Akshat J. Mehta, M.D.

At less than one year old, Dr. Akshat Mehta moved with his family from India to the United States, first to New Jersey and later to Albany, Georgia. As he grew, he became well aware of his father’s profession, one that would inspire him to pursue a career in medicine.

As early as he can remember, Dr. Mehta said he noticed his dad’s passion for serving as a pulmonary critical care physician. “My father always told me our community had given so much to us, and being a physician was his way of giving back to the community and taking care of them,” Dr. Mehta recalled. “I didn't really get it early on, but as I progressed through medical school, I began to understand.”

After graduating from the University of Georgia in Athens, Dr. Mehta earned his medical degree at Mercer University School of Medicine in Savannah. He completed his intern year at the University of Vermont Medical Center in Burlington, Vermont and the balance of his internal medicine residency at Augusta University/Medical College of Georgia in Augusta, Georgia, where he served as chief resident. He stayed on in Augusta to complete his cardiology fellowship and once again was chosen to serve as chief fellow. Dr. Mehta completed his interventional and structural cardiology training at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center in Winston Salem, North Carolina.

Dr. Mehta said the specialty of cardiology drew him in because it offers continuity of patient care and the opportunity to experience different aspects of medicine. “It’s one of the few fields where you do a little bit of everything,” he explained. “In cardiology, you build long-term relationships with patients, you do procedures, and you get to view and interpret imaging, similar to a radiologist. Everyday is different. You might find yourself working in the clinic, at the hospital, spending time in critical care, or in imaging. That variety helps keep you on your toes and allows you to provide comprehensive care for your patients.”

Dr. Mehta’s personal philosophy centers around meeting patients where they are, bypassing medical jargon and speaking in easy-to-understand language, allowing patients to feel heard and supported. He turns that support into action, providing individualized treatment for those in need. When that action results in a positive outcome, it’s the most rewarding part of his job. “Whether a patient improves thanks to a medicine you prescribed or you’re able to perform a life-saving procedure, it’s all extremely gratifying,” Dr. Mehta said.

When Dr. Mehta isn’t at SouthCoast Health, he enjoys playing and watching tennis, running, and walking the family dog. He and his wife are avid cooks and find joy in bringing complex recipes to life and taking cooking classes together when traveling abroad.