Dr. Monica B. Patel, MD
Professor of Medicine | Program Director, Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship
Board-certified cardiologist specializing in advanced cardiovascular imaging — PET, Echo, Nuclear, and Vascular. Dr. Patel integrates coronary physiology with prevention to advance patient care and training at McGovern Medical School–UTHealth Houston.
About Dr. Monica B. Patel
Dr. Monica B. Patel is a distinguished board-certified cardiologist and Professor of Medicine in the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at McGovern Medical School – UTHealth Houston. She completed both her Internal Medicine residency and Cardiology fellowship at UTHealth, where she built deep expertise in cardiovascular imaging and preventive cardiology. She holds multiple certifications, including Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, Echocardiography, and Nuclear Cardiology, demonstrating her commitment to clinical excellence.
Dr. Patel practices across leading hospitals including Memorial Hermann–TMC, LBJ Hospital, and the Weatherhead PET Center. At Weatherhead, she plays a key role in interpreting cardiac PET imaging and advancing fellow education in cardiovascular diagnostics. Her scholarly work focuses on coronary flow reserve, quantitative PET imaging, and flow capacity, connecting precise physiology with prevention strategies that guide modern cardiovascular care.
As the Program Director of the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship at UTHealth Houston, Dr. Patel leads the training of over thirty fellows annually, designing curriculum, imaging rotations, and mentorship frameworks. She has received multiple Dean’s Teaching Excellence Awards recognizing her dedication to academic medicine and excellence in teaching.
Her ongoing work integrates advanced cardiovascular imaging with patient-centered prevention, embodying the mission of McGovern Medical School to deliver research-driven, compassionate care. Dr. Patel continues to contribute to peer-reviewed publications, national cardiology conferences, and the CENTURY program focused on PET-guided prevention and outcomes frameworks.
View Dr. Monica B. Patel, latest publications for the following journals:
Clinical Focus
Cardiac PET & Coronary Physiology
Quantitative perfusion, coronary flow reserve and flow capacity analysis for ischemia risk assessment and personalized therapy guidance.
Echocardiography (Level III)
Comprehensive TTE, TEE, and stress echo interpretation with emphasis on image quality, precision, and optimized diagnostic protocols.
Nuclear Cardiology & Vascular Imaging
SPECT MPI interpretation and vascular ultrasound for advanced atherosclerosis detection and cardiovascular risk stratification.
Prevention & Risk Stratification
PET-guided therapy optimization, lifestyle integration, and preventive cardiology through the CENTURY study framework.
McGovern Medical School →Roles & Leadership
Program Director, Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship
At UTHealth Houston, Dr. Monica B. Patel serves as the Program Director for the Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship at McGovern Medical School. She leads the education and mentorship of over thirty fellows annually, designing curriculum, imaging rotations, and wellness frameworks that emphasize both clinical excellence and innovation in cardiovascular training.
Assistant Director, PET Imaging & Training, Weatherhead PET Center
Dr. Patel also serves as Assistant Director of PET Imaging & Training at the Weatherhead PET Center, working alongside Dr. K. Lance Gould, MD. She advances PET imaging protocols, trains fellows in quantitative image interpretation, and drives clinical innovation that connects physiology with preventive cardiovascular care.
Selected Publications / Scholarship
Mortality prediction by quantitative PET perfusion & physiology
Published in JACC: Cardiovascular Imaging — PET flow metrics associate with outcomes and guide management.
Regional, artery-specific thresholds of coronary flow capacity
Published in J Nucl Cardiol — CFC thresholds link to events and revascularization benefit.
Adenosine stress optimization for PET CFR
Published in J Nucl Cardiol — Protocols affecting CFR and image homogeneity.
PET/CT technology and perfusion differences
Published in Curr Cardiol Rep — Technical determinants in PET perfusion (Weatherhead group).
CENTURY program – PET-guided prevention and outcomes framework
Published under European Heart Journal — PET-guided prevention and outcomes research initiative.
Imaging Services for Referrers
Cardiac PET (Quantitative)
Indications: multivessel or unclear ischemia, microvascular disease, and discordant non-invasive test results.
Outputs: stress/rest perfusion, CFR/CFC report, risk stratification, and therapy-response assessment.
Echocardiography
TTE, TEE, and stress echo including valve assessment, cardiomyopathy evaluation, heart-failure staging, and intra-procedural guidance with Level III expertise.
Nuclear SPECT & Vascular Ultrasound
MPI interpretation and carotid or peripheral vascular ultrasound where clinically appropriate, performed within integrated cardiovascular imaging programs.
Pre-Referral Checklists
Education & Mentorship
Cardiology Fellowship Leadership
As Program Director, Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship at UTHealth Houston, Dr. Monica B. Patel leads training for approximately 35 fellows annually. She oversees curriculum design, advanced cardiovascular imaging rotations, PET and echocardiography skills development, mentorship programs, and wellness initiatives that strengthen both clinical and academic excellence.
Teaching Excellence & Mentorship
Dr. Patel has received multiple Dean’s Teaching Excellence Awards at McGovern Medical School for her leadership in medical education. She mentors trainees in cardiovascular imaging interpretation, quantitative PET physiology, and evidence-based decision-making—bridging precise imaging with preventive cardiology and long-term outcomes.
Talks & Educational Workshops
Dr. Patel delivers invited talks and workshops highlighting quantitative cardiac PET in real-world clinical decision-making, echocardiography interpretation pitfalls, and prevention frameworks that integrate coronary physiology with patient care. Upcoming educational sessions and conference presentations will be shared as scheduled.
Patient Education
Dr. Monica B. Patel provides clear, accessible educational materials designed to help patients understand cardiovascular imaging and prevention. Her concise guides and micro-videos explain the purpose, process, and importance of cardiac PET and echocardiography in diagnosis and patient care.
Contact / Referral (Non-PHI)
For clinic scheduling, referrals, or non-PHI coordination, please use the official contact details below. Patient records and protected health information are managed through secure institutional channels only.