
Nirav Patel, M.D.
Nirav Patel, M.D.

Dr. Patel, an interventional cardiologist, is the CEO of our new Vaslab at our Dyersburg clinic location. He received his medical training from M S University of Baroda Medical College in India. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, where he was also chief resident. He completed a fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at the Medical College of Georgia and a fellowship in interventional cardiology at Maimonides Hospital Medical Center in New York.
His past work experience includes the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Ohio and Piedmont Heart Institute in Atlanta. He also worked at the Washington County Regional Medical Center in Sandersville, Ga., Doctors Hospital of Augusta, Trinity Hospital of Augusta and the VA Medical Center in Augusta.
Board Certifications:
- Nuclear Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
Locations:
- Jackson
- Dyersburg
- McKenzie

Naji Bourji, M.D.
Naji Bourji, M.D.

Dr. Bourji, an interventional cardiologist, received his medical training from Kuanas University of Medicine in Lithuania. He completed an internal medicine residency at New York Methodist Hospital in Brooklyn, followed by a fellowship in cardiology. He also completed an interventional cardiology fellowship with the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York.
His volunteer experience includes treating patients in Beirut, Lebanon, at American University Hospital and Sahel General Hospital.
He was the chief resident at New York Methodist Hospital before joining Heart & Vascular Center of West Tennessee.
Board Certifications:
- Cardiology
- Echocardiography
- Internal Medicine
Locations:
- Jackson
- Dyersburg
- Lexington

Simon Okewole, D.O.
Simon Okewole, D.O.

Dr. Okewole, an electrophysiologist and chief executive officer at Heart & Vascular Clinic of West Tennessee, earned his medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his internal medicine residency at Cooper University Hospital in Camden, N.J. He completed a cardiology fellowship at Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Brown Mills, N.J., and an electrophysiology fellowship at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
His volunteer work includes serving as chief admitting physician in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti, with the University of Miami-Medishare Haitian Relief Medical Volunteers. He also helped organize a teen mentorship program at St. Mary’s Family Respite Center in Philadelphia for the children and siblings of individuals affected by HIV.
Board Certification:
- Internal Medicine
Board Eligible
- Cardiology
- Electrophysiology
Professional Organizations:
- American Board of Osteopathic Internal Medicine
- American Heart Association
- American College of Cardiology
- American College of Physicians
- Heart Rhythm Society
Locations:
- Jackson
- Dyersburg
- Lexington
- Adamsville
- McKenzie

Dum Piawa, D.O.
Dum Piawa, D.O.

Dr. Piawa, an interventional cardiologist, joined Heart & Vascular Center of West Tennessee in 2017. He earned an associate degree in chemistry from Middlesex County College in New Jersey before earning his bachelor’s degree from Monmouth University. He earned his medical degree from the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and completed his residency at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. He completed a cardiovascular medicine fellowship and an interventional cardiology and endovascular medicine subspecialty fellowship at the Deborah Heart and Lung Center in New Jersey.
Before joining Heart & Vascular Center of West Tennessee, he saw patients at Cardiovascular Associates of the Delaware Valley, Virtua Hospital and Kennedy Hospital, all of which are in New Jersey. Before attending medical school, Dr. Piawa was a chemist at Georgia Pacific Resins.
Board Certifications:
- Nuclear Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Interventional Cardiology
Professional Organizations:
- American College of Cardiology
- Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions
- American Osteopathic Association
- American College of Osteopathic Internists
Locations:
- Jackson
- Dyersburg

Shanna Wilkes, APRN-BC
Shanna Wilkes, APRN-BC

Shanna Wilkes, an adult nurse practitioner with a cardiovascular focus, earned her master’s degree in nursing from Vanderbilt University. She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Tennessee at Martin. She is also a licensed registered nurse.
Board Certification
- American Nurses Credentialing Center
Professional Organizations:
- Tennessee Nurses Association
- American Nurses Association
- Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association
- The Center for American Nurses
Locations:
- Jackson
- Dyersburg
- Lexington
Primary Care Providers

Heather McKee, M.D.
Heather McKee, M.D.

Dr. Heather McKee received her medical training at the University if Oklahoma in Oklahoma City. She completed her residency in internal medicine at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center in Memphis. She provides primary care for patients at Delta Clinic in Lexington. Delta Clinic, like Heart and Vascular Center of West Tennessee, is a subsidiary of Delta Clinics.
Learn more about our primary care services.
Board Eligible
- Internal Medicine
Professional Organizations:
- American College of Physicians

Penni Cannady, ANP-BC
Penni Cannady, ANP-BC

Penni Cannady, a board-certified nurse practitioner, practices as a primary care provider at Cannady Medical Center in Dyersburg. Cannady Medical Center, like West Tennessee Heart and Vascular Center, is a subsidiary of Delta Clinics.
She earned her bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Tennessee at Martin and her master’s degree in Nursing at Vanderbilt University. She began her career in medicine working as a registered nurse at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital. She was also employed as a registered nurse at Regional Cardiology on a part-time basis for several years concurrently.
She then transitioned to work as hospital supervisor at Gibson General Hospital and continued to practice there until completion of her master's degree. She completed internships at the Primary Care Center in Trenton and Heart and Vascular Center of West Tennessee, where she began practicing as a cardiovascular nurse practitioner. She was simultaneously employed on a part-time basis as a nurse practitioner at Professional Health Services for several years providing mental health services. She continued working at the Heart and Vascular Center of West Tennessee before launching Cannady Medical Center to provide primary care services.

Ethel Spivey, DNP, FNP-C
Ethel Spivey, DNP, FNP-C

Ethel Spivey, Family Nurse Practitioner, works at our Dyersburg clinic. She earned an associate degree and a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Tennessee at Martin, as well as a master’s degree in nursing from the Mississippi University for Women in Columbus. In 2016, she completed her doctorate in nursing at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center in Memphis.
She has worked as a charge nurse on the surgical floor of Ripley Hospital and in the cardiac and orthopedic units of Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, as well as in the Ripley Health Department. For 10 years, she was an assistant professor of nursing at UT Martin, serving as the RN-BSN program coordinator, advisor, recruiter and instructor. She continues to serve as an adjunct nursing professor.
She has worked as a charge nurse on the surgical floor of Ripley Hospital and in the cardiac and orthopedic units of Jackson-Madison County General Hospital, as well as in the Ripley Health Department. For 10 years, she was an assistant professor of nursing at UT Martin, serving as the RN-BSN program coordinator, advisor, recruiter and instructor. She continues to serve as an adjunct nursing professor.