Additional Titles
- Medical Director, Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
Education
- BS (Magna cum Laude) Biological Sciences: Georgetown University, Washington, DC (1977)
- MD: New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY (1984)
- Intern in Medicine: Bellevue Hospital/NYU Medical Center, New York, NY (1985)
- Resident in Medicine: Bellevue Hospital/NYU Medical Center, New York, NY (1987)
- Research Fellow in Cardiology: Bellevue Hospital/NYU Medical Center, New York, NY (1988)
- Clinical Fellow in Cardiology: Bellevue Hospital/NYU Medical Center, New York, NY (1990)
- Fellow in Interventional Cardiology: NYU Medical Center, New York, NY (1991)
Board Certifications
- Cardiovascular Diseases
- Interventional Cardiology
Recognition
- Listed in “Guide to America’s Top Physicians,” by the Consumers Research Council of America, present
- Listed in “Who’s Who in Medical Science Education,” Academic Keys, present
- Elected to “Best Doctors in America” by selection of peers, present
- Elected to “Best Doctors in St. Louis”, by selection of peers, present
- Selected to America’s Top Doctors, by Castle Connolly Medical Ltd/US News & World Report, present
- Benico Barzilai Teaching Award, Awarded by the Fellowship Trainees, Division of Cardiology, Washington University School of Medicine, 2013
- Elected Fellow of the American Heart Association, by the Council on Clinical Cardiology, 2013
- Selected to US News Top Doctors list of the top 325 Interventional Cardiologists in the United States (by peer nomination), and among the top 50 according to the Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd list of America’s Top Doctors; US News & World Report, 2013
- Mission Impact Award, Quality Initiatives Honoree, St. Louis STEMI Committee, American Heart Association, 2012
- Selected as a Top Cardiologist in St. Louis, Missouri, by the International Association of Cardiologists, 2010
- Member, Board of Directors, American Heart Association, Greater St. Louis Division, 2009
- Director’s Award for Meritorious Effort, Time Critical Diagnosis Task Force, State of Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, 2008
- Teacher of the Year Award, Awarded by the Department of Medicine House Staff, Washington University School of Medicine, 2005
- Special Recognition Award: Physician Champion, Get With The Guidelines CAD Program, American Heart Association, St. Louis, MO, 2005
- Teacher of the Year Award, Awarded by the Fellowship Trainees, Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, 2004
- Teacher of the Year Award, Awarded by the Fellowship Trainees, Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, 2003
- Teacher of the Year Award, Awarded by the Fellowship Trainees, Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, 2002
- Teacher of the Year Award, Awarded by the Fellowship Trainees, Cardiovascular Division, Washington University School of Medicine, 2001
- Osler Award for Outstanding Teaching, Awarded by the Graduating Residents, St. Louis University Department of Internal Medicine, 1999
- Fellow, Society for Cardiac Angiography and Interventions, 1998
- Teacher of the Year Award, Awarded by the Fellowship Trainees, Division of Cardiology, St. Louis University School of Medicine, 1998
- Osler Award for Outstanding Teaching, Awarded by the Graduating Residents, St. Louis University Department of Internal Medicine, 1996
- Fellow, American College of Cardiology, 1993
- Fellows Research Certificate of Merit, American Heart Association New York City Affiliate, 1989
- Medical Scientist Training Program Fellowship, 1984
- Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, NYU School of Medicine, 1983
- Hippolyte M. Wertheim Prize, NYU School of Medicine, 1979
- Valentine Mott Anatomy Medal, NYU School of Medicine, 1978
- Biology Medal, Georgetown University, 1977
- Phi Beta Kappa, 1977
- Sigma Xi Scientific Honor Society, 1977
Clinical Interests
Interventional Cardiology; Acute Myocardial Infarction; Acute Coronary Syndromes; Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy; Coronary Physiology
Research Interests
Clinical Investigation in Acute Coronary Syndromes: In the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, my group has focused on the clinical investigation of outcomes and promising therapies for patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and acute coronary syndromes (ACS). We collaborate in key national registries collecting data on processes of care and outcome for ACS and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI), including TRIUMPH, ACTION (CRUSADE and NRMI) and EVENT. We are studying factors which contribute to the continued high rate of morbidity and mortality for patients with unstable coronary artery disease. Specific topics of interest include the association between diabetes and markedly higher risk of adverse outcome for patients with ACS and PCI and the association of bleeding with worse outcome for patients with ACS. Regarding progress in improving therapeutics, we are studying new agents under development which promote more prompt stabilization, dissolution, and/or inhibition of coronary thrombosis for patients with ACS and those undergoing PCI, with the promise of better preservation of heart muscle, reduction in the size of heart attacks, prevention of heart failure, and improvements in both longevity and quality of life. In conjunction with improvements in interventional cardiology techniques, improvements in the pharmacologic management of acute myocardial infarction and acute coronary syndromes can and will make a dramatic impact on the overall morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease.
Coronary Intervention and Coronary Physiology: Another of my primary research interests involves interventional cardiology, with pre-clinical and clinical studies in the use of magnetic navigation via the Stereotaxis Niobe system to facilitate coronary intervention; in collaboration with investigators at Stereotaxis, one project involves an animal model protocol for investigating the use of magnetic guidance to advance the safe percutaneous revascularization of chronic total occlusions using radiofrequency energy. I also have interest in studying the practical assessment of coronary physiology using intracoronary Doppler and pressure guidewire techniques in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. This involves studying the use of intracoronary Doppler and fractional flow reserve for the assessment of the abnormal coronary physiology associated with coronary artery disease, coronary microvascular dysfunction, and responses to pharmacologic and mechanical interventions.
Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: For symptomatic patients with left ventricular outflow tract obstruction due to hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, a catheter-based method of non-surgical septal reduction by alcohol septal ablation can provide significant symptomatic improvement. As an alternative to surgical myotomy-myomectomy, non-surgical septal reduction therapy is accomplished during cardiac catheterization by controlled infusion of absolute alcohol into a septal artery feeding the abnormally hypertrophied septal myocardium. This procedure can result in immediate and dramatic reduction in the left ventricular outflow tract obstruction. To better understand the short and long-term benefits of transcatheter alcohol septal ablation, we are studying its effects on cardiac remodeling and coronary and myocardial physiology. In addition, via collaborative translational echocardiographic and genetic studies, we are interested in exploring the gene polymorphisms that contribute to the wide phenotypic anatomic and physiologic variability among patients and family members with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.