HCA Midwest Health—Kansas City’s leading healthcare provider—announced today that Dhanunjaya “DJ” Lakkireddy, M.D., has been appointed Medical Director of the new Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute at HCA Midwest Health. Dr. Lakkireddy, a board-certified, fellowship-trained cardiologist, is a researcher and renowned leader in electrophysiology research and an education leader in atrial fibrillation and complex arrhythmias.
Dr. Lakkireddy will oversee HCA Midwest Health’s robust electrophysiology programs throughout the Kansas City area. He joined the medical staff at Overland Park Regional Medical Center and the cardiology practice, Midwest Heart and Vascular Specialists, effective May 1, 2018.
Dr. Lakkireddy and Midwest Heart and Vascular Specialists have an unyielding commitment to the delivery of high-quality healthcare, with convenient access and online patient scheduling, demonstrating a “patient-first” focus. This focus includes the introduction of additional advanced cardiovascular services, ensuring the best access possible to top-quality cardiovascular care.
An acclaimed researcher for 15 years, Dr. Lakkireddy has published more than 300 papers on his cutting-edge research in the field of electrophysiology and is a sought-after keynote speaker for international conferences. Additionally, he hosts and is the course director for the Kansas City Heart Rhythm Symposium, which provides medical education to providers in a four-state region to advance patient care.
“Dr. Lakkireddy is a nationally respected leader in complex arrhythmias and we are honored and thrilled to have him join the HCA Midwest Health family,” says HCA Midwest Health President M.L. Lagarde III. “Heart disease is a leading cause of death in our nation and further enhancing our electrophysiology services to ensure that we offer our patients unsurpassed, high-quality cardiovascular services is critical to our mission of making communities healthier and stronger. His guidance and experience will augment the services we provide in this important specialty area.”
Previously a professor of medicine in the department of internal medicine at an academic teaching hospital, Dr. Lakkireddy is the recipient of numerous professional honors and awards, including Prevention Magazine’s “Integrative Medicine” Award and Ingram’s magazine “Heroes in Healthcare” Award. Many accolades have centered on his extensive clinical research activity. He continues to serve as the principal investigator for clinical trials and studies around the world, serves as associate editor for the Journal of Atrial Fibrillation and is an editorial board member and reviewer for more than 30 scientific publications, including the American Heart Journal, American Journal of Cardiology, Clinical Cardiology, Heart Rhythm Journal and the Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology. He was the former governor of the Kansas American College of Cardiology and is very active in cardiovascular professional societies. Dr. Lakkireddy is the incoming chairman of the ACC Electrophysiology Council and is a member of the Heart Rhythm Society’s program committee.
“DJ is an internationally known expert and highly regarded for working passionately with patients who are suffering from complex, advanced arrhythmias,” says HCA Midwest Health Cardiovascular Services Medical Director Steven Marso, M.D. “The addition of DJ allows our already-strong electrophysiology program to be enhanced and grow into new markets, as well as provide new treatment options for referring physicians and their patients. His impeccable career and extensive research experience show his passion for patient excellence. DJ will be a tremendous asset to HCA Midwest Health’s Cardiovascular Services.”
“Providing patients access to the right doctor at the right time and right place is integral to cardiovascular healthcare,” says Dr. Lakkireddy. “HCA Midwest Health offers patients and their families excellent care and unprecedented access through its emergency departments, cardiology practices, urgent care system and primary care physicians. This is the kind of healthcare my patients want and need, so it’s an honor and privilege to join the HCA Midwest Health family.”
For more information on HCA Midwest Health and its robust cardiovascular services, including the Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute at HCA Midwest, visit https://hcamidwest.com/service/heart-care.