Ragesh Panikkath, MD

Dr. Ragesh Panikkath is a cardiac electrophysiologist practicing at UCLA Health, San Luis Obispo. He is board certified in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology and Cardiovascular disease by the American Board of Internal Medicine and holds additional certifications in Adult Comprehensive Echocardiography and Nuclear Cardiology. He was previously board certified in Internal medicine by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Besides the board certifications from the United States, he also holds board certifications in Internal Medicine, Cardiology, and Cardiac Electrophysiology from India. 

Dr Panikkath focuses on the management of complex cardiac arrhythmias, including atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, supraventricular tachycardia, premature ventricular complexes, and ventricular tachycardia. He also specializes in the placement of pacemakers, conduction system pacing (left bundle branch area pacing), defibrillators, and left atrial appendage closure device placement (Watchman and Amulet).

Dr. Panikkath started his medical training in India.  He completed training in Cardiology and Cardiac Electrophysiology from Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology, an institution of National importance under the Government of India. After coming to the United States, he completed a postdoctoral research fellowship in Cardiac Electrophysiology from Cedars Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles.

He completed Internal Medicine and Cardiology training from Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, Texas. He completed his Cardiac Electrophysiology training at Geisinger Heart Institute in Pennsylvania. 

Dr Panikkath specializes in the novel pulse field ablation for atrial fibrillation, which is a safe and effective method for ablation for atrial fibrillation, has participated in studies and published journal articles on that. 

Dr Panikkath has worked in Yuma Regional Medical Center for 2 years prior to arrival in San Luis Obispo. He has been working in the San Luis Obispo/ French hospital for the past 4.5 years. 

He has published 50 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals and has presented more than 50 abstracts in National and International conferences. He was the team captain of the team, which won first prize in the Heart Rhythm Bowl, which is an international quiz competition conducted by the Heart Rhythm Society. His patient care philosophy is “A patient only has one heart. They can’t live without it. If someone entrusts me with their heart, it’s my duty to do my best for them”.

Dr. Panikkath's personal interests include travelling and hiking. When he isn't working, you'll find him watching movies and spending time with his children.