratories (VHL) were created in collaboration with Medtronic. Today, these labs are a premiere place to perform translational systems physiology research which ranges from cellular and tissue studies to organ and whole body investigations. The VHL embodies a creative atmosphere which is energized by some of the best and brightest students at the University. Our lab staff has over 100 years of collective research experience and functions as a highly efficient and productive team.

Faculty

Javier Navarro Rueda, VHL Faculty

Javier Navarro Rueda, PhD
Assistant Professor, Department of Surgery
[email protected]
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Staff

John Brigham

John Brigham, MILS  
Heart Library Curator  
[email protected]
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Kara Heinle

Kara Heinle, BBA, MA 
Lab Coordinator  
612-624-3959  
[email protected]
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Abigail Theis

Abigail Theis, BA
Researcher 1
[email protected]

gary

Gary Williams, BCpE  
Applications Programmer  
612-624-3161  
[email protected]
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Extended Staff

Erik

Erik Donley

Rachel Nelson

Rachel Larson, BA, RDCS  
[email protected]

Audrey Wethington

Audrey Wethington, MS
Researcher
[email protected]
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Madeline Wethington

Madeline Wethington, MS
Researcher
[email protected]
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Adjunct Professors, Postdoctoral Fellows

Michael Eggen

Michael Eggen, PhD 
Sr. Research Manager- Cardiac Implantables Research and Technology, Medtronic

Alexander Hill

Alexander Hill, PhD 
Sr Product Development Program Director at Medtronic

Timothy Laske

Timothy Laske, PhD
Vice President of Research and Business Development - Medtronic AF Solutions

Nicholas Skadsberg

Nicholas Skadsberg, PhD
Sr. Commercial Marketing Director - Brady at Medtronic

Postdoctoral Fellows

Kevin Muneton

Kevin Muneton, MD
[email protected]
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Emma Schaffer

Emma Schaffer, MD
[email protected]
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Doctoral Students

Gino Dimatteo

Gino DiMatteo
Biomedical Engineering
612-624-8742
[email protected]
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Kayla Molina

Kayla Molina
Biomedical Engineering
612-624-8742
[email protected]
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Ryan Nadybal

Ryan Nadybal 
Biomedical Engineering 
612-624-8742
[email protected]
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James Villar-Mead

James Villar-Mead
Biomedical Engineering
612-624-8742
[email protected]
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Master Students

Cece Anders

Cece Anders
Biomedical Engineering
[email protected]
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Harikrishna Krishnadas

Harikrishna Krishnadas
Mechanical Engineering
[email protected] 
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Tori Schrimpf

Tori Schrimpf
Biomedical Engineering
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Anders Torp

Anders Torp
Mechanical Engineering
[email protected]
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Medical Students, Visiting PhD Students, Volunteers

Nevin Gupta

Nevin Gupta
Medical Student
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Asif Abul Hassan

Asif Abul Hassan
Medical Student
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Subhan Amir

Subhan Amir
[email protected]

Mirza Baig

Mirza Baig
Technology Infrastructure
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Amelia Carrizales

Amelia Carrizales
Biology
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Jordan Erickson

Jordan Erickson
Human Physiology
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Taylor Isabel

Taylor Isabel
Biomedical Engineering
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Shivangi Pandey

Shivangi Pandey, B.E.
Mechanical Engineering
[email protected]
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Luke Ruegemer

Luke Ruegemer, B.S.
Biochemistry
[email protected]

Taylor Schultz

Taylor Schultz, B.S.
Health and Wellbeing Sciences

Paul Iaizzo

Paul A. Iaizzo, PhD, FHRS, FIEEE

Director, VHL
Professor, Dept. of Surgery

612-624-7912