Piedmont Heart Institute, Piedmont Healthcare’s nationally recognized heart and vascular program, has hired 11 cardiovascular specialists as part of its commitment to expand access to these critical sub-specialties. Piedmont made the pledge to expand access to cardiovascular services as part of a $75-million gift from The Marcus Foundation in March 2016 that established the Marcus Heart and Vascular Center at Piedmont Atlanta Hospital. One-in-3 American adults, which equates to more than 92 million, suffer from cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association.
 
In addition to six physicians who will practice out of Piedmont Atlanta, the system’s flagship hospital, others will be based in offices at Piedmont Fayette, Piedmont Newnan, Piedmont Rockdale and in Ellijay in north Georgia, providing care to an underserved population. Piedmont Healthcare now reaches 70 percent of the state’s 10 million residents.
 
“By adding these talented physicians, we are able to provide greater access to heart and vascular care for Piedmont patients throughout the state of Georgia,” said Charles L. Brown III, M.D., CEO of Piedmont’s Physician Enterprise. “Because of The Marcus Foundation’s generous gift, we are able to expand our cardiovascular services and make a positive difference in the lives we touch.”
 
Nine of the physicians will have joined Piedmont Heart by the end of August:
 
·         Roy Abrahamian, M.D., (general cardiology), will practice in Ellijay.

·         Vaibhav Amin, M.D., (general cardiology) will practice in Fayette and Newnan.

·         Adam Carlisle, M.D., (general cardiology) will practice in Atlanta.

·         Peter Flueckiger, M.D., (general cardiology and advanced imaging) will practice in Atlanta.

·         Sushee Gadde, M.D., (general cardiology and advanced heart failure) will practice in Fayette and Newnan.

·         Michael Hoosien, M.D., (electrophysiology) will practice in Atlanta.

·         Danesh Kella, M.D., (electrophysiology) will practice in Atlanta.

·         Jeetendra (Jay) Patel, M.D., (interventional cardiology) will practice in Rockdale.

·         Tesfaye Telila, M.D., (interventional cardiology) will practice in Fayette and Newnan.

Vibhav Rangajaran, M.D., (general cardiology and advanced imaging) will join in November and Sagar Damle, M.D., (cardiovascular surgery and heart transplant) will join on Jan 1, 2019. Both will practice out of Atlanta.  
 
Piedmont Heart Institute is a top destination for cardiovascular care, ranking in the top 5 percent in the country, and is the only program in Atlanta recognized with the Cardiac Care Excellence Award from Healthgrades – a mark of quality it has consistently earned for nine years. Piedmont also is an international leader in cardiovascular research enabling patients access to innovative therapies earlier and not available elsewhere.
 
The gift by The Marcus Foundation is the second largest ever made to a community hospital in the United States. When it is complete in September 2020, the Piedmont Atlanta Tower will house up to 408 beds and 13 new operating rooms. This state-of-the-art facility will be home to The Marcus Heart and Vascular Center and enable the expansion of other key healthcare services.