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Academic Affiliation
About / Overview
Dr. Tuna Ustunkaya was born in Budapest and raised in Ankara, Turkey. His name, "Tuna," is the Turkish word for the Danube River that flows through Budapest. He attended Hacettepe University Medical School, one of Turkey's top medical schools, where he graduated with highest honors, ranking 4th in his class of 150. As part of the combined MD/PhD program, he completed his doctoral research at the Joslin Diabetes Center/Harvard Medical School, studying the role of Factor XII in vascular edema. This experience sparked his lifelong passion for bringing novel therapies from research into patient care.
After medical school, Dr. Ustunkaya pursued postdoctoral research at the University of Pennsylvania, focusing on advanced imaging for the treatment of heart rhythm disorders. He then completed his internal medicine residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, Texas where he was honored as House Officer of Excellence as a senior resident and received the Ellwood Jones Award for Outstanding Graduating Resident in 2022.
He continued his training at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, where he completed his cardiology fellowship. During fellowship, he developed expertise in preventive cardiology, lipid management, hypertrophic and genetic cardiomyopathies, and cardio-oncology, earning a certificate in cardio-oncology.
As one of the few cardiologists in Tennessee who holds board certification in all four major cardiac imaging modalities (echocardiography, cardiac MRI, nuclear cardiology, and cardiac CT), Dr. Ustunkaya brings a uniquely comprehensive imaging perspective to every patient encounter. He co-leads the Cardiac CT Program at Erlanger, advancing the use of this technology in the diagnosis and management of heart disease. He believes strongly in diagnosing heart disease early and preventing complications before they occur, using advanced imaging and precision medicine to guide treatment. His clinical interests include preventive cardiology, advanced lipidology, hypertrophic and genetic cardiomyopathies, pericarditis, cardio-oncology, and cardiac amyloidosis. He is also passionate about expanding access to innovative therapies through clinical trials, and at Erlanger he serves as an investigator in multiple ongoing studies.
In addition to his clinical and research roles, Dr. Ustunkaya is an Assistant Professor at the University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center and serves as Associate Program Director for the Cardiology Fellowship, where he is dedicated to training the next generation of cardiologists.
His research has been published in leading journals, including the Journal of the American College of Cardiology and Heart Rhythm, and he has contributed to book chapters in the field. An active member of the American College of Cardiology, he serves on national steering subcommittees and continues to advance patient care through both clinical practice and research.
Outside of medicine, Dr. Ustunkaya enjoys weightlifting, playing pickleball, trying new restaurants and water sports.
Clinical Interests
- General Cardiology
- Cardio-oncology
- Advanced Lipidology
- Cardiac amyloidosis
- Pericarditis/Myocarditis
- Hypertrophic and Genetic Cardiomyopathies
Certifications
- American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
- American Board of Internal Medicine, Internal Medicine
- National Board of Echocardiography
- Certification Board of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography
- Certification Board of Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance
- Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology
- International Cardio-Oncology Society Board Certification
- Fellow of American College of Cardiology
Academic Appointment
- Assistant Professor, Department of Medicine
- Division of Cardiology
- UTHSC College of Medicine-Chattanooga
Education / Credentials
Medical School, MD, PhD
Hacettepe University Faculty of Medicine - Ankara, Turkey
Residency - Internal Medicine
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center - Dallas, TX
Fellowship - Cardiovascular Disease
Vanderbilt University Medical Center - Nashville, TN
Professional Affiliations
- American College of Cardiology
- National Lipid Association
- International Cardio-Oncology Society
Publications
Double trouble: a rare case of quadricuspid aortic valve and anomalous right coronary artery
Published February 26, 2026
DOI: 10.1007/s10554-026-03669-x
Photon-counting CT: seeing the heart in a whole new light
Published November 12, 2025
DOI: 10.1136/heartjnl-2025-326372
Combined TAVR and Ventricular Tachycardia Ablation for VT Storm With Severe Aortic Stenosis
Published August 6, 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.jaccas.2025.104655
Safety of Transesophageal Echocardiography Guided Cardioversion Among Patients With Left Atrial Appendage Occlusion Without Anticoagulation
Published April 7, 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.echo.2025.03.015
Locations
Erlanger Cardiology
979 East 3rd St., Suite C-520, Chattanooga, TN 37403
