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
- Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS)
- Choice POS II Open Access
- HumanaChoice PPO
- Humana Medicare Advantage - HMO Open Access
- HealthyBlue PPO
- Network OA
- TRICARE for Life East
- Optima Family Care MCO - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Advantage 5750
- Aetna Student Health Insurance
- Cigna Alliance Medicare (HMO)
- Kaiser Permanente HMO Plus and DHMO Plus Member
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Basic
- Humana Gold Plus HMO
- Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO Plans
- Core Essential (HMO)
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
- IH-Open POS II
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthcare Alliance
- AmeriHealth Caritas DC Healthy Families
- Humana Medicare Advantage - PPO
- Healthy Blue (HMO, POS)
- IH-EPO Plus
- Aetna Traditional Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service (POS)
- Jai Medical Systems - Maryland Health Choice
- TriWest Healthcare Alliance
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO) Cardiac Global
- CIGNA HMO & Network (HMO)
- TRICARE East Prime
- Choice Fund PPO
- Coventry of Delaware HMO/PPO
- IH-Open HMO
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage
- CareFirst Federal Employee Program (Std. & Basic PPO)
- CareFirst Community Health Plan of MD
- CareFirst MedStar Select PPO
- Medicare FFS
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthcare Alliance
- M.D. IPA Preferred (POS)
- Kaiser Maryland Medicaid MCO
- CIGNA POS/Network POS
- Coventry Health Care of Virginia
- CareFirst Blue Card Program
- Aetna Classic 3500
- IH-Network Only Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Plus
- Kaiser Permanente Select
- MedStar Family Choice DC Healthy Families
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Dual Adv
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Adv. Special Needs Plans
- Aetna Managed Choice Open Access (POS)
- Aetna Medicare Advantage PFFS Plan
- BlueChoice Open Access
- IH-Open EPO Plus
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PLUS PPO
- First Health PPO
- United Student Resources
- HumanaChoice Honor's plan PPO
- Medicare Advantage - Advantra Value (PPO)
- Advantra Platinum (PPO)
- CareFirst Maryland Indemnity or PPO
- Options PPO Cardiac Global
- DC/MD SHOP QHP Small Business Plans
- Anthem Federal Employee Program Standard
- Aetna Better Health of MD
- Aetna Elect Choice/ EPO (Aetna Health Fund)
- CIGNA SureFit (HMO)
- United Medicare Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans
- Aetna Basic
- Beech Street PPO
- Cigna TotalCare (HMO D-SNP)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Open Access
- Medicare Direct
- Geisinger Medicare Advantage
- Aetna Worker's Compensation Network
- TRICARE East Select
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD HMO
- Aetna HMO-Open Access/Select OA/HealthFund/Health Network Option OA
- Choice POS II
- POS OA
- CIGNA PPO Plus
- CareFirst FEP Blue Focus
- Amerigroup DC Alliance
- OA Plus
- Sentara Health
- Police and Fire Clinic
- CareFirst (NCA) Indemnity
- Health Services for Children with Special Needs
- Amerigroup DC Healthy Families
- United Healthcare Navigate Cardiac Global
- IH-HMO
- CIGNA Indemnity
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice 3-tier POS
- United Healthcare Choice
- Aetna Classic 5000PD
- Priority Partners - Maryland Health Choice
- Lasso Healthcare - Medicare Medical Savings Account
- IH-POS Plus
- CareFirst BlueChoice HMO
- Select HMO/HealthFund/Health Network
- CIGNA Connect EPO
- Erickson Advantage Plans
- CareFirst NASCO
- WellPoint Maryland - Maryland Health Choice
- CIGNA PPO
- IH-Open HMO Option
- United HealthCare Community Plan - Maryland Health Choice Program
- Aetna Signature Administrator PPO/TPA
- Great-West Healthcare POS/CIGNA
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (POS & POS OA)
- CareFirst Dual Prime HMO-SNP
- NYC Medicare Advantage Plus
- Private Health Care Systems (PPO)
- Mamsi Life & Health (Indem./PPO)
- UnitedHealthcare Individual Exchange Plans
- Choice POS
- MultiPlan, Inc
- United Healthcare Options (PPO)
- CareFirst Blue Choice Opt Out Plus Open Access (POS)
- CareFirst Blue Preferred PPO
- UHC Passport
- Uniformed Services Family Health Plan
- CIGNA EPO
- Aetna Advantage 6350
- Kaiser Permanente Select Cardiac Global
- Aetna Better Health of VA
- CareFirst Administrators
- UHC Group Medicare Advantage Plans (HMO, POS, PPO)
- Tricare Reserve Select
- United Healthcare Select HMO-EPO/NPP Cardiac Global
- Aetna Advantage 6350PD
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- United Healthcare Choice Plus Cardiac Global
- CareFirst Group Medicare Advantage prescription drug benefit (PPO)
- Coventry Health Care National Network PPO
- Kaiser Permaenete Signature - Added Choice Cardiac Global
- Navigate
- Aetna VA Exchange
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Aetna Classic 5000
- CIGNA HMO Open Access
- UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage DSNP District of Columbia
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue Plus
- BCBS Out-of-State Medicare Plans (Blue Advantage)
- Kaiser Permanente Signature - Added Choice
- Optimum Choice
- United Healthcare Community Plan - VA Medicaid MCO
- United Healthcare Select HMO - EPO/NPP
- Aetna HMO
- IH-Open POS Plus
- Anthem BCBS of VA Key Care POS/PPO/Indemnity
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers Plus
- OCI Direct (HMO)
- United Healthcare Select Plus (POS)
- CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Advantage Core/Enhanced
- HUMANA/Choice Care Medicare Plans (Choice, Gold Choice)
- Kaiser Permanente Select - Added Choice
- Kaiser Permanente Medicare Advantage Signature and Select
- M.D. IPA (HMO)
- Employee Health Plan
- Kaiser Permanente Signature
- HighMark
- Cigna Achieve Medicare (HMO C-SNP)
- Blue Choice Advantage
- CareFirst Maryland Point of Service Plan
- Maryland Physicians Care MCO
- Fee-for-Service (FFS) District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia Medicaid
- Choice Care Network/HUMANA (PPO)
- First Health PPO
- Veterans Affairs Community Care Network
- Kaiser Permanente Flexible Choice POS Cardiac Global
- Magellan Complete Care of VA - VA Medicaid MCO
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Anthem BCBS of VA HealthKeepers (HMO)
- Aetna Elect Choice/ Open Access (POS)
- UnitedHealthcare and AARP Medicare Complete Plans
- United Healthcare Choice Cardiac Global
- United Healthcare Choice Plus
- IH-PPO
- CareFirst MedStar PPO
- Johns Hopkins Advantage MD PPO
- Cigna True Choice Plus Medicare (PPO)
- Alterwood Advanatge HMO & DSNP Plans
- AMERIVANTAGE/Amerigroup Community Care
- Anthem BCBS Medi Blue SNP
- MD IPA (HMO) & MD IPA Preferred Cardiac Global
- IH-Open Network Only Plus
- Optimum Choice & Optimum Choice Preferred (POS) Cardiac Global
- Optimum Choice Preferred (POS)
- BCBS of Michigan (BCN Advantage,Security Blue, Freedom, Medicare PLUS Blue Group PPO)
- MedStar Family Choice - Maryland Health Choice
- IH-POS
- IH-Indemnity
- CareFirst EPO
- Aetna Premier 200PD
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)