About me
Ajay Kadakkal, MD, is a board-certified advanced heart failure specialist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center’s Heart and Vascular Institute. He treats patients with advanced diastolic heart failure and congestive heart failure. He also treats patients who are in need of a heart transplant and require mechanical service support from devices like the left ventricular assist device (LVAD). In addition, Dr. Kadakkal takes a special interest in infiltrative and inflammatory heart conditions like cardiac amyloidosis and sarcoidosis, which are often underdiagnosed. He is dedicated to building MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute as a referral base and top local center for referrals for patients with these conditions.
Dr. Kadakkal is part of a strong clinical practice at Medstar that provides a variety of diagnostic tests, ranging from imaging to cardiac stress testing. As part of this practice, he contributes to a team that is at the forefront of LVAD device placement and management at one of the top LVAD implant centers in the country. Dr. Kadakkal is passionate about continuing to develop and improve the durability and size of LVADs. His goal is to contribute to clinical trials that will improve the design of LVADs to be fully implantable, smaller, and less intrusive to the patient’s quality of life.
He is part of a group research effort at MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute that involves a variety of clinical trials currently researching and providing new technology to patients who require mechanical circulatory support. His team is also currently building a database that observes patients with sarcoidosis and amyloidosis, looking at the difference in hemodynamic parameters among specific treatments for these conditions.
Dr. Kadakkal received his medical degree from the University of Virginia School of Medicine. He then joined University of Pittsburgh Medical Center for residency and fellowship training before completing a specialty fellowship at Stanford University Medical Center.
Philosophy of Care
“Today, cardiovascular care is heavily influenced by technology. For this reason, it’s important that I am able to offer my patients the most advanced technology available while adhering to evidence-based practices.
“I take the time to help each patient understand the process of his/her disease and clearly understand what treatment options are available to either improve his/her health or stay within the lines of what his/her goals of care are. I believe that a holistic approach to patient care provides the best results. The ability to provide compassionate care lies in the time I take to listen to my patients in order to provide them with the best quality of life and survival available to them by implementing what I feel is the newest and most advanced technology.
“I am available to share information with providers and coordinate care with them for any referral patients.”
Clinical areas of focus
- Cardiac Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Cardiomyopathy
- Congestive Heart Failure Management
- Heart Failure Management
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Hypertension Treatment
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Left Ventricular Assist Device
- MRA With Contrast
- Transplant Evaluation
- Ventricular Dysfunction
Conditions and procedures
Conditions I treat
- Advanced Heart Failure
- Advanced Heart Failure (ADHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure (AHF)
- Advanced Heart Failure Care
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy (ARVC)
- Cardiac Prosthetic Device Complications
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis
- Cardiomyopathy
- Chagas' Disease
- Complications Of Cardiac And Vascular Prosthetic Devices
- Complications Of Transplanted Organs And Tissue
- Heart Disease
- Heart Failure
- Heart Transplant Failure
- Heart Transplant Rejection
- Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
- Liver Transplantation
- Multiple Myeloma With Amyloidosis
- Peripartum Cardiomyopathy
- Persistent Pulmonary Hypertension
- Presence Of Cardiac And Vascular Implants
- Pulmonary Edema
- Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Valve Disease With Congestive Heart Failure
- Ventricular Assist Device Infection
- Ventricular Dysfunction
Procedures I perform
- A1c Testing
- Aldosterone Antagonist Therapy
- Amyloidosis Treatment
- Atrial Appendage Closure
- Cardiac Afterload Assessment
- Cardiac Biopsy
- Cardiac Cardiomyopathy Treatment
- Cardiac Catheterization
- Cardiac Contractility Modulation
- Cardiac Elastography
- Cardiac Function Testing
- Cardiac Loop Recorder Placement
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging With Stress
- Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy
- Cardiac Sarcoidosis Treatment
- Cardiovascular Mri
- Cardiovascular Telemedicine
- Cardioversion
- Computerized Tomography (CT) Scan
- Congestive Heart Failure Management
- Cushing Syndrome Management
- Echocardiogram With Contrast
- Echocardiography
- Electrophysiology Study
- Hair Cell Regeneration Therapy
- Heart Failure Management
- Heart Failure Monitoring
- Heart Pacemaker Implantation
- Heart Transplant
- Hypertension Treatment
- Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Placement
- Inotropic Therapy
- Intra-Aortic Balloon Pump Insertion
- Left Ventricular Assist Device
- Live-In Care
- MRA With Contrast
- Myocardial Viability Testing
- Neonatal Advanced Life Support
- Pacemaker Optimization
- Pulmonary Exercise Testing
- Pulmonary Function Tests
- Renal Artery Denervation
- Stem Cell Therapy
- Strain Imaging
- Stress Echocardiography
- Tissue Doppler Imaging
- Transesophageal Echocardiography
- Transplant Evaluation
- Transthoracic Echocardiography
- Ventricular Assist Device
- Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation
- Watchman Device Implantation
Insurance
MedStar Health accepts most major health insurance plans. If you are uncertain as to whether your individual health insurance plan is accepted at MedStar Health, please call your insurance company.
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List of insurance plans we accept
- IH-PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Beech Street PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- UHC Passport
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- IH-Indemnity
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- United Healthcare Choice
- Choice POS
- CIGNA Indemnity
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-Open POS II
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- Choice Fund PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- Aetna Basic
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- Optimum Choice
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- Aetna VA Exchange
- IH-Open HMO
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- Medicare Direct
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- MultiPlan, Inc
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- IH-HMO
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- HighMark
- TRICARE for Life East
- Navigate
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- OA Plus
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- First Health PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- Aetna Classic 5000
- Choice POS II
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- IH-Open POS Plus
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- Sentara Health
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- Medicare FFS
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- Employee Health Plan
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Network OA
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- POS OA
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- First Health PPO
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- BlueChoice Open Access
- IH-POS
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- IH-EPO Plus
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- CareFirst NASCO
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- CIGNA EPO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Tricare Reserve Select
- IH-Open HMO Option
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- HealthyBlue PPO
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- TRICARE East Select
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Police and Fire Clinic
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Blue Choice Advantage
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Premier 200PD
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Administrators
- CareFirst EPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Aetna Classic 3500
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- CIGNA PPO
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Choice POS II Open Access
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- United Student Resources
Education
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Fellowship: Stanford University School of Medicine (2017)
Fellowship: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2016)
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2012)
Medical School: University of Virginia School of Medicine (2009)