The new lead cardiologist at Georgia Heart Institute comes south from Minnesota with a vision of helping the practice stay true to its reputation of providing both routine and innovative cardiac care exceptionally well. Mudassar Ahmed, MD, recently joined Georgia Heart Institute, the comprehensive heart and vascular service line of Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS), as chief cardiology officer.
“When anyone who lives in the communities we serve needs cardiology care, the first place they should turn is Georgia Heart Institute,” said Dr. Ahmed. “Our team is focused on not only achieving the highest-quality outcomes but also providing exceptional service that our patients and colleagues expect and deserve.”
An interventional cardiologist who specializes in minimally invasive treatments for heart valve disease, Dr. Ahmed has spent most of career in practice in Minnesota. Prior to joining Georgia Heart Institute, he served as system medical director for the cardiovascular service line at North Memorial Health in suburban Minneapolis. Before that, he launched the structural heart program at HealthEast in St. Paul and helped guide the heart and vascular service line for the M Health Fairview/HealthEast system.
“I was attracted to Georgia Heart Institute because of the people and the culture,” said Dr. Ahmed. “The depth of expertise here combined with the breadth of geography covered distinguishes the program from many other cardiology institutes, and it is an honor to take on the role of leading such an impressive group and helping the team reach new heights.”
Dr. Ahmed will continue to practice medicine in Gainesville while also providing the institute’s clinical oversight and physician leadership.
“Dr. Ahmed has a track record of being a transformational leader who makes health systems better at delivering care and serving patients,” said Vik Reddy, MD, chief clinical officer for NGHS. “His experience streamlining operations, driving quality improvement and mentoring physicians make him an ideal fit for the role.”
Dr. Ahmed grew up in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and graduated first in his class from Baqai Medical College in Pakistan. He moved to the United States for his Internal Medicine residency at the Cleveland Clinic, and he completed fellowships in Cardiovascular Disease and Interventional Cardiology at the University of Minnesota. He and his wife, who is also a doctor, have two sons, ages 8 and 14. While they have not yet settled on where to call home, Dr. Ahmed is looking forward to being able to play golf almost year-round in the warmer climate of Georgia. The family enjoys travel, tennis and the boys’ swimming competitions.
For more information or to schedule an appointment, go to georgiaheartinstitute.org/ahmed.
About Georgia Heart Institute
Georgia Heart Institute is the most forward-thinking heart and vascular program in the state and includes one of the largest cardiology practices in the region, including more than 120 clinicians seeing patients at more than a dozen locations. With a multi-disciplinary team of experts treating nearly every type of heart and vascular disease and participating in leading national research, we’re providing advanced care that ensures lasting heart health for generations. Request an appointment and learn more at georgiaheartinstitute.org.
The experts of Georgia Heart Institute also form the core of the cardiac care team at Northeast Georgia Medical Center’s five hospitals in Gainesville, Braselton, Winder, Dahlonega and Demorest. It’s all part of Northeast Georgia Health System, a non-profit which serves more than 1 million people across the region. Learn more at nghs.com.