Dr. Brian Kolski, MD , FACC, FSCAI
Dr. Brian Kolski is the Director of the Orange County Heart Institute (OCHI) noninvasive vascular lab and is board certified in interventional cardiology and cardiovascular diseases.
Dr. Kolski is a nationally recognized faculty member of the Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions (SCAI) and a fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC). He is the Director of structural heart disease at St. Joseph Hospital in Orange County, where he helped start the transcatheter valve program and participates in every case.
Dr. Kolski performs over 200 structural heart interventions a year and travels throughout the U.S. educating physicians on vascular techniques and CHIP—Complex Higher-Risk (and Indicated) Patients.
In addition to being one of Southern California’s leading, cardiologists, Dr. Kolski is committed to building relationships with patients based on trust and respect. He goes above and beyond to ensure patients are comfortable and well cared for.
Dr. Kolski serves as a team cardiologist for the Anaheim Ducks professional hockey organization. Prior to his work in Orange County, Dr. Kolski started a vascular and limb salvage program in Salt Lake City, Utah.
Credentials & Education
Medical School
Loyola Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL — 2004
Internship
University of California San Diego, San Diego — 2005
Residency
University of California San Diego, San Diego — 2007
Residency
University of California San Diego, San Diego — 2008
Fellowships
Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship, University of California San Diego, La Jolla
— 2011
Interventional Cardiology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla — 2012
Procedures, University of California San Diego, La Jolla — 2013
Board Certification & Licensure
Current: California Physician and Surgeon Medical License #A93984
Current: ACLS
2013: Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (board eligible)
2013: Lipidology (board eligible)
2013: Interventional Cardiology Board Certification (through 2023)
2011: Cardiology Board Certification (through 2021)
2007 – 2017: American Board of Internal Medicine
Cardiology Services
Dr. Kolski is a highly skilled, nationally recognized cardiologist providing patients in Orange Country with world class heart care services
PREVENTIVE CARDIOLOGY
Dr. Kolski and the team at Orange County Heart Institute provide full-service evaluation to patients with a strong family history of heart disease and to people who want to know their overall cardiovascular risk.
LIMB SALVAGE PROGRAM
We use minimally invasive techniques to alleviate symptoms and prevent limb loss. Dr. Kolski is on the national faculty for the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions and is a nationally recognized expert in this field.
TRANSCATHETER AORTIC VALVE REPLACEMENT
Patients receiving new aortic valves see their life expectancy increase and see dramatic improvement in their symptoms. Dr. Kolski performs over 100 TAVR operations per year.
PERCUTANEOUS CORONARY INTERVENTION
Protected PCI is a minimally invasive alternative to bypass surgery. Dr. Kolski and the team at St. Joseph Hospital perform many high risk coronary interventions every year.
MITRAL VALVE REPAIR PROGRAM
A reduction in mitral regurgitation is dramatic, leading to improved outcomes and symptoms, and fewer hospitalizations. Dr. Kolski and his team have performed over one hundred Mitraclip procedures in the past several years.
PFO TREATMENT
A PFO may permit blood clots to cross from the right side of the heart to the left side, resulting in a stroke. We perform a catheter-based closure of the PFO with a permanent implant.
TRICUSPID TRANSCATHETER REPAIR
Leaking tricuspid valves can cause liver problems, congestive heart failure and cardiac rhythm problems. Our experienced team has access to the latest device clinical trials to repair leaking tricuspid valves without open heart surgery.
COVID CARDIAC EVALUATION
Patients suffering from COVID-19 related illness can experience problems with blood clotting and coagulation disorders. Dr. Kolski can help determine if you're at higher risk for a stroke or heart attack.
Dr. Kolski performs over 200 structural heart interventions a year and travels throughout the U.S., educating physicians on vascular techniques and Complex Higher-Risk (and Indicated) Patients. He directs the structural heart program at St. Joseph Hospital—the busiest catheter-based heart valve program in Orange County.
Procedures Since 2014
800+
TAVR Procedures
300+
Mitraclip Procedures
600+
Complex Coronary Interventions
400+
Limb Salvage Procedures
Happy & Healthy Patients
In addition to being one of Orange County's leading cardiologists, Dr. Kolski is committed to building relationships with patients built on trust and respect. He goes above and beyond to ensure that patients are comfortable and well cared for.
Dr. Kolski has always treated me with respect as a well informed patient. He spoke to me in medical terms I could readily understand. Dr. Kolski lays out truthfully all my options including detailed discussions on the risks of any heart procedures. I appreciate his candor. You’re getting one of the best cardiologists in SoCal. He’s kind, compassionate and caring. Dr. Kolski’s cheerful happy manner always makes my visits to him a hope-filled pleasant experience.I am beyond pleased with my experience with Dr. Kolski. It was a world away from previous experiences elsewhere. It was nice to be treated with professionalism and care - from the scheduler to Dr. Kolski. I had been to several other physicians and none of them were able to address my health issue. Dr. Kolski successfully did. In addition, I sincerely appreciate his diligent follow up. I would highly recommend Dr. Kolski to anyone who seeks expertise in cardiovascular care.Dr. Kolski was very straight forward and kept things simple - even in the most complicated situations. His advice has helped me through the process, and without him I wouldn’t be able to overcome all of my health issues. I am grateful for all his help.I feel very fortunate to have found Dr. Kolski. After being referred to a surgeon who adamantly told me I would need a high risk heart surgery, Dr. Kolski reviewed my case and said he could fix my valve and heart arteries through a few small holes in my arm and groin. He was upfront with me about what to expect depending on my choices. I left the hospital on day two with a new heart valve and the main artery to my heart repaired. I feel great.I have recommended Dr. Kolski to both family and friends—he is an excellent clinician. He is also very caring. He explains diagnoses and tests in an easily understood manner.Dr. Kolski offers his patients bedside manners that seems to have been lost by many doctors today. Dr. Kolski’s attention to me as a patient exemplified his concerns over my entire well being. Dr. Kolski also offers new innovative technologies for vascular blockage that was unavailable to me a year ago. I felt there was little hope because I also have an immune deficiency disease and healing is poor for me. When Dr. Kolski informed me of this new technology and of which he was performing and subsequently teaching other cardiologists at a hospital level...I had hope!