People in northeast Georgia now have more access to expert care for common heart rhythm disorders such as atrial fibrillation and tachycardia, as well as the latest devices and therapies to treat such conditions. Georgia Heart Institute, the comprehensive heart and vascular service line of Northeast Georgia Health System (NGHS), recently welcomed three specialized cardiologists to its growing electrophysiology program: Gautham Kanagaraj, MD; Murtaza Sundhu, MD; and Brian Vickers, MD.
“Heart rhythm disorders like atrial fibrillation, or ‘AFib,’ are quite common in our region, and Georgia Heart Institute is bringing in talented clinicians to meet the growing demand,” said Mudassar Ahmed, MD, chief cardiology officer of Georgia Heart Institute. “From managing conditions with medications, to performing state-of-the-art procedures, to implanting and managing devices like pacemakers and defibrillators, we offer the full spectrum of high-quality electrophysiology services.”
Gautham Kanagaraj, MD, sees patients in Braselton and Gainesville. His main clinical interests include the treatment of heart rhythm disorders with lifestyle changes, catheter ablation, cardiac device implantation and preventing such conditions. Dr. Kanagaraj has been a trailblazer throughout his career, having started Hawaii’s first lead extraction program in the state and the first zero-fluoroscopy ablation service in the central Florida area. He completed a Cardiac Electrophysiology fellowship at Harbor UCLA Medical Center, a Cardiovascular Disease fellowship at the University of Hawaii and an Internal Medicine residency at the State University of New York-Stony Brook.
Murtaza Sundhu, MD, sees patients in Gainesville and Blairsville. His main clinical interests include minimally invasive procedures such as premature ventricular contraction ablations, ventricular tachycardia ablations and pulsed-field ablations, as well as left atrial appendage closure device implantations to reduce stroke risk in patients with atrial fibrillation. Dr. Sundhu completed a Cardiovascular Disease fellowship at Tower Health Reading Hospital in Reading, Pa., and a Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology fellowship at the University of Kansas Medical Center in Kansas City. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at the Cleveland Clinic.
Brian Vickers, MD, sees patients in Gainesville and Demorest. His main clinical interests include cardiac ablations, device implants and transvenous lead extraction. Dr. Vickers completed fellowships in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology and Cardiovascular Disease at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit. He completed his Internal Medicine residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.
“Adding three expert and accomplished electrophysiologists to care for people in our community is one more way we’re proving that Georgia’s hearts are always on our mind,” says Haley Harrison, vice president of Georgia Heart Institute. “There’s no need to drive to Atlanta for heart care when our team’s services and skills are pacing the state.”
To learn more about Georgia Heart Institute’s electrophysiology program, visit georgiaheartinstitute.org/EP. Call 770-534-2020 to schedule an appointment.
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.