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Brian Howard, MD

Specialties

Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology
Cardiovascular Disease

Education & Training

Doctor of Medicine

Book with MyChart

Brian Howard, MD

Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiologist with Wellstar since 2015.

Specialties

Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology
Cardiovascular Disease

Education & Training

Doctor of Medicine

Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiologist with Wellstar since 2015
  • Member of the Wellstar Medical Group A friendly headshot of Brian Howard, MD Brian Howard, MD
  • Office Locations
  • Expertise
  • Patient Reviews
  • Publications & Articles

Office Locations


Expertise

About Brian Howard, MD

Dr. Brian Howard received his bachelor’s degree in environmental science from Harvard University in Cambridge, MA, where he graduated cum laude. He received his medical degree from Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in Piscataway, NJ, where he graduated Alpha Omega Alpha. Dr. Howard then returned to Harvard, to complete his internal medicine internship and residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, in Boston, MA. He completed his clinical fellowship in cardiovascular disease at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, GA where he served as chief fellow during his final year. Dr. Howard finished his training at Stanford University School of Medicine in Palo Alto, CA, where he completed a sub-specialty fellowship in advanced heart failure and cardiac transplantation.

Dr. Howard is board certified in Internal Medicine, Echocardiography, Cardiovascular Disease, and Advanced Heart Failure/Transplant Cardiology. He is a member of the American Medical Association, American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association and Association of Black Cardiologists. His major interest is the management of patients with a left ventricular assist device.

Dr. Howard currently is in practice with Wellstar Cardiovascular Medicine and serves as the Medical Director of the Advanced Heart Failure/LVAD Program at Wellstar Kennestone Hospital.
Left Ventricular Assist Device Gives Patients New Hope

Specialties

  • Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology
  • Cardiovascular Disease

Education & Training

  • Robert Wood Johnson Medical School

Degree

  • Doctor of Medicine

Residency

  • Brigham and Women's Hospital

Fellowship

  • Stanford Hospital and Clinics
  • Emory University School of Medicine

Certifications

  • American Board of Internal Medicine - AdHeart/Tran
  • American Board of Internal Medicine Cardiovascular

Hospital Affiliations

  • Wellstar Cobb Hospital
  • Wellstar Douglas Hospital
  • Wellstar Kennestone Hospital
  • Wellstar Paulding Medical Center
  • Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital
  • Wellstar North Fulton Hospital
  • Wellstar Spalding Regional Hospital
  • Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center
  • Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center

Languages spoken

  • English

Patient Reviews

Overall patient rating

4.8

Based on 30 patient ratings

I'd recommend this provider to family and friends
Earned my trust
I'd recommend this practice to family and friends
Shared the right amount of information
Listened to me carefully

All reviews have been submitted by patients after seeing the provider.For more information about the review system, check out this Learn more about our review system.

Patient Reviews

5

They were very nice, respectful, answered any questions that I had. They didn't try to rush me out the office. They made me feel like they was there to help, which they are, and I just had a great experience and looking forward to go back before I can get well. Thank you. You guys have a nice day.

August 5, 2026

5

Very professional, information in detail and listened intently.

May 25, 2026

5

Doctor Brian is the best thank him for everything

May 24, 2026

5

He gave more and thought information about my health and more opportunities of opinions and the risks and better potential of each.

May 22, 2026

5

Dr Howard is knowledgeable, understanding and very patient. His bed side manner is most excellent and his treatment and care are exceptional.

February 21, 2026

5

Excellent service; very personable!!!!

February 19, 2026

5

Dr. Howard was absolutely fantastic and yes, I would recommend him to any and all. Thank you for asking.

February 19, 2026

5

Very good. Thank you all.

November 16, 2025

5

Dr. Brian Howard is the best!

August 15, 2025

5

kennestone hospital and esp Dr Howard and staff ,top notch care providers . thank you all very much .we can't thank you enough

April 10, 2025

5

I Appreciate Everything The Staff Did For Me

October 25, 2024

5

Great people to work with, and thank you for all you have done for me.

October 5, 2024

5

They were very nice, respectful, answered any questions that I had. They didn't try to rush me out the office. They made me feel like they was there to help, which they are, and I just had a great experience and looking forward to go back before I can get well. Thank you. You guys have a nice day.

August 5, 2026

5

Very professional, information in detail and listened intently.

May 25, 2026

5

Doctor Brian is the best thank him for everything

May 24, 2026

5

He gave more and thought information about my health and more opportunities of opinions and the risks and better potential of each.

May 22, 2026

5

Dr Howard is knowledgeable, understanding and very patient. His bed side manner is most excellent and his treatment and care are exceptional.

February 21, 2026

5

Excellent service; very personable!!!!

February 19, 2026

5

Dr. Howard was absolutely fantastic and yes, I would recommend him to any and all. Thank you for asking.

February 19, 2026

5

Very good. Thank you all.

November 16, 2025

5

Dr. Brian Howard is the best!

August 15, 2025

5

kennestone hospital and esp Dr Howard and staff ,top notch care providers . thank you all very much .we can't thank you enough

April 10, 2025

5

I Appreciate Everything The Staff Did For Me

October 25, 2024

5

Great people to work with, and thank you for all you have done for me.

October 5, 2024

5

They were very nice, respectful, answered any questions that I had. They didn't try to rush me out the office. They made me feel like they was there to help, which they are, and I just had a great experience and looking forward to go back before I can get well. Thank you. You guys have a nice day.

August 5, 2026

5

Very professional, information in detail and listened intently.

May 25, 2026

5

Doctor Brian is the best thank him for everything

May 24, 2026

5

He gave more and thought information about my health and more opportunities of opinions and the risks and better potential of each.

May 22, 2026

5

Dr Howard is knowledgeable, understanding and very patient. His bed side manner is most excellent and his treatment and care are exceptional.

February 21, 2026

5

Excellent service; very personable!!!!

February 19, 2026

5

Dr. Howard was absolutely fantastic and yes, I would recommend him to any and all. Thank you for asking.

February 19, 2026

5

Very good. Thank you all.

November 16, 2025

5

Dr. Brian Howard is the best!

August 15, 2025

5

kennestone hospital and esp Dr Howard and staff ,top notch care providers . thank you all very much .we can't thank you enough

April 10, 2025

5

I Appreciate Everything The Staff Did For Me

October 25, 2024

5

Great people to work with, and thank you for all you have done for me.

October 5, 2024

5

They were very nice, respectful, answered any questions that I had. They didn't try to rush me out the office. They made me feel like they was there to help, which they are, and I just had a great experience and looking forward to go back before I can get well. Thank you. You guys have a nice day.

August 5, 2026

5

Very professional, information in detail and listened intently.

May 25, 2026

5

Doctor Brian is the best thank him for everything

May 24, 2026

5

He gave more and thought information about my health and more opportunities of opinions and the risks and better potential of each.

May 22, 2026

5

Dr Howard is knowledgeable, understanding and very patient. His bed side manner is most excellent and his treatment and care are exceptional.

February 21, 2026

5

Excellent service; very personable!!!!

February 19, 2026

5

Dr. Howard was absolutely fantastic and yes, I would recommend him to any and all. Thank you for asking.

February 19, 2026

5

Very good. Thank you all.

November 16, 2025

5

Dr. Brian Howard is the best!

August 15, 2025

5

kennestone hospital and esp Dr Howard and staff ,top notch care providers . thank you all very much .we can't thank you enough

April 10, 2025

5

I Appreciate Everything The Staff Did For Me

October 25, 2024

5

Great people to work with, and thank you for all you have done for me.

October 5, 2024

5

Great people to work with, and thank you for all you have done for me.

October 5, 2024

5

I Appreciate Everything The Staff Did For Me

October 25, 2024

5

kennestone hospital and esp Dr Howard and staff ,top notch care providers . thank you all very much .we can't thank you enough

April 10, 2025

5

Dr. Brian Howard is the best!

August 15, 2025

5

Very good. Thank you all.

November 16, 2025

5

Dr. Howard was absolutely fantastic and yes, I would recommend him to any and all. Thank you for asking.

February 19, 2026

5

Excellent service; very personable!!!!

February 19, 2026

5

Dr Howard is knowledgeable, understanding and very patient. His bed side manner is most excellent and his treatment and care are exceptional.

February 21, 2026

5

He gave more and thought information about my health and more opportunities of opinions and the risks and better potential of each.

May 22, 2026

5

Doctor Brian is the best thank him for everything

May 24, 2026

5

Very professional, information in detail and listened intently.

May 25, 2026

5

They were very nice, respectful, answered any questions that I had. They didn't try to rush me out the office. They made me feel like they was there to help, which they are, and I just had a great experience and looking forward to go back before I can get well. Thank you. You guys have a nice day.

August 5, 2026

Publications and Articles

Thanks to a team of heart failure doctors and the Optimizer Heart Mini, Pat's back to dancing the Carolina shag again.

Wellstar PeopleCare | Pat's Heart Condition Recovery Journey

Pat Gelisse has been dancing for 30 years. She even taught the Carolina shag for a while. It’s a partner dance, sometimes compared to Swing dancing to beach music.

But severe heart failure downgraded Pat’s dancing queen status for close to 10 years.

“I went from feeling happy to feeling like a nothing,” she remembered of that time in her life.

With a team of Wellstar heart specialists working together for her, Pat found hope and new life on the dance floor.

Heart failure masquerades as acid reflux

It started more than a decade ago when Pat lived in central Georgia. She scheduled a doctor’s appointment for what she thought was acid reflux. She popped in on a quick break from her marketing job, assuming it wouldn’t take long.

Blood work and an EKG got Pat a ticket straight to the hospital and a quadruple bypass. 

“My heart got worse; it wasn’t pumping blood,” Pat said.

She was in acute heart failure, a life-threatening condition where the heart doesn’t pump well enough to deliver the necessary amount of oxygen to her body. Pat’s ejection fraction (EF)—the percentage measurement of the blood that leaves the heart each time it pumps—was only 10%. The normal range is 50 to 70%.

It was a scary time, and with a family history of heart problems, Pat was worried. She’d lost both parents to heart failure, as well as other family members.

“I just knew for sure I was going to be next,” said Pat.

Doctors from various academic institutions discussed serious treatments ranging from LVAD to transplant, but because the pumping performance of her heart improved, she was no longer a candidate for those procedures. Instead, Pat spent close to nine years managing her heart failure with a pacemaker and various medications—treatments that failed to get her back on the dance floor.

Continue reading this article
Illustration of cardiovascular experts repairing a heart together.

Advanced Heart Care Close to Home

When it comes to getting high-quality care for your heart, you can count on Wellstar.

Because we know heart health is an essential part of overall wellness, we offer leading expertise, innovative treatments and compassionate care to protect your cardiovascular health.

From heart attacks and rehabilitation to cardiac surgery and psychological support, your heart is in expert hands at Wellstar.

High-tech heart treatments

With the largest network of certified Emergency Cardiac Care Centers (ECCC) in Georgia, Wellstar ensures world-class heart care is never far away.

Our cardiovascular experts are ready to treat patients at the first signs of a heart attack. We use high-tech equipment—including electrocardiograms (EKG), chest X-rays and cardiac catheterization—to diagnose heart attacks quickly.

Getting the right care can minimize or even prevent heart damage. That’s why Wellstar relies on the most advanced treatments, such as Shockwave technology, medicines and life-saving cardiac surgery, to effectively prevent and treat heart attacks as fast as possible.

Wellstar Kennestone Regional Medical Center has a cardiac hybrid operating room, bringing a catheterization lab and surgery suite together in one place. With catheter-based procedures, our interventional cardiologists can provide expert, minimally invasive heart attack care.

We also perform structural heart procedures, including valve repairs and replacements, along with cardiac surgery and electrophysiology procedures that can determine the cause of heart rhythm problems.

At Wellstar, we don’t just treat heart conditions when they happen. Our providers also offer world-class preventative care, helping people like Latoya Jordan catch chronic conditions—such as high blood pressure—at the very start.

The Wellstar Comprehensive Aortic Program provides treatment for people with emergency and non-emergency diseases of the aorta. We offer cutting-edge procedures and devices to diagnose, monitor and repair all types of aneurysms. From screening to treatment, our team uses a coordinated approach to care which includes comprehensive diagnostic testing. When urgent care is warranted, we can treat aortic emergencies quickly.

Care that never skips a beat

If an on-going heart condition, such as atrial fibrillation (AFib), is keeping you down, Wellstar has a team of experts who can help.

When Frank Ryan’s heart had trouble keeping pace and kept him from playing the tuba, he felt off-beat in everyday life. After getting specialized care at Wellstar, he’s back in the band again.

Wellstar Cardiac Electrophysiologist Dr. Narendra Kanuru shared state-of-the-art treatments available for heart rhythm disorders.

“Along with advanced medical therapies, we have numerous interventional or surgical therapies, including pacemakers, defibrillators and other advanced cardiac devices as well as cardiac catheter ablation,” Dr. Kanuru said.

Cardiac catheter ablation is a non-surgical procedure available at Wellstar that helps restore a regular heart rhythm by blocking abnormal electrical signals.

With the latest advances in electrophysiology at Wellstar, we’re keeping hearts going strong.

Hope for heart failure

Wellstar also provides expert care for people with congestive heart failure like Bow Matthews. The husband and father-of-two found support from our Heart Failure Academy and learned how to take care of his well-being for the long haul.

To help prevent heart failure flare-ups, Wellstar offers a remote heart monitoring technology that provides real-time health information to our providers.

“With heart failure, as with all health issues, it’s best to take preventative action and stop problems from occurring,” said Dr. Hans Lee, medical director for the Wellstar congestive heart failure program. “Monitoring your heart health and staying in touch with your cardiologist can help keep you out of the hospital and keep your heart in shape.”

For those whose hearts need extra assistance like Mike Clements, a left ventricular assistance device (LVAD) can be a game-changer. An LVAD is a battery-powered pump that is surgically implanted to help the heart more effectively pump blood.

"An LVAD gives patients with severe heart failure the opportunity to get their lives back,” said Dr. Brian Howard, medical director of the advanced heart failure and LVAD program at Wellstar Kennestone. “These life-saving devices are powerful enough to take over for the failing heart. They allow patients to enjoy life with their loved ones as they await a heart transplant, and in some cases, they even serve as an alternate to a heart transplant entirely.”

At the Heart Failure Clinic at Wellstar Cobb Medical Center and the Advanced Heart Failure Program at Wellstar Kennestone, trained experts provide specialized care for those with heart failure and LVAD implants, helping to improve quality of life.

After Mike received his LVAD implant, he was able to walk his daughter down the aisle at her wedding. Thanks to advanced technology available at Wellstar, patients with heart failure can keep doing what matters most.

Specialized support services

Wellstar has dedicated resources to help people with cardiac conditions find support.

Following a medical event like a heart attack or other serious cardiac problem, Wellstar offers cardiac rehabilitation to get people back on track.

Cardiac rehabilitation is a medically monitored program that provides education, support and lifestyle modifications. Our team helps you learn heart-healthy behaviors and lower your risk for future heart issues.

However, we understand health journeys aren’t just about physical healing. Dealing with heart issues can also cause many difficult mental health challenges, including anxiety and depression.

“At Wellstar, we wanted to build out a program just for our cardiovascular patients because behavioral health and cardiac health are really closely connected,” said Dr. Shawn Coyne, Wellstar director of health psychology and cardiac psychologist. “In fact, cardiac patients are three times more likely to be depressed than the general population.”

After living with three chronic heart conditions for years, John Petrick found solace in meeting with a Wellstar cardiac psychologist. Now, he’s learned new coping skills and how to prioritize his mental well-being.

With support services at the ready, patients with complex conditions can better understand themselves and their overall health.

Care to keep your heart healthy

No matter what your cardiovascular concerns may be, Wellstar is dedicated to helping people with heart conditions live life to the fullest.

Learn more about how Wellstar is protecting heart health in Georgia, and how you can take control of your cardiovascular health.

Continue reading this article
Book with MyChart
Brian Howard, MD
Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiologist with Wellstar since 2015
Rating
4.8
Specialties
Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology , Cardiovascular Disease
Education
Doctor of Medicine
Medical School
Robert Wood Johnson Medical School
Residency
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Fellowship
Stanford Hospital and Clinics
Emory University School of Medicine
Certifications
American Board of Internal Medicine - AdHeart/Tran
American Board of Internal Medicine Cardiovascular
Spoken Languages
English
Hospital Affiliations
Wellstar Cobb Hospital
Wellstar Douglas Hospital
Wellstar Kennestone Hospital
Wellstar Paulding Medical Center
Wellstar Windy Hill Hospital
Wellstar North Fulton Hospital
Wellstar Spalding Regional Hospital
Wellstar West Georgia Medical Center
Wellstar MCG Health Medical Center
Office Locations
www.wellstar.org/physicians/brian-howard-md

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COMMUNITY CARE

Community Care
In the Community Health Highlights Events & Classes
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Give
Wellstar Foundation Donate Ways to Give Volunteer

ABOUT US

About Wellstar Diversity Equity Inclusion & Belonging Leadership Wellstar Board of Trustees Healthcare Innovation Safety First Commitment Wellstar Research Institute Latest News

CAREERS & EDUCATION

Careers at Wellstar Graduate Medical Education Pharmacy Residency

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Contact Us Hospital Transparency Information Price Transparency Policy and Privacy Information

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