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Philip A. Kithas
( out of 19 reviews )

Philip A. Kithas, MD, PhD, BA

Languages spoken: English

Clinical Locations

Madsen Health Center

Salt Lake City
801-581-8000
  • Dr. Kithas has been a staff physician at the George E. Wahlen Salt Lake Veterans Health Care System for 25 years and was General Medicine Section Chief from September 1999 to October 2006 when he joined the Geriatrics Division. The majority of this time Dr. Kithas has been devoted to the clinical care of older veterans. Administratively, Dr. Kithas has been involved in efforts to improve the quality and provision of this care to veterans seen at the Salt Lake VA Medical Center and its associated CBOCs and contract clinics.

    In caring for these veterans Dr. Kithas has further developed with regard to management of their usually multiple and complex medical problems. He worked tirelessly to continue to improve the care of our veterans through clinical and administrative means while helping to educate them in becoming partners in their care. At the same time Dr. Kithas has significantly contributed to the education of future providers in the complex yet rewarding care of the older adult. Finally, Dr Kithas has developed research interests in geriatric cardiovascular medicine which is a major focus during his career e.g. cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and anticoagulation management in the elderly. After 25 years at the Salt Lake VA Medical Center Dr Kithas retired and moved to the University of Utah Madsen Geriatric Clinic to continue the above efforts.

    Specialties

    Board Certification

    American Board of Internal Medicine (Internal Medicine)

    Patient Rating

    5.0 /5
    ( out of 19 reviews )

    The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers.

    The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

    Patient Comments

    Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety. For the convenience of our visitors, some patient comments have been translated from their original language into English while preserving their original meaning as accurately as possible. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    June 21, 2025
    MADSEN HEALTH CENTER

    Dr. Kithas provided me with care that was far, far better than ANY I can remember receiving anywhere in my 84 years. He is ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE! He even followed up later with a personal phone call to find out why I had failed to follow up and schedule an appointment he had advised. It happened because I had misunderstood the scheduler who had called me and thought she was referring to something I had already scheduled. I've never had any other doctors call me personally -- and in the evening -- as he did.

    April 12, 2025
    MADSEN HEALTH CENTER

    I was treated with respect he was kind gave me a great deal of information and made me feel safe

    July 05, 2024
    MADSEN HEALTH CENTER

    He is very caring and professional.

  • Dr. Kithas has been a staff physician at the George E. Wahlen Salt Lake Veterans Health Care System for 25 years and was General Medicine Section Chief from September 1999 to October 2006 when he joined the Geriatrics Division. The majority of this time Dr. Kithas has been devoted to the clinical care of older veterans. Administratively, Dr. Kithas has been involved in efforts to improve the quality and provision of this care to veterans seen at the Salt Lake VA Medical Center and its associated CBOCs and contract clinics.

    In caring for these veterans Dr. Kithas has further developed with regard to management of their usually multiple and complex medical problems. He worked tirelessly to continue to improve the care of our veterans through clinical and administrative means while helping to educate them in becoming partners in their care. At the same time Dr. Kithas has significantly contributed to the education of future providers in the complex yet rewarding care of the older adult. Finally, Dr Kithas has developed research interests in geriatric cardiovascular medicine which is a major focus during his career e.g. cardiovascular disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia and anticoagulation management in the elderly. After 25 years at the Salt Lake VA Medical Center Dr Kithas retired and moved to the University of Utah Madsen Geriatric Clinic to continue the above efforts.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Internal Medicine -Professor (Clinical)
    Family & Preventive Medicine -Adjunct Associate Professor
    Academic Divisions Geriatrics
    Board Certification
    American Board of Internal Medicine (Internal Medicine)

    Education history

    Chief Resident University of Utah School of Medicine Chief Medical Resident
    Internship University of Utah School of Medicine Intern
    Residency University of Utah School of Medicine Resident
    Postdoctoral Fellowship Pharmacology - University of South Alabama Postdoctoral Fellow
    Professional Medical Medicine - University of South Alabama M.D.
    Doctoral Training Pharmacology - University of South Alabama College Ph.D.
    Undergraduate Human Biology - University of South Alabama B.S.
    Undergraduate Biology - University of Utah B.A.

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Weavil JC, Thurston TS, Hureau TJ, Gifford JR, Kithas PA, Broxterman RM, Bledsoe AD, Nativi JN, Richardson RS, Amann M (2020). Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction diminishes peripheral hemodynamics and accelerates exercise-induced neuromuscular fatigue. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, 320(1), H338-H351. (Read full article)
    2. Kithas PA, Supiano MA (2015). Hypertension in the geriatric population: a patient-centered approach. Med Clin North Am, 99(2), 379-89.
    3. Kithas PA, Supiano MA (2010). Practical recommendations for treatment of hypertension in older patients. Vasc Health Risk Manag, 6, 561-9. (Read full article)
    4. Kithas PA, Supiano MA (2010). Hypertension and chronic kidney disease in the elderly. Adv Chronic Kidney Dis, 17(4), 341-7. (Read full article)
    5. Kithas PA, Supiano MA (2010). Spironolactone and hydrochlorothiazide decrease vascular stiffness and blood pressure in geriatric hypertension. J Am Geriatr Soc, 58(7), 1327-32. (Read full article)
    6. McDaniel J, Fjeldstad AS, Ives S, Hayman M, Kithas P, Richardson RS (2010). Central and peripheral contributors to skeletal muscle hyperemia: response to passive limb movement. J Appl Physiol (1985), 108(1), 76-84. (Read full article)
    7. Haynes J Jr, Kithas PA, Taylor AE, Strada SJ (1991). Selective inhibition of cGMP-inhibitable cAMP phosphodiesterase decreases pulmonary vasoreactivity. Am J Physiol, 261(2 Pt 2), H487-92. (Read full article)
    8. Kithas PA, Artman M, Thompson WJ, Strada SJ (1989). Subcellular distribution of high-affinity type IV cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activities in rabbit ventricular myocardium: relations to post-natal maturation. J Mol Cell Cardiol, 21(5), 507-17. (Read full article)
    9. Strada SJ, Kithas PA, Whalin ME, Thompson WJ (1989). Molecular properties of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase isozymes. Adv Exp Med Biol, 255, 409-23. (Read full article)
    10. Artman M, Kithas PA, Wike JS, Crump DB, Strada SJ (1989). Inotropic responses to cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitors in immature and adult rabbit myocardium. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol, 13(1), 146-54. (Read full article)
    11. Artman M, Kithas PA, Wike JS, Strada SJ (1988). Inotropic responses change during postnatal maturation in rabbit. Am J Physiol, 255(2 Pt 2), H335-42. (Read full article)
    12. Kithas PA, Artman M, Thompson WJ, Strada SJ (1988). Subcellular distribution of high-affinity type IV cyclic AMP phosphodiesterase activity in rabbit ventricular myocardium: relations to the effects of cardiotonic drugs. Circ Res, 62(4), 782-9. (Read full article)