Cardiologists in Nashville

June 14, 2026

A cardiologist is a physician, an M.D. or a D.O., who has completed an internal medicine residency followed by a fellowship in cardiovascular medicine, and who diagnoses and treats diseases of the heart and blood vessels. For Nashville residents weighing a hospital-based heart program against a smaller consultative practice, the practical difference is less about the medicine and more about access, continuity, and how care is coordinated with primary physicians and surgeons. Nashville is Tennessee’s largest city, with a population of roughly 715,000 as of 2024 (U.S. Census Bureau), and its concentration of academic medicine and large hospital systems gives patients an unusually deep field of cardiovascular specialists to choose from.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the United States and in Tennessee, and the state has historically ranked among the higher states for cardiovascular mortality (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). That burden shapes the local market: most Nashville cardiology care is delivered through groups affiliated with major systems such as Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Ascension Saint Thomas, and TriStar, alongside smaller independent and consultative practices. Patients commonly enter cardiology care through a referral from a primary care provider after an abnormal test, a cardiac event, or risk factors such as hypertension, high cholesterol, diabetes, or a family history of heart disease.

Cardiologists in Tennessee are licensed and regulated by the state Department of Health. Medical doctors hold licenses through the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners, while doctors of osteopathic medicine are licensed through the Tennessee Board of Osteopathic Examination. Beyond state licensure, most practicing cardiologists are board certified in cardiovascular disease by the American Board of Internal Medicine, which requires prior certification in internal medicine, completion of accredited fellowship training, and an unrestricted medical license. Subspecialty certification is available in areas including interventional cardiology, clinical cardiac electrophysiology, and advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology. Consumers can verify any Tennessee physician’s license status and disciplinary history at no cost through the Department of Health license lookup at apps.health.tn.gov.

The clinical services a cardiology practice offers vary with its size and focus. General or noninvasive cardiology covers diagnostic testing such as electrocardiograms, echocardiograms, stress testing, and Holter monitoring, along with management of conditions like coronary artery disease, heart failure, and arrhythmia. Interventional cardiology adds catheter-based procedures such as angioplasty and stent placement. Electrophysiology treats heart rhythm disorders through ablation and device implantation, including pacemakers and defibrillators. Structural heart programs handle valve disease with procedures such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Physician services are not subject to Tennessee’s 7% sales tax, which applies to tangible goods rather than professional medical care. The information here is general and informational, not medical advice; decisions about diagnosis and treatment should be made with a licensed physician. Patients with concerns about billing or business practices can contact the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs, which administers the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104), while clinical complaints about a physician are directed to the Department of Health.

Top Cardiologist Providers in Nashville

1. Cardiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center

Address: 1215 21st Avenue South, 5th Floor, Nashville, TN 37232
Phone: (615) 322-2318
Website: https://www.vanderbilthealth.com/program/cardiology
Services: diagnostic cardiology (echocardiography, ECG, exercise stress testing, cardiac CT, cardiac MRI, coronary calcium scoring), interventional cardiology, cardiac catheterization, electrophysiology, structural and valve disease management, advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology, preventive and women’s heart care, adult congenital heart disease
Description: Cardiology at Vanderbilt University Medical Center is the heart program of Tennessee’s academic medical center in midtown Nashville. The program lists a care team of roughly 58 cardiologists plus advanced practice providers spanning general, preventive, women’s, and adult congenital cardiology, supported by the medical center’s diagnostic imaging, catheterization, and electrophysiology capabilities. Vanderbilt operates one of the country’s established heart transplant and advanced heart failure programs and provides access to clinical trials and innovative therapies through its academic setting. As a teaching hospital, it combines patient care with cardiovascular research and physician training, and it serves as a referral center for complex cases from across Middle Tennessee and the surrounding region.

2. Ascension Saint Thomas Heart West

Address: 4230 Harding Pike, Suite 330, Nashville, TN 37205
Phone: (615) 952-0874
Website: https://healthcare.ascension.org/locations/tennessee/tnnas/nashville-ascension-saint-thomas-hospital-west/departments/heart-building/cardiology
Services: diagnostic cardiology and cardiac imaging, interventional cardiology (angioplasty and stent placement, chronic total occlusions, complex and multivessel coronary artery disease), electrophysiology (atrial fibrillation, flutter, ventricular tachycardia), structural heart and valve procedures (valve repair and replacement, TAVR, MitraClip), heart failure management and transplant care
Description: Ascension Saint Thomas Heart West is the cardiology practice based in the Heart Building at Ascension Saint Thomas Hospital West in Nashville. The practice brings together cardiologists, cardiac interventionists, electrophysiologists, cardiac imaging specialists, and cardiovascular surgeons under one roof, offering a full range of care from diagnostic testing and medication management to minimally invasive procedures, structural heart interventions, and cardiac rehabilitation. It is part of the broader Ascension Saint Thomas Heart network, which the system describes as encompassing more than 85 cardiologists and surgeons across dozens of locations throughout Middle Tennessee, giving patients access to a regional referral structure for advanced heart failure and transplant services.

3. The Heart and Vascular Clinic

Address: 2410 Patterson Street, Suite 212, Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: (615) 515-2929
Website: https://www.thavc.com
Services: cardiovascular disease management, interventional cardiology (coronary angioplasty, coronary stenting, atherectomy), vascular disease and peripheral artery disease care, congestive heart failure management, women’s heart health, diagnostic testing (echocardiograms, stress tests, carotid Doppler, pacemaker checks)
Description: The Heart and Vascular Clinic is a consultative cardiology practice located in the Doctor’s Pavilion at the Centennial Medical Center campus on Patterson Street in midtown Nashville, with additional weekly clinics noted in Brentwood and Lawrenceburg. The practice provides complete diagnostic and interventional services for coronary and peripheral artery disease, with a focus on cardiovascular disease, interventional cardiology, vascular disease, congestive heart failure, and women’s heart health. Cardiologist Gina G. Chandler, M.D., a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, practices with the clinic and previously served as Chief of Cardiology at Centennial Medical Center. The clinic’s smaller scale emphasizes continuity of care for patients managing chronic cardiovascular conditions.

Frequently Asked Questions About Cardiologists in Nashville

Q: How do I verify that a Nashville cardiologist is licensed in Tennessee?

You can confirm a physician’s license at no cost through the Tennessee Department of Health license verification system at apps.health.tn.gov. Medical doctors are licensed by the Tennessee Board of Medical Examiners and doctors of osteopathic medicine by the Tennessee Board of Osteopathic Examination. The lookup shows license status and any disciplinary history, which is useful when choosing a new cardiologist or confirming credentials.

Q: What does board certification in cardiology mean?

Board certification in cardiovascular disease is granted by the American Board of Internal Medicine to physicians who are first certified in internal medicine, complete an accredited cardiology fellowship, and hold a valid unrestricted medical license. Some cardiologists hold additional subspecialty certification in interventional cardiology, clinical cardiac electrophysiology, or advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology, which reflects further fellowship training in those areas.

Q: Do I need a referral to see a cardiologist in Nashville?

Many patients are referred to a cardiologist by a primary care provider after an abnormal test result or a cardiac event, and some insurance plans require a referral before they cover specialist visits. Practices differ in whether they accept self-referred patients, so it is worth confirming both the practice’s policy and your plan’s referral requirements before scheduling.

Q: What is the difference between general, interventional, and electrophysiology cardiology?

General or noninvasive cardiology focuses on diagnosis and medical management using tests such as echocardiograms and stress tests. Interventional cardiology adds catheter-based procedures like angioplasty and stent placement for blocked arteries. Electrophysiology focuses on heart rhythm disorders, using procedures such as ablation and the implantation of pacemakers and defibrillators. Larger Nashville practices often include all three within one group.

Q: Is sales tax charged on cardiology care in Tennessee?

Tennessee’s 7% state sales tax plus local option tax applies to tangible goods, not to professional medical services, so a consultation, diagnostic test, or procedure performed by a physician is not taxed the way a retail purchase would be. Billing for medical care is governed instead by insurance contracts, Medicare and Medicaid rules, and the provider’s own pricing, so patients should request an itemized statement to understand charges.

Q: How do I file a complaint about a cardiologist or a cardiology practice?

Complaints about a physician’s clinical conduct or licensure are directed to the Tennessee Department of Health, which oversees the Board of Medical Examiners and the Board of Osteopathic Examination. Disputes about billing or business practices can be reported to the Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairs under the Tennessee Consumer Protection Act (TCA 47-18-104). Keeping records of appointments, statements, and correspondence strengthens any complaint.