Vascular & Endovascular

Sara is a clinical research coordinator II at the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, where she serves as the lead coordinator for a broad portfolio of industry-sponsored and investigator-led vascular and endovascular clinical trials. Her work focuses on evaluating the safety, effectiveness and long-term outcomes of postmarket and investigational device exemption (IDE) medical devices used in endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysms. She also leads clinical trials involving novel carotid revascularization stent systems used in transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR) procedures.

Before joining the foundation, Sara coordinated high-volume national clinical trials in electrophysiology and preventive cardiology at M Health Fairview. She led trials investigating PCSK9 inhibitor therapies to lower LDL-C in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Sara holds a Bachelor of Science in neuroscience from the University of Minnesota and brings more than five years of clinical research experience, along with a strong commitment to improving patient care and advancing cardiovascular medicine.

James A. Davis, MD, is a vascular and endovascular surgeon at Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute in St. Paul. He completed medical school and general surgery residency at Baylor College of Medicine before pursuing a vascular surgery fellowship at Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education. His honors include being named a Mpls.St.Paul Magazine Top Doctors: Rising Stars recipient in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

Dr. Jeffrey Jim is a vascular and endovascular surgeon at Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute, where he serves in a vascular surgery leadership role and cares for patients with complex arterial and venous disease across Minnesota. He specializes in the evaluation and treatment of conditions such as peripheral artery disease, carotid artery disease, aneurysms, venous insufficiency and other disorders affecting the arteries and veins, offering both medical and minimally invasive procedural options.

He sees patients in Minneapolis and the lakes area through Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute locations in Baxter and Crosby. He performs surgeries and procedures at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, United Hospital in St. Paul and the Allina Health Heart & Vascular Surgery Center.

Joseph Karam, MD, is a vascular and endovascular surgeon at Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute. He grew up in Lebanon and attended the American University of Beirut School of Medicine before moving to the United States with his wife to pursue medical training.

Dr. Karam completed his general surgery residency at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit and his vascular surgery fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. His professional interests in vascular surgery include cerebrovascular disease, aneurysms and dissections, peripheral arterial disease, hemodialysis access, venous disease and thoracic outlet syndrome.

Dr. Mohammad Khasawneh is a vascular surgeon based in St. Paul, Minnesota, with extensive training and experience in both open and endovascular surgery, particularly in the treatment of chronic nonhealing wounds, carotid disease and complex aortic disease. He completed his medical education at Jordan University of Science and Technology and later trained at Mayo Clinic, where he served as a clinical fellow.

His research has been published in multiple journals, focusing on aortic repair and stenting techniques, and several of his studies have been cited in the medical literature.

Dr. John Manunga completed his medical degree at UCLA in 2006, followed by a general surgery residency at Kern Medical Center and a vascular and endovascular surgery fellowship at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. He joined the Minneapolis Heart Institute at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in 2013, where he has served as a vascular and endovascular surgeon for more than a decade.

His clinical practice covers all aspects of vascular surgery, with a special interest in complex aortic aneurysms and dissections. Dr. Manunga founded the institute’s Complex Endovascular Aortic Program in 2013 and serves as principal investigator for multiple clinical trials. In 2022, he received FDA approval for an investigational device exemption to treat complex aortic aneurysms, a distinction held by only a small number of surgeons nationwide.

A prolific researcher, Dr. Manunga has authored book chapters and more than 70 peer-reviewed papers and has delivered dozens of invited national and international presentations. He serves on the editorial boards of several surgical journals and is an active member of leading professional societies, including the American Surgical Association, the American College of Surgeons and the Society for Vascular Surgery. Board certified in both general and vascular surgery, he has been named a “Top Doctor” by Mpls.St.Paul Magazine in 2016, 2017, 2022 and 2023.

Dr. Rangan joined the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation in October 2018 as program director for the Center for Coronary Artery Disease. In this role, she focuses on expanding and enabling the vision of the CCAD Science Center by developing MHIF’s investigator-initiated research portfolio and funding, and mentoring CCAD international scholars. She also serves as global director for the PROGRESS-CTO global multicenter registry on chronic total occlusions, a major initiative involving more than 50 participating centers and more than 7,000 CTO PCI procedures. As program director, Dr. Rangan also serves on the MHIF Blueprint leadership group dedicated to advancing MHIF’s growth and strategies.

Originally from Bangalore, India, Dr. Rangan received her dental degree from the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, VS Dental College and Hospital. Drawn to a career in clinical research, she completed a Master of Public Health in clinical research at the University of North Texas Health Science Center School of Public Health. She subsequently built a strong background in clinical research in dentistry, rheumatology and cardiology, primarily within the VA North Texas Health Care System and the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School.

She began working with Dr. Emmanouil Brilakis in 2007 at UT Southwestern and the VA North Texas Health Care System in progressive roles, including director of research operations and faculty associate, and went on to serve as principal investigator on the LAVA registry and national coordinator on several trials, including the VA CSP #571 Drug-Eluting Stents in Saphenous Vein Graft Angioplasty (DIVA) trial, the CrossBoss FIRST trial and the ASAP-SVG trial, among other projects funded by the VA, NIH, industry and philanthropy. Dr. Rangan’s research expertise includes saphenous vein graft disease, chronic total occlusions, intravascular imaging and investigational drug and device trials.

Dr. Rangan has also served as a board member and reviewer on the VA North Texas Health Care System Institutional Review Board from 2012 to 2018 and received the VA’s Outstanding Cardiology Research Achievement Award in 2013. She is well published and is recognized as a leader in research administration and implementation.

Elliot Stephenson, MD, is a vascular and endovascular surgeon at Allina Health Minneapolis Heart Institute. He grew up in Minneapolis and attended the University of Minnesota Medical School. He completed his general surgery residency and vascular surgery fellowship at Oregon Health & Science University in Portland.

He is a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and the Society for Vascular Surgery. His professional interests include cerebrovascular disease, aneurysms and dissections, peripheral arterial disease, hemodialysis access and venous disease.

Coco serves as a clinical research manager on the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation’s Center for Coronary Artery Disease team, bringing more than 10 years of clinical research experience, most recently in the oncology space. She has a strong track record in clinical operations and a creative spirit, paired with a passion for leadership that informs her approach to work. Her expertise in regulatory compliance, budgeting, quality assurance and team mentorship are significant assets as the team continues making a difference together.

Coco is highly skilled at building strong partnerships, driving collaboration and supporting and inspiring those around her. She studied public health and biology and received her bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Minnesota.