Atlanta, Ga. (Dec. 13, 2021) –Piedmont Heart Institute, Piedmont Healthcare’s nationally recognized heart and vascular program, has hired nine cardiovascular specialists as part of its commitment to expand access to these critical sub-specialties.

Four of the physicians will practice out of Piedmont Atlanta, the system’s largest hospital, while the others will be based out of Piedmont Heart of Rockdale, Blairsville, Athens, and Fayette, Newnan, Sharpsburg.

“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 generous philanthropic gifts we have received and as a result of our commitment to be a national leader in this area, we are able to expand our cardiovascular services and make a positive difference in the lives we touch.”

The following physicians will have joined Piedmont Heart in 2021:

• Kelli Salter, M.D. – (critical care cardiovascular surgery) joined Piedmont Heart Surgeons in Atlanta on January 3, 2021. She received her medical degree from University of Colorado School of Medicine and completed her residency in general surgery and critical care medicine at Oregon Health Sciences School of Medicine, where she also completed her fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery.  
   
• Robert Cole, M.D. - (advanced heart failure) joined the Samsky Advanced Heart Failure Center on January 18. Dr. Cole received his medical degree and completed his cardiology residency and advanced heart failure fellowship at Emory University. He specializes in the treatment of heart failure patients who may require advanced therapies, mechanical circulatory support and/or transplantation.
   
• Subba Vanga, M.D. – (interventional cardiology) joined Piedmont Heart Rockdale on June 21. He received his medical degree from Guntur Medical College, completed his residency in internal medicine at St. Luke’s Hospital and his fellowships in cardiology and interventional cardiology at Christiana Care Health System. He is board certified in cardiovascular disease and interventional cardiology by the ABIM.
   
• Robert Rollings, M.D. – (general cardiology) joined Piedmont Heart in Blairsville on July 12. Dr. Rollings earned his medical degree at Vanderbilt University Medical School and completed his internship and residency in internal medicine at Vanderbilt University Hospitals and his fellowship in cardiology at Medical Center Hospital of Vermont. He is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease by the ABIM.
   
• Jonathan Trent Magruder, M.D. - (cardiothoracic surgery) joined Piedmont Cardio Thoracic Surgeons in Athens on August 9. Dr. Magruder specializes in cardiothoracic surgery and is certified by the American Board of Surgery. His clinical interests include coronary revascularization using multi-arterial grafting strategies, valvular heart disease, aortic pathology (aneurysmal disease), and heart failure therapies.
   
• Rahul Loungani, M.D. – (advanced heart failure) joined the Samsky Advanced Heart Failure Center on August 9. He received his medical degree from Medical University of South Carolina and completed his fellowships at Duke University Hospital. Dr. Loungani specializes in cardiomyopathy, advanced heart failure, and cardiac transplantation.
   
• Katherine Kunkel, M.D. – (interventional cardiology) joined Piedmont Heart Interventional Cardiology in Atlanta on September 7. Dr. Kunkel earned her medical degree at Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania and trained at Johns Hoplins Hospital and later completed her fellowships in cardiovascular diseases, interventional cardiology, and structural interventions at Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, as well as complex, high-risk indicated percutaneous coronary intervention and advanced hemodynamic care at Henry Ford Hospital.
   
• Rajat Singh, M.D. – (general cardiology) joined Piedmont Heart of Fayette, Newnan and Sharpsburg on September 7. He is board certified in adult echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, and internal medicine. Dr. Singh earned his medical degree at Medical College of Georgia and completed his residency at Boston University Medical Center and fellowship in cardiovascular disease at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
   
• Daniel Haithcock, M.D. – (electrophysiology) joined Piedmont Heart in Athens on September 20. He is board certified in Cardiology, Cardiovascular Electrophysiology and Internal Medicine. Dr. Haithcock earned his undergraduate degree in biology at the University of Virginia, and his medical degree at Case Western Reserve University. He completed an Internal Medicine residency at Temple University Hospital and served a year on faculty as Chief Resident, followed by a Cardiology and Electrophysiology Fellowship at Duke University Hospital.

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 consistently recognized with the Cardiac Care Excellence Award– a mark of quality it has earned for more than 10 years. Piedmont also is an international leader in cardiovascular research enabling patients access to innovative therapies earlier and not available elsewhere.

About Piedmont Heart

Piedmont Heart Institute ranks in the top 5 percent in the country among cardiovascular organizations and is the only program in Atlanta consistently recognized with the Cardiac Care Excellence Award – a mark of quality it has earned for more than 10 years. Piedmont is an international leader in cardiovascular research, enabling patient access to innovative therapies not available elsewhere.