Woodlands North Houston Heart Center · Advanced Heart Failure

Dr. Jessica L. Brown

Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiology

Professional Statement

Dr. Jessica Brown grew up in Florida, and graduated from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, with a degree in Molecular & Cellular Biology. She moved to Texas for medical training and graduated from the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio School of Medicine. She then completed an Internal Medicine Residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, followed by a General Cardiology Fellowship at the Texas Heart Institute — where she received several research awards and was named Most Outstanding Cardiology Fellow and Chief Cardiology Fellow.

Dr. Brown completed an additional fellowship in Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiology at Houston Methodist. She joined The Woodlands North Houston Heart Center in August 2016 and is board-certified in Cardiovascular Disease, Echocardiography, Nuclear Cardiology, and Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiology. She has special interests in valvular heart disease, heart failure, and care of the athletic heart. Dr. Brown is also a recognized Texas Rising Stars honoree.

Professional Interests

General heart failure/cardiomyopathy diagnosis and management

Valvular heart disease

LVAD and heart transplant cardiology

Transesophageal Echocardiography

Care of the athletic heart

Woodlands North Houston Heart Center

Clinical Services

Vein
Treatment

Comprehensive evaluation and minimally invasive treatment of venous disease — from cosmetic spider veins to medically significant varicose veins and chronic venous insufficiency — performed by board-certified cardiologists with specialized expertise in vascular medicine.

Min.

Invasive Techniques

Convenient Locations

Fast

Recovery & Return to Activity

What We Treat

Conditions We Treat

Our vein specialists evaluate and treat the full spectrum of venous disorders — from mild cosmetic concerns to debilitating chronic conditions that significantly impact quality of life and limb health.

Varicose Veins

Enlarged, twisted, rope-like veins visible beneath the skin — most commonly occurring in the legs — caused by faulty valves that allow blood to pool rather than flow efficiently back toward the heart. Varicose veins can cause aching, heaviness, swelling, and skin changes, and carry a risk of progression to chronic venous insufficiency if left untreated.

Spider Veins

Small, superficial clusters of dilated capillaries that appear as red, blue, or purple web-like patterns on the skin surface. While primarily a cosmetic concern, spider veins can sometimes cause localized burning or itching. They respond extremely well to sclerotherapy, typically requiring only a few brief treatment sessions.

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)

A progressive condition in which damaged or incompetent venous valves fail to return blood efficiently from the legs to the heart. CVI causes chronic leg swelling, pain, skin discoloration, and — in advanced cases — venous ulceration. Early treatment of the underlying venous reflux is essential to halt disease progression and promote wound healing.

Venous Leg Ulcers

Open wounds on the lower leg or ankle caused by chronically elevated venous pressure and impaired tissue oxygenation — the most severe manifestation of untreated chronic venous insufficiency. Venous ulcers account for the majority of chronic lower limb wounds and require combined wound care and correction of underlying venous reflux for effective healing.

Superficial Venous Thrombophlebitis

Inflammation and clot formation within a superficial vein — typically a varicose vein — causing localized pain, redness, warmth, and a palpable cord. While usually not dangerous, superficial thrombophlebitis can occasionally extend into the deep venous system, underscoring the importance of timely evaluation and treatment of underlying varicose disease.

Reticular Veins & Leg Heaviness

Reticular veins are medium-sized, blue-green veins visible just beneath the skin that feed spider vein clusters and contribute to feelings of leg heaviness, fatigue, and restlessness — particularly after prolonged standing. Targeted treatment of the feeder veins reduces symptom burden and prevents recurrence of treated spider veins.

Our Expertise

Treatments & Procedures

Our cardiologists offer the full spectrum of modern, minimally invasive vein treatments — tailored to the size, location, and severity of each patient's venous disease — with minimal discomfort and rapid return to normal activity.

Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA)

The gold standard treatment for great and small saphenous vein reflux. A thin laser fiber is advanced into the diseased vein under ultrasound guidance; laser energy is then delivered along the vein's length as the fiber is withdrawn, causing the vein wall to contract and permanently close. The procedure is performed under local anesthesia, takes under an hour, and allows immediate walking and return to normal activity.

Laser AblationUltrasound-GuidedGSV / SSV Reflux

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

An alternative to laser ablation that uses radiofrequency energy to heat and collapse the diseased saphenous vein from within. Delivered via a specially designed catheter under ultrasound guidance, RFA offers equivalent long-term efficacy to laser ablation with a well-established safety profile, and is performed as a comfortable in-office procedure under tumescent local anesthesia.

Radiofrequency EnergyClosureFastTumescent Anesthesia

Ultrasound-Guided Foam Sclerotherapy

A sclerosant solution is mixed with air or CO₂ to create a foam that is injected directly into varicose veins under real-time ultrasound visualization. The foam displaces blood within the vein and irritates the vessel wall, causing it to scar and close. Particularly effective for treating residual or recurrent varicose veins, large tributaries, and veins that are not suitable for thermal ablation.

Foam SclerotherapyUltrasound-GuidedVaricose Tributaries

Visual Sclerotherapy for Spider Veins

A sclerosant agent — most commonly polidocanol or sodium tetradecyl sulfate — is injected directly into spider veins and small reticular veins using a very fine needle. The chemical damages the inner lining of the vessel, causing it to close and gradually fade over several weeks. Most patients require two to four treatment sessions for optimal cosmetic results.

PolidocanolSpider VeinsCosmetic Treatment

VenaSeal™ Cyanoacrylate Closure

A non-thermal, non-tumescent technique in which a medical-grade adhesive (cyanoacrylate glue) is delivered into the diseased saphenous vein via catheter, sealing it shut without the need for tumescent anesthesia injections or compression stockings post-procedure. VenaSeal is particularly well-suited for patients with needle sensitivity or those who wish to avoid post-procedure compression requirements.

VenaSealNon-ThermalNo Tumescent Needed

Ambulatory Phlebectomy (Microphlebectomy)

A minimally invasive in-office surgical technique in which bulging surface varicosities are removed through a series of tiny punctures — so small they require no sutures. Performed under local anesthesia, ambulatory phlebectomy is highly effective for large, superficial varicose tributary veins that are too tortuous or close to the skin surface for thermal ablation, with excellent cosmetic outcomes.

MicrophlebectomyNo SuturesBulging Tributaries

Duplex Ultrasound Venous Mapping

A comprehensive non-invasive study combining B-mode ultrasound with Doppler flow analysis to map the entire superficial and deep venous system of the leg. Venous mapping identifies the precise location and extent of venous reflux, assesses deep venous patency, and guides treatment planning — ensuring the most effective and targeted approach for each individual patient's anatomy.

Duplex UltrasoundVenous Reflux MappingTreatment Planning

Get Started

Ready to Feel Better?

Our vein specialists are ready to evaluate your venous disease and recommend the most effective, minimally invasive treatment approach — helping you find relief from symptoms and restore confidence in your legs.

Woodlands North Houston Heart Center

Clinical Services

Advanced Heart Failure &
Pulmonary Hypertension

Specialized, multidisciplinary management of heart failure, cardiomyopathies, and advanced cardiac disease — combining guideline-directed medical therapy, cutting-edge device treatment, and compassionate long-term support to help patients live fuller, healthier lives.

Board

Certified HF Specialists

Convenient Locations

Multi

Disciplinary Team Approach

What We Treat

Conditions We Manage

Our advanced heart failure specialists manage the full spectrum of myocardial and cardiac pump dysfunction — from newly diagnosed heart failure to complex, refractory disease requiring advanced therapies.

Heart Failure with Reduced EF (HFrEF)

The most recognized form of heart failure, in which the left ventricle loses its ability to contract effectively — ejection fraction falls below 40%, reducing cardiac output. HFrEF is treated with evidence-based quadruple therapy, device therapy, and close monitoring to slow progression and reduce hospitalizations.

Heart Failure with Preserved EF (HFpEF)

A form of heart failure in which the ejection fraction remains normal but the ventricle becomes stiff and cannot relax properly, impairing filling. HFpEF is strongly associated with hypertension, obesity, and diabetes, and accounts for roughly half of all heart failure cases. Management targets underlying risk factors alongside symptomatic relief.

Dilated Cardiomyopathy

An enlargement and weakening of the left ventricle — the most common cardiomyopathy — that reduces pumping capacity and leads to heart failure. Causes include genetic mutations, viral myocarditis, alcohol, and chemotherapy. Early diagnosis enables disease-modifying therapy that can partially or fully reverse the condition in some patients.

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

A genetic condition in which the heart muscle abnormally thickens, particularly in the septum, potentially obstructing blood flow and increasing the risk of sudden cardiac death. Our HCM specialists provide comprehensive risk stratification, septal reduction therapy evaluation, and device therapy for high-risk patients.

Cardiac Amyloidosis

An infiltrative disease in which abnormal amyloid protein deposits accumulate within the heart muscle, causing progressive stiffening and heart failure. Once considered rare and untreatable, both wild-type and hereditary ATTR amyloidosis now have approved disease-modifying therapies that halt or slow progression when diagnosed early.

Cardiogenic Shock & Refractory Heart Failure

End-stage heart failure in which the heart can no longer maintain adequate circulation despite optimal medical therapy. Our advanced heart failure team evaluates patients for temporary and permanent mechanical circulatory support, coordinates with transplant centers, and guides discussions about goals of care and palliative options.

Pulmonary Hypertension — Diagnosis & Treatment

Elevated blood pressure in the pulmonary arteries places progressive strain on the right ventricle and can lead to right heart failure if untreated. Our specialists offer comprehensive evaluation — including right heart catheterization, ventilation-perfusion scanning, and advanced imaging — to classify pulmonary hypertension and deliver targeted therapies including pulmonary vasodilators, diuresis optimization, and coordinated care with pulmonology.

Pre- & Post-Heart Transplant Management

Comprehensive cardiac care across the full transplant continuum — from pre-transplant workup and candidacy evaluation to post-transplant surveillance, rejection monitoring, and long-term management of transplant vasculopathy and immunosuppression-related complications. Our team works in close coordination with transplant centers to support patients at every stage of their transplant journey.

Our Expertise

Treatments & Procedures

Our heart failure specialists deploy the full arsenal of guideline-directed therapies — from evidence-based medications and advanced device therapy to remote monitoring and coordinated multidisciplinary care — to optimize every patient's outcomes and quality of life.

Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT)

The cornerstone of heart failure management. Evidence-based quadruple therapy — comprising ACE inhibitors or ARNi (sacubitril/valsartan), beta-blockers, mineralocorticoid antagonists, and SGLT2 inhibitors — has been shown to reduce mortality, hospitalizations, and disease progression in HFrEF. Our specialists individualize and optimize each patient's medication regimen at every visit.

ARNi / Sacubitril-ValsartanSGLT2 InhibitorsQuadruple Therapy

Remote Hemodynamic Monitoring

Implantable pulmonary artery pressure sensors — such as the CardioMEMS device — transmit daily hemodynamic readings directly to our clinical team, allowing proactive medication adjustments before symptoms worsen or hospitalization becomes necessary. Remote monitoring has been shown to reduce heart failure hospitalizations by over 30% in clinical trials.

CardioMEMSPA Pressure MonitoringTelehealth Integration

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT)

A biventricular pacemaker that coordinates the contraction timing of the left and right ventricles in heart failure patients with electrical dyssynchrony (wide QRS or LBBB). CRT improves symptoms, exercise tolerance, and ejection fraction — and in CRT-D form, also provides defibrillation protection against sudden cardiac death.

CRT-P / CRT-DBiventricular PacingEF Improvement

ICD Implantation for Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention

Patients with severely reduced ejection fraction (EF ≤ 35%) are at elevated risk of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. An ICD continuously monitors heart rhythm and delivers a therapeutic shock if VT or VF is detected. ICD therapy is a guideline-recommended standard of care for eligible heart failure patients and has dramatically reduced sudden cardiac death rates.

ICDSudden Death PreventionEF ≤35%

Diuretic Optimization & Volume Management

Fluid overload is the most common cause of heart failure hospitalization. Our specialists expertly titrate oral and intravenous diuretic regimens — including loop diuretics, thiazides, and acetazolamide combination strategies — to achieve and maintain optimal dry weight, relieve congestion, and preserve renal function simultaneously.

Loop DiureticsDiuretic SequencingVolume Optimization

Transcatheter Mitral & Tricuspid Valve Therapy

Secondary mitral and tricuspid regurgitation are common and debilitating complications of heart failure that worsen prognosis. Catheter-based repairs — including MitraClip for mitral regurgitation and TriClip for tricuspid regurgitation — can dramatically reduce valve leakage, improve symptoms, and reduce hospitalizations in heart failure patients who are not candidates for open surgery.

MitraClipTriClipFunctional MR / TR

Mechanical Circulatory Support Evaluation

For patients with advanced or refractory heart failure unresponsive to optimal medical therapy, mechanical circulatory support devices — including intra-aortic balloon pumps, Impella, and left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) — can sustain or restore adequate cardiac output. Our team evaluates candidacy and coordinates care with transplant centers for patients who may benefit from durable MCS or heart transplantation.

LVAD EvaluationImpellaTransplant Referral

Cardiac Rehabilitation & Structured Exercise

Supervised cardiac rehabilitation is a guideline Class I recommendation for stable heart failure patients. Our structured programs combine medically supervised exercise training, nutritional counseling, medication education, and psychosocial support — improving functional capacity, quality of life, and reducing re-hospitalization rates in eligible patients.

Supervised ExerciseCardiac RehabFunctional Capacity

Get Started

Ready to Meet Our Team?

Our advanced heart failure specialists are ready to evaluate your condition and build a personalized treatment plan — combining the latest medical, device, and monitoring therapies to help you live better with heart failure.

Woodlands North Houston Heart Center

Clinical Services

Non-Invasive
Cardiology

Comprehensive cardiac diagnosis and disease management without the need for catheters, contrast, or surgery — using advanced imaging, functional testing, and ambulatory monitoring to detect heart disease early, guide treatment decisions, and keep you ahead of cardiovascular risk.

Convenient Locations

What We Evaluate

Conditions We Assess

Our non-invasive cardiologists evaluate a broad spectrum of cardiovascular conditions — using the most advanced imaging and monitoring technologies available to detect, characterize, and track heart disease at every stage.

Coronary Artery Disease

Non-invasive imaging and functional stress testing identify the presence and severity of obstructive coronary artery disease — guiding decisions about medications, lifestyle changes, and whether invasive evaluation is warranted — without exposing patients to catheterization.

Valvular Heart Disease

Echocardiography provides the definitive non-invasive assessment of all four heart valves — quantifying the severity of stenosis or regurgitation, tracking disease progression over time, and determining the optimal timing for intervention before irreversible cardiac damage occurs.

Heart Failure & Cardiomyopathy

Echocardiography and cardiac MRI accurately measure ejection fraction, ventricular size, wall motion, and diastolic function — essential for diagnosing heart failure with reduced or preserved EF, characterizing cardiomyopathy subtypes, and monitoring response to treatment over time.

Cardiac Arrhythmias

Ambulatory monitoring — from 24-hour Holter monitors to extended 30-day event recorders — captures infrequent heart rhythm disturbances that routine ECGs miss. Essential for evaluating palpitations, dizziness, pre-syncope, and unexplained fatigue with a suspected arrhythmic cause.

Hypertensive Heart Disease

Chronic high blood pressure causes progressive structural changes to the heart — including left ventricular hypertrophy, diastolic dysfunction, and aortic enlargement. Echocardiography and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring are key tools for detecting target organ damage and guiding blood pressure management.

Cardiovascular Risk Assessment

Advanced prevention imaging — including coronary artery calcium scoring (CAC), carotid intima-media thickness, and ankle-brachial index — identifies subclinical atherosclerosis in patients who appear low-risk by standard criteria, enabling earlier, more targeted preventive therapy.

Our Expertise

Tests & Procedures

Our non-invasive cardiology suite offers the full range of state-of-the-art cardiac imaging and diagnostic testing — providing the most complete picture of your heart's structure and function without a single incision.

Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)

The cornerstone of non-invasive cardiac imaging. High-frequency ultrasound waves create detailed real-time images of the heart's chambers, valves, wall motion, and pericardium. TTE assesses ejection fraction, detects structural abnormalities, and evaluates hemodynamics — all in a comfortable, radiation-free bedside examination.

2D / 3D EchoDoppler ImagingStrain Analysis

Stress Echocardiography

Echocardiographic imaging performed before and immediately after treadmill or pharmacologic stress to reveal wall motion abnormalities that only appear during increased cardiac demand. Stress echo identifies coronary artery disease and assesses valve severity under physiologic conditions, offering superior diagnostic accuracy compared to standard stress testing alone.

Exercise Stress EchoDobutamine StressWall Motion Analysis

Nuclear Stress Testing (SPECT / PET)

Radiotracer-based imaging that maps blood flow through the heart muscle at rest and during stress. SPECT and PET myocardial perfusion imaging identify areas of ischemia or infarction with high sensitivity, guide revascularization decisions, and provide powerful prognostic information about future cardiac events.

Myocardial PerfusionSPECT ImagingPET Scan

Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring (CAC)

A rapid, low-radiation CT scan that quantifies calcified plaque within the coronary arteries. A CAC score of zero confers a very low 10-year cardiovascular risk and may allow safe deferral of statin therapy, while elevated scores identify patients who benefit most from aggressive preventive intervention — even before symptoms develop.

Calcium Score CTPreventive ImagingRisk Stratification

CT Coronary Angiography (CTCA)

A non-invasive CT scan that produces detailed three-dimensional images of the coronary arteries, revealing the presence and extent of both calcified and non-calcified plaque. CTCA has high negative predictive value for ruling out significant coronary disease, often obviating the need for invasive catheterization in intermediate-risk patients.

CT AngiographyPlaque CharacterizationFFR-CT

Ambulatory Cardiac Monitoring

Extended heart rhythm recording worn during daily activities — from the standard 24–48 hour Holter monitor to 14- or 30-day patch monitors and external loop recorders. Ambulatory monitoring captures symptomatic and asymptomatic arrhythmias, correlates rhythm disturbances with patient-reported symptoms, and guides antiarrhythmic therapy decisions.

Holter MonitorExtended Event MonitorPatch Recorder

Exercise Treadmill Stress Test (ETT)

The classic cardiac stress test, in which a patient exercises on a treadmill at progressively increasing workloads while ECG, heart rate, and blood pressure are continuously monitored. The ETT assesses functional capacity, detects exercise-induced ischemia, evaluates exertional symptoms, and provides important prognostic data.

Treadmill Stress TestBruce ProtocolFunctional Capacity

Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE)

An advanced echo technique in which an ultrasound probe is passed into the esophagus to obtain high-resolution images of the heart from immediately behind it. TEE provides unparalleled views of the mitral valve, aorta, left atrial appendage, and intracardiac structures — critical for evaluating stroke, endocarditis, and guiding structural heart procedures.

TEELAA EvaluationStructural Guidance

Cardiac MRI (CMR)

The gold standard for precise, radiation-free assessment of cardiac structure, function, and tissue characterization. Cardiac MRI delivers unmatched detail on myocardial viability, infiltrative diseases such as cardiac sarcoidosis and amyloidosis, congenital heart defects, and pericardial disease. Late gadolinium enhancement sequences identify myocardial scar with exceptional accuracy — informing prognosis and guiding decisions on revascularization, device therapy, and ablation.

Myocardial ViabilityTissue CharacterizationLate Gadolinium Enhancement

Interventional Echocardiography

Advanced echocardiographic imaging used in real time to guide and support complex structural heart procedures. Our echocardiographers work alongside the interventional and electrophysiology teams in the catheterization laboratory, providing live intraprocedural imaging that is essential for precision device placement, leak assessment, and immediate outcome verification — without open surgery.

TAVRLeft Atrial Appendage OcclusionMitraClip

Get Started

Ready to Meet Our Team?

Our non-invasive cardiologists are ready to evaluate your cardiovascular health with the most advanced diagnostic imaging and testing available — providing answers without the need for invasive procedures.

Woodlands North Houston Heart Center

Clinical Services

Cardiac
Electrophysiology

Advanced diagnosis and treatment of the heart's electrical system — from life-threatening arrhythmias and atrial fibrillation to complex device therapy — delivered by a fellowship-trained electrophysiology team at the forefront of modern cardiac care.

Mapping with Pulsed Field & Radiofrequency Ablation

Zero

Fluoroscopy Ablation Options

Convenient Locations

What We Treat

Conditions Managed

Our electrophysiologists specialize in the full spectrum of heart rhythm disorders — from common arrhythmias to life-threatening electrical abnormalities requiring advanced device therapy or catheter-based intervention.

Atrial Fibrillation

The most common serious heart arrhythmia, AFib occurs when the atria beat chaotically and irregularly instead of coordinating with the ventricles. It dramatically raises stroke risk and can cause debilitating symptoms including palpitations, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Our EP team offers the full range of rhythm control strategies.

Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)

A broad category of rapid heart rhythms originating above the ventricles, including AVNRT, AVRT, and atrial tachycardia. SVT often causes sudden episodes of racing heartbeat, dizziness, and chest discomfort. Most forms are highly curable with catheter ablation.

Ventricular Tachycardia & Fibrillation

Potentially life-threatening arrhythmias originating in the lower chambers of the heart. VT and VF can degenerate into cardiac arrest if untreated. Management involves a combination of antiarrhythmic medications, ICD implantation, and catheter ablation targeting the arrhythmic circuit.

Heart Block & Bradycardia

Conditions in which the heart's electrical conduction system fails to transmit signals properly, causing abnormally slow heart rates. Varying degrees of heart block — from first-degree to complete — can result in fatigue, syncope, and cardiac arrest, often requiring pacemaker implantation.

Atrial Flutter

A regular but abnormally fast atrial rhythm caused by an electrical circuit looping within the right atrium. Atrial flutter is closely related to AFib, carries similar stroke risk, and typically responds extremely well to catheter ablation with high cure rates in a single procedure.

Our Expertise

Procedures We Perform

Our electrophysiologists use the most advanced mapping and ablation technologies available to diagnose and treat heart rhythm disorders — from complex catheter-based ablations to sophisticated implantable device therapy.

Electrophysiology Study (EPS)

The definitive diagnostic procedure for heart rhythm disorders. Electrode catheters are placed inside the heart to record electrical signals, measure conduction intervals, and deliberately induce arrhythmias in a controlled setting — precisely mapping the origin and mechanism of the rhythm problem to guide treatment.

Diagnostic EPSArrhythmia MappingInduction Testing

Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation

A minimally invasive procedure that uses radiofrequency energy or pulsed field ablation (PFA) to electrically isolate the pulmonary veins — the most common triggers of AFib — from the rest of the atrium. Guided by 3D electroanatomic mapping, ablation offers long-term rhythm control with a single procedure for many patients.

Pulmonary Vein IsolationPulsed Field AblationRadiofrequency Ablation

Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion

A minimally invasive, catheter-based procedure that permanently closes off the left atrial appendage — the small pouch in the heart where over 90% of stroke-causing clots form in AFib patients. By sealing this structure with an implantable device, LAAO offers a non-pharmacologic alternative to long-term blood thinners for patients who cannot tolerate anticoagulation therapy.

Stroke PreventionAFib ManagementAnticoagulation Alternative

SVT & Flutter Ablation

Catheter ablation for supraventricular tachycardias and atrial flutter targets the specific short circuit or abnormal focus responsible for the arrhythmia. Success rates exceed 95% for typical flutter and AVNRT, offering patients a definitive cure rather than lifelong medication dependence.

AVNRT AblationFlutter AblationWPW / Accessory Pathway

Pacemaker Implantation

A small device implanted under the skin near the collarbone that continuously monitors heart rate and delivers electrical impulses when the heart beats too slowly or pauses. Modern pacemakers are MRI-compatible and can be remotely monitored. Leadless pacemakers — implanted entirely within the heart — are also available for select patients.

Single/Dual ChamberLeadless PacemakerMRI-Compatible

ICD Implantation (Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator)

A device that continuously monitors heart rhythm and delivers a life-saving shock to restore normal rhythm if a dangerous arrhythmia such as VT or VF is detected. ICDs are the most effective therapy for preventing sudden cardiac death in high-risk patients, including those with reduced ejection fraction or prior cardiac arrest.

Single/Dual Chamber ICDS-ICDSudden Death Prevention

CRT — Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

A specialized pacemaker that coordinates contractions between the left and right ventricles in patients with heart failure and electrical dyssynchrony (wide QRS). CRT-D devices combine resynchronization with defibrillation capability, improving symptoms, exercise capacity, and survival in appropriately selected heart failure patients.

CRT-P / CRT-DBiventricular PacingHeart Failure

Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) Ablation

Complex catheter ablation targeting the scar tissue within the ventricles that serves as the substrate for dangerous VT circuits. Using advanced 3D mapping and contact force-sensing catheters, our electrophysiologists can often eliminate VT in patients with structural heart disease who remain symptomatic despite medications and ICD shocks.

Scar-Based VTContact Force Ablation3D Mapping

Loop Recorder Implantation

A tiny, minimally invasive cardiac monitor inserted just beneath the skin of the chest that continuously records the heart's rhythm for up to three years. Ideal for diagnosing infrequent arrhythmias, unexplained syncope, and cryptogenic stroke — automatically transmitting data to our clinical team via remote monitoring when abnormalities are detected.

Insertable Cardiac MonitorRemote MonitoringSyncope Evaluation

Get Started

Ready to Meet Our Team?

Our electrophysiology team is ready to evaluate your heart rhythm disorder and discuss all available treatment options — from lifestyle management and medications to the most advanced ablation and device therapies.

Woodlands North Houston Heart Center

Clinical Services

Interventional
Cardiology

Advanced catheter-based diagnosis and treatment of heart and vascular disease — delivering life-saving interventions with precision, minimal recovery time, and a deeply personalized approach to every patient's care.

Request an Appointment

Interventional Cardiologists

40+

Years Combined Experience

Convenient Locations

What We Treat

Conditions Managed

Our interventional cardiologists are trained to diagnose and treat the full spectrum of cardiovascular disease — from acute coronary emergencies to complex structural and vascular conditions that require precision catheter-based therapy.

Coronary Artery Disease

Narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries due to plaque buildup (atherosclerosis), leading to reduced blood flow to the heart muscle. Often the underlying cause of angina and heart attacks, CAD is one of the most common conditions we treat.

Acute Myocardial Infarction

Commonly known as a heart attack, this occurs when blood supply to part of the heart is abruptly blocked. Immediate catheter-based intervention to restore blood flow — primary PCI — is the gold standard of emergency treatment and dramatically improves survival.

Valvular Heart Disease

Dysfunction of the heart's valves — including aortic stenosis, mitral regurgitation, and other conditions — that impairs proper blood flow. Many valvular conditions can now be treated via minimally invasive catheter-based approaches without open-heart surgery.

Peripheral Arterial Disease

Narrowing of the arteries supplying blood to the limbs — most commonly the legs — causing pain, cramping, and in severe cases limb-threatening ischemia. Our specialists treat PAD through catheter-based angioplasty, stenting, and atherectomy techniques.

Structural Heart Disease

Abnormalities in the heart's physical architecture — including patent foramen ovale (PFO), atrial septal defects, and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy — that can be repaired or managed via sophisticated catheter-based structural heart procedures.

Unstable Angina

Chest pain or discomfort that occurs at rest or with minimal exertion, signaling a critically narrowed coronary artery at high risk of complete blockage. Urgent diagnostic catheterization and intervention are often required to prevent progression to heart attack.

Our Expertise

Procedures We Perform

Our interventional cardiologists perform the full spectrum of catheter-based procedures — combining the most advanced technology available with decades of specialized training to achieve the best possible outcomes for each patient.

Diagnostic Coronary Angiography

The definitive imaging procedure to evaluate the coronary arteries. A thin catheter is guided to the heart via the wrist or groin, contrast dye is injected, and X-ray imaging reveals the precise location and severity of any arterial blockages — guiding all subsequent treatment decisions.

Cath LabFluoroscopyRadial Access

Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI)

Also called coronary angioplasty, PCI uses a catheter-mounted balloon to open narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. In most cases a stent — a small wire mesh tube — is implanted to keep the artery open and restore normal blood flow without the need for open-heart bypass surgery.

Balloon AngioplastyStent PlacementDrug-Eluting Stent

Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR)

A minimally invasive alternative to open-heart surgery for patients with severe aortic stenosis. A new valve is delivered via catheter and implanted within the diseased native valve, restoring normal blood flow. Patients typically recover in days rather than weeks.

TAVRAortic StenosisStructural Heart

MitraClip — Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair

A catheter-based repair for patients with significant mitral valve regurgitation who are at high risk for open surgery. A small clip is delivered to the mitral valve to reduce leakage and relieve symptoms of heart failure, dramatically improving quality of life.

MitraClipMitral RegurgitationValve Repair

Peripheral Vascular Intervention

Catheter-based treatment of blockages in the arteries of the legs, pelvis, and other peripheral vessels. Techniques include balloon angioplasty, stenting, and atherectomy (plaque removal) to restore circulation and relieve symptoms ranging from leg pain to critical limb ischemia.

AngioplastyPeripheral StentingAtherectomy

Fractional Flow Reserve (FFR) & IVUS

Advanced intracoronary assessment tools used during catheterization to precisely measure the functional significance of a blockage (FFR) or obtain detailed cross-sectional imaging of the artery wall (IVUS). These guide optimal stent sizing and placement for superior outcomes.

FFRIVUSOCT Imaging

Rotational Atherectomy

A specialized technique for treating severely calcified coronary lesions that cannot be adequately dilated with balloon angioplasty alone. A high-speed rotating burr grinds away calcified plaque, restoring vessel compliance and enabling successful stent deployment.

RotablatorCalcified LesionsComplex PCI

Right Heart Catheterization

A diagnostic procedure to directly measure pressures within the heart's right-sided chambers and pulmonary arteries. Invaluable in evaluating pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, and valvular disease — providing hemodynamic data that cannot be obtained by non-invasive testing alone.

HemodynamicsPulmonary HypertensionHeart Failure

Get Started

Ready to Meet Our Team?

Our interventional cardiologists are ready to evaluate your condition and discuss all available treatment options — from the most conservative to the most advanced catheter-based approaches.

Dr. Jessica L. Brown

Education & Training

Board Certifications

Honors & Recognition

Membership

VeinTreatment

Conditions We Treat

Varicose Veins

Spider Veins

Chronic Venous Insufficiency (CVI)

Venous Leg Ulcers

Superficial Venous Thrombophlebitis

Reticular Veins & Leg Heaviness

Treatments & Procedures

Endovenous Laser Ablation (EVLA)

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA)

Ultrasound-Guided Foam Sclerotherapy

Visual Sclerotherapy for Spider Veins

VenaSeal™ Cyanoacrylate Closure

Ambulatory Phlebectomy (Microphlebectomy)

Duplex Ultrasound Venous Mapping

Ready to Feel Better?

Advanced Heart Failure &Pulmonary Hypertension

Conditions We Manage

Heart Failure with Reduced EF (HFrEF)

Heart Failure with Preserved EF (HFpEF)

Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM)

Cardiac Amyloidosis

Cardiogenic Shock & Refractory Heart Failure

Pulmonary Hypertension — Diagnosis & Treatment

Pre- & Post-Heart Transplant Management

Treatments & Procedures

Guideline-Directed Medical Therapy (GDMT)

Remote Hemodynamic Monitoring

Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy (CRT)

ICD Implantation for Sudden Cardiac Death Prevention

Diuretic Optimization & Volume Management

Transcatheter Mitral & Tricuspid Valve Therapy

Mechanical Circulatory Support Evaluation

Cardiac Rehabilitation & Structured Exercise

Ready to Meet Our Team?

Non-InvasiveCardiology

Conditions We Assess

Coronary Artery Disease

Valvular Heart Disease

Heart Failure & Cardiomyopathy

Cardiac Arrhythmias

Hypertensive Heart Disease

Cardiovascular Risk Assessment

Tests & Procedures

Transthoracic Echocardiography (TTE)

Stress Echocardiography

Nuclear Stress Testing (SPECT / PET)

Coronary Artery Calcium Scoring (CAC)

CT Coronary Angiography (CTCA)

Ambulatory Cardiac Monitoring

Exercise Treadmill Stress Test (ETT)

Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE)

Cardiac MRI (CMR)

Interventional Echocardiography

Ready to Meet Our Team?

CardiacElectrophysiology

Conditions Managed

Atrial Fibrillation

Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT)

Ventricular Tachycardia & Fibrillation

Heart Block & Bradycardia

Atrial Flutter

Procedures We Perform

Electrophysiology Study (EPS)

Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation

Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion

SVT & Flutter Ablation

Pacemaker Implantation

ICD Implantation (Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator)

CRT — Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy

Ventricular Tachycardia (VT) Ablation

Loop Recorder Implantation

Ready to Meet Our Team?

Vein
Treatment

Advanced Heart Failure &
Pulmonary Hypertension

Non-Invasive
Cardiology

Cardiac
Electrophysiology

Interventional
Cardiology