I Need an… Interventional Cardiologist
Reviewed by Columbia Interventional Cardiovascular Care Faculty, July 2025
Our "I need a" series is a helpful guide to finding the care you need when you don't know where to start. Today, we're learning how to find an Interventional Cardiologist.
If you're considering having a nonsurgical procedure to address a health concern like coronary artery disease (CAD) or heart valve disease, choosing your provider is a big decision. So, before you start your search, let's answer some helpful questions.
What Does an Interventional Cardiologist Do?
Interventional cardiologists perform transcatheter procedures, meaning they access the heart through a tube called a catheter that is inserted into a large blood vessel (typically in the groin or arm). By using advanced imaging techniques to guide the procedure, they can safely deliver specialized instruments and devices to the heart.
This minimally invasive strategy has a number of advantages over traditional surgery, including less pain, lower risk of major complications, little to no scarring, and faster recovery. These procedures also offer treatment options for people who are not candidates for surgery.
Interventional cardiologists can also treat vascular conditions outside of your heart—including the arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels in your arms and legs.
Interventional cardiologists often focus on subspecialties in the field based on the type of procedures or diseases treated. These include:
- Heart valve disease and structural conditions
- Coronary artery disease (CAD)
- Peripheral Artery Disease and Venous Disease (Endovascular Therapy)
- Congenital heart disease (CHD)
- Cardiorenal (heart and kidney) care
A Word About Interventional Cardiology and Cardiac or Vascular Surgery
The distinction between an interventional cardiologist and a cardiothoracic or vascular surgeon to treat your condition can be confusing. For example, both approaches can replace and repair heart valves or treat coronary or vascular issues. Surgeons and interventional cardiologists may also work together during hybrid surgery, which combines elements of both strategies.
What matters most is what works best for your condition and priorities. Transcatheter interventional procedures are frequently a preferred option for patients, especially those who can’t or don’t want to have surgery. And while the number of conditions that can be effectively treated by interventional cardiologists continues to grow, surgery is still the best option in many cases.
Talk to your doctor to decide if a transcatheter procedure or surgery is right for you. If both types of procedure can treat your condition, you may want to make appointments with both specialists to discuss your options.
What Credentials Should I Look For?
It can be hard to choose an interventional cardiologist based on credentials alone, but it's a helpful place to start. Knowing that a doctor has completed additional training or is board-certified is a good sign they have the expertise you're looking for.
- Residency - All interventional cardiologists will have completed an internal medicine residency, meaning that after medical school, they trained for several years under the supervision of seasoned physicians.
- Fellowship - Fellowship is additional, focused training after residency in cardiovascular medicine. All interventional cardiologists have completed a cardiology fellowship, giving them extensive experience practicing the full range of cardiology subspecialties.
- A fully trained interventional cardiologist has then completed an additional fellowship exclusively dedicated to interventional cardiology.
- It’s not uncommon interventional cardiologists frequently have completed more than one fellowship to further specialize in a specific type of care.
- Board Certification - This voluntary process demonstrates that a doctor has met rigorous standards set by their peers through a governing organization, or board. These boards are recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties and the American Medical Association. Interventional cardiologists are board certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM).
- Professional Societies and Organizations - Membership in groups like the American College of Cardiology (ACC) or Society for Cardiovascular Angiography & Interventions (SCAI) indicates that an interventional cardiologist is active in their specialty's clinical and research communities.
- Organizations like SCAI offer helpful online tools that let you search for interventional cardiologists near you.
What Else is Important to Look For?
Because the heart plays such a vital minute-to-minute role, any heart procedure poses challenges that require significant preparation and support. Transcatheter procedures are performed in a catheterization laboratory, or “Cath lab.” It takes an entire team of specialists working with the interventional cardiologist to ensure a safe and effective outcome. To know that you’ll have the help of a comprehensive team, you might want to focus on comprehensive programs and multi-specialty medical centers.
A comprehensive support team includes anesthesiologists, imaging specialists, specialty nurses, cardiologists, physician assistants or nurse practitioners, pharmacists and more. And it’s important to have surgical support if complications arise, especially for high-risk patients or complex interventions like valve replacement.
No matter which interventional cardiologist you choose, make sure to ask about what support you will have during and after your procedure.
Clinical Trials
The field of interventional cardiology is constantly evolving, with new approaches and devices being developed and tested to improve outcomes and quality of life. Clinical trials offer the latest experimental treatments driven by cutting-edge research, such as new implantable heart valves and repair strategies or new stents for the heart or blood vessels. If you’re interested in participating in clinical trials, make sure to include academic medical centers in your search, as clinical research is an important part of what they do.
A Word About Top Doctor Awards
When searching for a doctor of any kind, you'll probably come across advertisements for sites boasting Top Doctor lists, or you may find these awards mentioned in a doctor's profile. While many of these awards are legitimate and are based on peer-nominated candidates and vetted feedback, not all lists are created equal. Some are essentially lists intended to promote only the doctors who have paid for the privilege.
So I Found Some Interventional Cardiologists I Feel Comfortable With… Now What?
It's time to start making appointments. Reach out to your top choices for what's called a consultation, or consult. Skilled proceduralists are in high demand, so keep in mind that sometimes it can take some time to get scheduled. When making the appointment, their care team will ask about what you're looking for, so be ready to explain what your needs are. But don't worry. You don't need to know exactly what procedure to ask for because the interventional cardiologist will be able to explain your options when you have your consult.
During My Consultation, What Should I Ask?
In a word: everything. This meeting is your chance to learn about your surgical options, but it's also your opportunity to learn about the interventional cardiologist: their approach, their demeanor, their experience, and their understanding of your condition. Bring notes if you're concerned about remembering complex medical terms. Here are some helpful questions to consider:
- About the Interventional Cardiologist
- Who is part of your care team? What specialists do you work with?
- Based on the procedure you would recommend for me, how many times have you performed that specific procedure?
- How many transcatheter procedures have you performed? How many do you perform each year?
- Are you fellowship-trained? Do you have any board certifications or additional qualifications?
- What professional societies do you belong to?
- Are you involved in clinical trials that I might be able to participate in?
- About Your Procedure
- Am I a candidate for this type of procedure?
- Is surgery a viable alternative?
- Are nonsurgical treatments like medications a good option for me?
- What will my procedure involve?
- What are my risks? What complications have you seen?
- Will I need to stay in the hospital? If so, for how long?
- What will I feel after my procedure?
- How long after the procedure will I start to feel better?
- How much scarring will there be?
- Is a minimally invasive or robotic approach an option for me?
- What support will I need during recovery and beyond?
- How much will this procedure help me?
Do They Take My Insurance?
Money might not seem important when your health is at stake, but procedures can be expensive. Avoiding another stressful element can help you focus on your health. Nothing is more frustrating than finding an interventional cardiologist who's a great fit, only to learn that your insurance won't cover the procedure.
Most heart procedures are covered by insurance, but not all insurance companies have the same eligibility requirements. And some insurance requires that you work with an in-network doctor and hospital. So verify that the interventional cardiologist you're considering accepts your insurance, even if their website states they do. And contact your insurance company to confirm your eligibility. Some insurance plans also require a referral, so talk to your primary doctor about what you'll need.
Should I Get a Second Opinion?
Absolutely. Even if you think an interventional cardiologist is perfect for you, a second opinion can make you feel more confident about your decision. It can also help you become better educated about the procedure and your options. Second opinions can often be done with telehealth appointments, so they may not be as challenging to schedule.
Word of Mouth
Do you know anyone who has had the procedure performed by the interventional cardiologist you're considering? It can be helpful to get feedback from someone who has been through the procedure and recovery process. Keep in mind that everyone's health circumstances are unique, so their experience won't be the same as yours. But speaking with others can help you feel better informed about the real-world results and can give you some insight into how the interventional cardiologist and their team treat their patients.
What Other Factors Should I Consider?
The decision to have a cardiovascular procedure is about you and your health, so you should consider what's important to you. If you've reduced your options to a few interventional cardiologists who have convinced you they will provide the best care possible, practical considerations may help you make the final decision. These include:
- Do you want a doctor that can perform a procedure at a hospital closer to home? Or is it worth it to travel for your procedure?
- Do you want to work with an interventional cardiologist that has a relationship with your doctor/cardiologist, to make it easier to coordinate your care?
- Is finding an in-network doctor a priority because of your health insurance?
- How urgent is your health issue? If you had to wait to schedule your procedure for an opening on an interventional cardiologist's calendar, is it worth the wait?
- Am I able to pay for a procedure out of pocket if my insurance doesn't cover it?
Once you have settled on an interventional cardiologist who can perform the procedure you need, where you want it, and when you want it, it's time to focus on getting ready for your procedure. That means following all instructions your surgical team gives you.
Interventional procedures can be life-saving and can dramatically improve your quality of life. Choosing the right interventional cardiologist can help feel like your best self.
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