A whole-health approach to living well with heart failure.

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Jennifer Brown, MD

Jennifer Brown, MD, is board certified in cardiology and advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology, specializing in congestive heart failure, cardio-oncology, pulmonary arterial hypertension, women’s heart health, and preventive cardiology.

Dr. Brown focuses on improving her patients’ quality of life. For those with heart failure, this means managing symptoms and helping them stay out of the hospital. She offers frequent and urgent appointments when needed and collaborates closely with local oncology groups to provide the best preventive cardiac care for patients receiving chemotherapy or radiation.

Dr. Brown also has a special interest in pulmonary hypertension and optimizing care for this population. She emphasizes the importance of a heart-healthy diet and lifestyle, helping patients reduce cardiac risk factors through nutrition with the goal of minimizing the need for medication.

Dr. Brown works intimately with each patient and family to determine the right treatment plan, knowing that every patient has a unique story.

Dr. Brown practices at MedStar Health at Annapolis Medical Parkway, MedStar Health Cardiology at Bowie, and MedStar Health Cardiology at Kent Island.

Education:
Fellowship Program: Emory University Affiliated Hospitals (2014)
Fellowship Program: University of Maryland Medical Center (2012)
Residency Program: University of Maryland Medical Center (2009)
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine (2006)

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Nana Afari-Armah, MD

Nana Afari-Armah, MD, is an advanced heart failure specialist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He is board certified in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology, nuclear cardiology, echocardiography, and cardiovascular disease.

In his practice, Dr. Afari-Armah treats patients along the spectrum of advanced heart failure diagnoses and delivers care plans ranging from medical therapy to ventricular assist devices to cardiac transplantation. He has a special interest in patients with amyloidosis and other infiltrative cardiomyopathies.

Dr. Afari-Armah sees patients at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Education:
Fellowship Program: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2017)
Fellowship Program: Temple University Hospital (2016)
Residency Program: Temple University Hospital (2012)
Medical School: George Washington University (2009)

Certification and Professional Associations:
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology, Nuclear Cardiology

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Erika Feller, MD

Erika Feller, MD, is an advanced heart failure specialist and the director of heart failure outreach for the Baltimore region. She is board certified in cardiovascular disease and advanced heart failure and transplant.

Dr. Feller sees patients with any stage of heart failure, from early diagnosis to advanced disease, including those with LVADs and heart transplants. She also manages all types of complex cardiology and hard-to-control cases with multiple comorbidities. Prior to joining MedStar Health, Dr. Feller served as medical director of the heart transplant and LVAD programs at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

In her practice, Dr. Feller helps patients smoothly navigate the full resources of the cohesive MedStar Health system. She coordinates subspecialty services, as needed, always offering access to the highest levels of expertise available for patients at any disease stage. As director of heart failure outreach, Dr. Feller works to expand heart failure care offerings at a growing number of MedStar Health community clinics throughout the Baltimore region, providing more convenient options for patients.

Dr. Feller sees patients at MedStar Health at Belair, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, and Tidal Health Cardiology in Salsbury.

Education:
Fellowship Program: Temple University (2004)
Residency Program: Temple University Hospital (2001)
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine (1998)

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Sandeep Jani , MD

Sandeep Jani, MD, is a dedicated advanced heart failure cardiologist who believes the best medical outcomes start with a strong partnership between doctor and patient. As Medical Director of Advanced Heart Failure and the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) program at MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute in Baltimore, he brings specialized expertise to the community.

Double board-certified in Cardiology and Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology, Dr. Jani specializes in complex heart conditions requiring precise, personalized care. He treats patients across all stages of heart failure and manages a wide range of cardiomyopathies, including ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, HCM, genetic cardiomyopathies, and amyloidosis and other infiltrative heart diseases

For patients facing late-stage heart failure, Dr. Jani is experienced in navigating complex treatment options and ensuring access to the latest therapies.

Dr. Jani understands that heart disease diagnosis can feel overwhelming and approaches care with three priorities: clear, honest communication; use of advanced, evidence-based treatments; and personalized plans that align with each patient’s goals and lifestyle.

Dr. Jani sees patients at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and MedStar Union Memorial Hospital.

Education:
Fellowship Program: Medstar-Washington Hospital Center (2016)
Fellowship Program: MedStar Georgetown University Medical Center (2015)
Residency Program: Emory University School of Medicine (2011)
Medical School: Wayne State University (2008)

Certification and Professional Associations:
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine

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Weining D. Xu, MD

W. David Xu, MD is a cardiologist specializing in Advanced Heart Failure at the MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute. He holds board certifications in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, advanced heart failure, and transplant cardiology.

Dr. Xu focuses on the management of patients with heart failure and those requiring mechanical support devices including left ventricular assist devices (LVADs). He is particularly interested in LVAD recovery, and medical therapy for cardio-renal syndrome and diuretic resistance.

Dr. Xu chose to specialize in advanced heart failure to build long-term relationships with his patients. While heart failure presents unique challenges, patients are often highly engaged in their care and motivated to improve. By working as a team, he helps patients reach their goals and improve quality of life by recognizing that each patient defines their own milestones. He partners with patients and their families to establish a clear understanding of the care plan and to align treatment options with their goals and lifestyle.

In his practice, Dr. Malik prioritizes informed decision-making. When determining a treatment plan, he walks each patient through the risks and benefits of all their options—from lifestyle modifications, medical therapy, and when needed, more invasive treatments. He positions them to engage in monitoring their own cardiovascular status using simple parameters, such as exercise tolerance, blood pressure readings, and rhythm monitoring with the goal of improving their quality of life as well as longevity.

He is also a member of the American College of Cardiology and the Heart Failure Society of America.

Dr. Xu sees patients at MedStar Union Memorial Hospital.

Education:
Fellowship Program: Cleveland Clinic Foundation (2018)
Fellowship Program: University of Utah Health Sciences/Medical Center (2017)
Residency Program: Washington University School of Medicine (2013)
Medical School: University of Texas Southwestern Medical School (2010)

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Sandeep Jani , MD

Sandeep Jani, MD, is a dedicated advanced heart failure cardiologist who believes the best medical outcomes start with a strong partnership between doctor and patient. As Medical Director of Advanced Heart Failure and the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (HCM) program at MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute in Baltimore, he brings specialized expertise to the community.

Double board-certified in Cardiology and Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology, Dr. Jani specializes in complex heart conditions requiring precise, personalized care. He treats patients across all stages of heart failure and manages a wide range of cardiomyopathies, including ischemic and non-ischemic cardiomyopathy, HCM, genetic cardiomyopathies, and amyloidosis and other infiltrative heart diseases

For patients facing late-stage heart failure, Dr. Jani is experienced in navigating complex treatment options and ensuring access to the latest therapies.

Dr. Jani understands that heart disease diagnosis can feel overwhelming and approaches care with three priorities: clear, honest communication; use of advanced, evidence-based treatments; and personalized plans that align with each patient’s goals and lifestyle.

Dr. Jani sees patients at MedStar Franklin Square Medical Center and MedStar Union Memorial Hospital.

Education:
Fellowship Program: Medstar-Washington Hospital Center (2016)
Fellowship Program: MedStar Georgetown University Medical Center (2015)
Residency Program: Emory University School of Medicine (2011)
Medical School: Wayne State University (2008)

Certification and Professional Associations:
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine

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Ajay Kadakkal, MD

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.”

Education:
Fellowship Program: Stanford University School of Medicine (2017)
Fellowship Program: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2016)
Residency Program: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2012)
Medical School: University of Virginia School of Medicine (2009)

Education:
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine

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Erika Feller, MD

Erika Feller, MD, is an advanced heart failure specialist and the director of heart failure outreach for the Baltimore region. She is board certified in cardiovascular disease and advanced heart failure and transplant.

Dr. Feller sees patients with any stage of heart failure, from early diagnosis to advanced disease, including those with LVADs and heart transplants. She also manages all types of complex cardiology and hard-to-control cases with multiple comorbidities. Prior to joining MedStar Health, Dr. Feller served as medical director of the heart transplant and LVAD programs at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

In her practice, Dr. Feller helps patients smoothly navigate the full resources of the cohesive MedStar Health system. She coordinates subspecialty services, as needed, always offering access to the highest levels of expertise available for patients at any disease stage. As director of heart failure outreach, Dr. Feller works to expand heart failure care offerings at a growing number of MedStar Health community clinics throughout the Baltimore region, providing more convenient options for patients.

Dr. Feller sees patients at MedStar Health at Belair, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, and Tidal Health Cardiology in Salsbury.

Education:
Fellowship Program: Temple University (2004)
Residency Program: Temple University Hospital (2001)
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine (1998)

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Maria Rodrigo, MD

Maria Rodrigo, MD, is the Medical Director for the Heart Transplant Program and attending physician in the Advanced Heart Failure Mechanical Circulatory Support & Cardiac Transplantation Program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She also directs the outpatient LVAD (left ventricular assist device) clinic.

Dr. Rodrigo cares for patients with advanced heart failure, including those requiring heart transplants and mechanical circulatory support. She also specializes in cardiovascular disease during pregnancy, as well as infiltrative cardiomyopathies such as sarcoidosis and amyloidosis.

Dr. Rodrigo’s approach begins with a thorough evaluation starting with medicinal therapy then advancing treatments to LVAD implantation or heart transplantation when needed. She evaluates the eligibility of patients for advanced heart failure therapies and works as part of a multidisciplinary team, managing patients before, during, and after advanced procedures. Dr. Rodrigo is actively involved in advancing heart transplant care and serves as site principal investigator for NIH- and registry-based studies focused on improving transplant monitoring and outcomes. She is also board-certified internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology.

Dr. Rodrigo sees patients at MedStar Health Cardiology at Bethesda and MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Education:
Fellowship Program: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2014)
Fellowship Program: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2013)
Residency Program: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2010)
Medical School: Universidad Favaloro (2003)

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Mark Hofmeyer, MD

Mark Hofmeyer, MD, is Program Director of the Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology Fellowship Program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Medical Director of the Advanced Heart Failure IMC, and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Georgetown University School of Medicine. He is board certified in cardiovascular disease, advanced heart failure, and transplant cardiology.

Dr. Hofmeyer specializes in caring for patients with advanced heart failure. Dr. Hofmeyer personalizes each patient’s treatment plan to improve overall quality of life. He evaluates patients for advanced therapies such as inotropic support, Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs), or a heart transplant, and manages their care for long term.

Dr. Hofmeyer has strong clinical and research interests in the genetics of dilated cardiomyopathy. He is also a member of the American College of Cardiology, the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation, the Heart Failure Society of America.

Dr. Hofmeyer sees patients at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center and MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Education:
Fellowship Program: Jackson Memorial Hospital (2011)
Fellowship Program: University of Miami/Jackson Health System (2010)
Residency Program: University of Miami/Jackson Health System (2007)
Medical School: Wayne State University (2004)

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Rania Kaoukis, MD

Rania Kaoukis, MD, is an attending advanced heart failure and cardiac transplant cardiologist affiliated with MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center and MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Dr. Kaoukis is board certified in heart failure and transplant cardiology, cardiology, echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, and internal medicine. She specializes in the treatment and management of patients with congestive heart failure, end-stage heart failure, and ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathies.

Dr. Kaoukis provides guideline-directed medical therapy as the cornerstone of treatment for heart failure. She also provides mechanical circulatory support and manages patients before, during, and after heart transplantation.

Her research interests have focused on the use of echocardiography to monitor changes in cardiac anatomy and function in patients on guideline-directed medical therapy for heart failure.

Dr. Kaoukis is passionate about using her experience to provide advanced heart failure treatments to rural communities; those who historically have had less access to the care that is provided at large academic medical centers located in metropolis areas.

Dr. Kaoukis received her medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine.

She completed an internal medicine residency at Loyola University Medical Center and a three-year cardiovascular fellowship at Temple University Hospital. She then completed advanced fellowship training in heart failure and transplantation at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She is a member of the American College of Cardiology and the American College of Physicians.

When not dedicating her time to providing heart failure treatment to her community, she enjoys spending time with her husband and her dog. She loves to travel and enjoys cooking and preparing Greek pastries.

Philosophy of Care:
“I’m dedicated to a philosophy of continuous learning. My promise to my patients is that I will continue to be as up-to-date as possible when it comes to the field of heart failure medicine so that I can offer my patients the most vanguard treatments and appropriate care for their diagnosis and health history.

“I approach each patient with the intention of treating them as a whole. I believe it’s essential to understand both the medical needs as well as the psychosocial needs of each of my patients in order to recommend and deliver the most appropriate care. I take the time to ask the right questions, and actively listen to my patients’ concerns and treatment goals.

“As a heart failure specialist who has been trained within the MedStar Health system, I look forward to collaborating with providers, surgeons, and team members to provide thorough, high-quality, and multidisciplinary care.”

Education:
Fellowship Program: Medstar Washington Hospital Center (2021)
Fellowship Program: Temple University Hospital (2020)
Residency Program: Loyola University Medical Center (2017)
Medical School: Indiana Univ/Purdue University-Indianapolis (2014)

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Erika Feller, MD

Erika Feller, MD, is an advanced heart failure specialist and the director of heart failure outreach for the Baltimore region. She is board certified in cardiovascular disease and advanced heart failure and transplant.

Dr. Feller sees patients with any stage of heart failure, from early diagnosis to advanced disease, including those with LVADs and heart transplants. She also manages all types of complex cardiology and hard-to-control cases with multiple comorbidities. Prior to joining MedStar Health, Dr. Feller served as medical director of the heart transplant and LVAD programs at the University of Maryland Medical Center.

In her practice, Dr. Feller helps patients smoothly navigate the full resources of the cohesive MedStar Health system. She coordinates subspecialty services, as needed, always offering access to the highest levels of expertise available for patients at any disease stage. As director of heart failure outreach, Dr. Feller works to expand heart failure care offerings at a growing number of MedStar Health community clinics throughout the Baltimore region, providing more convenient options for patients.

Dr. Feller sees patients at MedStar Health at Belair, MedStar Union Memorial Hospital, and Tidal Health Cardiology in Salsbury.

Education:
Fellowship Program: Temple University (2004)
Residency Program: Temple University Hospital (2001)
Medical School: University of Maryland School of Medicine (1998)

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Tania Vora, MD

Tania Vora, MD, FACC, is an advanced heart failure physician and specializes in identifying, evaluating, and managing patients with both acute and chronic heart failure, particularly end-stage heart failure and infiltrative cardiomyopathies like cardiac sarcoidosis and amyloidosis. She works with the advanced heart failure multidisciplinary team to complete comprehensive evaluations to determine if her patients are candidates for home inotropic therapy, left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, or heart transplantation.

Dr. Vora treats all advanced heart failure patients from those who have progressed to stage D heart failure to managing patients after receiving advanced heart failure therapies, such as LVAD and heart transplantation. She uses state of the art imaging and genetic testing to diagnose infiltrative cardiomyopathies including cardiac sarcoidosis and cardiac amyloidosis.

Her research interests include studying the role of genetics in infiltrative cardiomyopathies, the long-term prognosis of patients with infiltrative cardiomyopathies who receive advanced heart failure therapies, and how to utilize clinical tools to diagnose infiltrative cardiomyopathy early.

Dr. Vora sees patients at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and MedStar Health Advanced Heart Failure at Reston.

Education:
Fellowship: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2018)
Fellowship: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2017)
Residency: Georgetown University School of Medicine GME (2013)
Medical School: Georgetown University Medical Center (2010)

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Nana Afari-Armah, MD

Nana Afari-Armah, MD, is an advanced heart failure specialist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. He is board certified in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology, nuclear cardiology, echocardiography, and cardiovascular disease.

In his practice, Dr. Afari-Armah treats patients along the spectrum of advanced heart failure diagnoses and delivers care plans ranging from medical therapy to ventricular assist devices to cardiac transplantation. He has a special interest in patients with amyloidosis and other infiltrative cardiomyopathies.

Dr. Afari-Armah sees patients at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Education:
Fellowship Program: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2017)
Fellowship Program: Temple University Hospital (2016)
Residency Program: Temple University Hospital (2012)
Medical School: George Washington University (2009)

Certification and Professional Associations:
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
Board Certification: Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology, Nuclear Cardiology

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Keki Balsara, MD

Keki Balsara, MD, MBA, FACS, FACC, is Surgical Director of Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support at the MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute, the highest volume ventricular-assist device program in the Mid Atlantic.

As a board-certified cardiac and transplant surgeon and intensivist with nearly 10 years of experience in the field, Dr. Balsara sees patients across the entire spectrum of cardiac disease in the Washington, D.C. area. This includes coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, aortic pathology, and complex re-operative surgery. He has a particular interest in end-stage heart failure, heart transplantation, and mechanical circulatory support. He brings a wealth of experience in expanding both the donor and recipient pools for transplantation.

Dr. Balsara has a particular interest in quality improvement and standardization of care to improve outcomes, reduce waste, and increase access to care. He is passionate about leveraging the scale of health systems to offer a variety of cutting-edge therapies to patients from varied geographic and economic backgrounds who have previously been denied access.

His research interests have focused on expanding ways to increase the number of organs available and have looked at maximizing hospital-wide efficiencies, focusing on cost-containment in the operating room.

Dedicated to the advancement of the field of cardiothoracic surgery, Dr. Balsara is committed to teaching medical students and residents, cultivating the next generation of healthcare leaders.

Dr. Balsara sees patients at MedStar Washington Hospital Center and MedStar Georgetown University Hospital.

Education:
Graduate: University of Pennsylvania (2019)
Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2014)
Fellowship: Duke University Medical Center (2011)
Residency: Duke University Medical Center (2010)
Medical School: University of Pennsylvania (2003)

Certification and Professional Associations:
Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, General Surgery
Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery

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Richa Gupta, MD

Richa Gupta, MD, MPH, is an advanced heart failure specialist at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She is board certified in cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging, and internal medicine, and is a member of the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation and the Heart Failure Society of America.

Dr. Gupta cares for patients with a wide range of heart failure diagnoses, including those newly diagnosed, living with longstanding disease, and being evaluated for or living with a heart transplant or LVAD. She works closely with patients to control symptoms, improve survival, and enhance quality of life.

From a research standpoint, Dr. Gupta is also interested in improving outcomes for transplant recipients and cardiomyopathy patients through advanced imaging and more personalized care approaches.

Dr. Gupta partners with referring physicians to identify early signs of heart failure and provides consultations to clarify a diagnosis, even when heart disease is only suspected.

Dr. Gupta sees patients at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Education:
Fellowship: Vanderbilt University Medical Center (2021)
Fellowship: Vanderbilt University Medical Center (2020)
Residency: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2017)
Medical School: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2014)
Graduate: John Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health (2013)

Certification and Professional Associations:
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine

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Mark Hofmeyer, MD

Mark Hofmeyer, MD, is Program Director of the Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology Fellowship Program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center, Medical Director of the Advanced Heart Failure IMC, and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Georgetown University School of Medicine. He is board certified in cardiovascular disease, advanced heart failure, and transplant cardiology.

Dr. Hofmeyer specializes in caring for patients with advanced heart failure. Dr. Hofmeyer personalizes each patient’s treatment plan to improve overall quality of life. He evaluates patients for advanced therapies such as inotropic support, Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVADs), or a heart transplant, and manages their care for long term.

Dr. Hofmeyer has strong clinical and research interests in the genetics of dilated cardiomyopathy. He is also a member of the American College of Cardiology, the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation, the Heart Failure Society of America.

Dr. Hofmeyer sees patients at MedStar Southern Maryland Hospital Center and MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Education:
Fellowship Program: Jackson Memorial Hospital (2011)
Fellowship Program: University of Miami/Jackson Health System (2010)
Residency Program: University of Miami/Jackson Health System (2007)
Medical School: Wayne State University (2004)

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Ajay Kadakkal, MD

Ajay Kadakkal, MD, is a board-certified advanced heart failure specialist who treats patients with advanced diastolic heart failure and congestive heart failure along with patients who need a heart transplant and require mechanical service support from devices like the left ventricular assist device (LVAD). Dr. Kadakkal takes a special interest in infiltrative, inflammatory, and often underdiagnosed heart conditions like cardiac amyloidosis.

Dr. Kadakkal 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. He 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. Dr. Kadakkal and his team are 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 sees patients at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Education:
Fellowship Program: Stanford University School of Medicine (2017)
Fellowship Program: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2016)
Residency Program: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2012)
Medical School: University of Virginia School of Medicine (2009)

Certification and Professional Associations:
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine

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Phillip Lam, MD

Phillip H. Lam, MD, is an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology specialist at the MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute. Dr. Lam treats patients with varying levels of heart failure. For less advanced cases, he prescribes medication and other therapies intended to reverse or slow the progression of their disease. For more advanced cases, he specializes in the management of heart transplants and mechanical support, including temporary and durable mechanical circulatory support devices.

Dr. Lam’s specific research interests include risk prognosticators and medical therapies in patients with heart failure. He has published and contributed to papers in various high-impact journals.

Dr. Lam sees patients at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Education:
Fellowship: Brigham and Womens Hospital (2019)
Fellowship: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2018)
Residency: Washington Hospital Center (2015)
Medical School: University of Vermont College of Medicine (2011)

Certifcation and Professional Assocations:
Board Certification: American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine

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Maria Rodrigo, MD

Maria Rodrigo, MD, is the Medical Director for the Heart Transplant Program and attending physician in the Advanced Heart Failure Mechanical Circulatory Support & Cardiac Transplantation Program at MedStar Washington Hospital Center. She also directs the outpatient LVAD (left ventricular assist device) clinic.

Dr. Rodrigo cares for patients with advanced heart failure, including those requiring heart transplants and mechanical circulatory support. She also specializes in cardiovascular disease during pregnancy, as well as infiltrative cardiomyopathies such as sarcoidosis and amyloidosis.

Dr. Rodrigo’s approach begins with a thorough evaluation starting with medicinal therapy then advancing treatments to LVAD implantation or heart transplantation when needed. She evaluates the eligibility of patients for advanced heart failure therapies and works as part of a multidisciplinary team, managing patients before, during, and after advanced procedures. Dr. Rodrigo is actively involved in advancing heart transplant care and serves as site principal investigator for NIH- and registry-based studies focused on improving transplant monitoring and outcomes. She is also board-certified internal medicine, cardiovascular disease, and advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology.

Dr. Rodrigo sees patients at MedStar Health Cardiology at Bethesda and MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Education:
Fellowship Program: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2014)
Fellowship Program: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2013)
Residency Program: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2010)
Medical School: Universidad Favaloro (2003)

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Farooq Sheikh, MD

Farooq Sheikh, MD, specializes in Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantation for MedStar Heart & Vascular Institute.

Dr. Sheikh publishes extensively in his field and has authored or co-authored numerous articles related to cardiovascular medicine and heart failure.

Dr. Sheikh is a recipient of numerous awards, including Professionalism Award, Department of Medicine, Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center, and Frank L. Pollack, MD, Research Award, New York Medical College.

Dr. Sheikh sees patients at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Education:
Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2010)
Residency: New York Presbyterian Hospital (2006)
Medical School: New York Medical College (2003)

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Miguel Pinilla Vera, MD

Miguel Pinilla Vera, MD, is an advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology specialist at the MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute.

Dr. Pinilla Vera provides diagnostic testing and evidence-based treatment to patients who are at all stages of heart failure from the early and asymptomatic stages to the most advanced situations, in which a heart transplant or a mechanical long-term pump might be needed.

Dr. Penilla Vera focuses on caring for his patients by using medications, recommending changes in lifestyle, and evaluating the necessity of using mechanical pumps, like left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) and heart transplantation when medication treatment is no longer an option. He works closely with the cardiac surgeons at MedStar Heart and Vascular Institute, one of the largest LVADs centers in the world, to care for patients who require surgical intervention for advanced heart failure.

His clinical and research interests include diagnosing, treating, and providing long-term care for patients with advanced heart failure and inflammatory cardiomyopathy. Dr. Pinilla Vera is passionate about further understanding the mechanisms of the development of heart failure as well as finding better ways to treat patients with this condition.

Dr. Pinilla Vera sees patients at MedStar Washington Hospital Center.

Education:
Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2022)
Fellowship: Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine (2021)
Residency: University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (2016)
Medical School: Pontificia Universidad Javeriana (2008)

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Tania Vora, MD

Tania Vora, MD, FACC, is an advanced heart failure physician and specializes in identifying, evaluating, and managing patients with both acute and chronic heart failure, particularly end-stage heart failure and infiltrative cardiomyopathies like cardiac sarcoidosis and amyloidosis. She works with the advanced heart failure multidisciplinary team to complete comprehensive evaluations to determine if her patients are candidates for home inotropic therapy, left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation, or heart transplantation.

Dr. Vora treats all advanced heart failure patients from those who have progressed to stage D heart failure to managing patients after receiving advanced heart failure therapies, such as LVAD and heart transplantation. She uses state of the art imaging and genetic testing to diagnose infiltrative cardiomyopathies including cardiac sarcoidosis and cardiac amyloidosis.

Her research interests include studying the role of genetics in infiltrative cardiomyopathies, the long-term prognosis of patients with infiltrative cardiomyopathies who receive advanced heart failure therapies, and how to utilize clinical tools to diagnose infiltrative cardiomyopathy early.

Dr. Vora sees patients at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and MedStar Health Advanced Heart Failure at Reston.

Education:
Fellowship: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2018)
Fellowship: MedStar Washington Hospital Center (2017)
Residency: Georgetown University School of Medicine GME (2013)
Medical School: Georgetown University Medical Center (2010)