Departments

Our highly skilled cardiologists expertly treat and diagnose heart failure—a chronic, progressive condition in which the heart muscle can’t pump enough blood to meet the body's needs. In addition to caring for cardiac patients at Yale New Haven Hospital, we provide treatment to the rapidly growing number of outpatients living with heart failure in the community. We treat each patient with a personalized plan, carefully monitoring medications on an ongoing basis while minding other issues that affect cardiac health. We also educate patients and their families about lifestyle changes, prescribe and oversee exercise rehabilitation programs, and facilitate communication between the many professionals involved in outpatient care. Our physicians work as part of a multidisciplinary team to offer patients comprehensive care with the goal of prolonging their life and improving its quality. Treatment options may include medications, short- or long-term mechanical support, or heart transplant. Before treatment begins, we perform cardiac diagnostic procedures, such as stress tests, catheterization, and biopsies. We collaborate with cardiac-trained radiologists to provide noninvasive imaging studies including positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and 2D and 3D electrocardiography. At the Center for Advanced Heart Failure at Yale New Haven Hospital, we treat the full continuum of heart failure and offer a variety of medical and surgical treatment options. The center cares for patients with an LVAD (left ventricular assist device), a battery-operated mechanical pump that is surgically implanted and helps maintain the heart’s pumping ability when it can’t work effectively on its own. This is the only long-term mechanical circulatory support for patients otherwise ineligible for heart transplant. Our surgeons regularly perform heart transplants and LVAD implantations, and our heart transplant survival and post-LVAD rates are among the best in the region.

At Yale Medicine, our cardiovascular physicians specialize in all types of heart conditions. Our expert teams focus on heart-related health issues, such as heart disease genetics, heart rhythm problems, heart failure, heart and blood vessel conditions, and heart transplants. Our cardiologists do more than just see patients; they also conduct research to learn more about the complexities of various heart diseases and investigate better ways to treat them. Through their work in five research centers at Yale our cardiologists participate in major research initiatives focused on all aspects of heart health. Our research teams are comprised of experts from all over the world—eight different countries and four continents, to be exact! Specialized care is offered in the following areas: Adult congenital heart disease Arrhythmia Cardiac imaging Cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure Coronary heart disease General cardiology (including stress tests and holter monitoring) Peripheral vascular heart disease Vascular heart disease

The Advanced Heart failure Program is a rapidly expanding service at the front lines of treating heart failure. Launched in 1988, the program builds upon decades of experience treating failing hearts. In 2019, we performed 49 heart transplants, putting us among the top centers of the country. Our left ventricular assist device program treats more cases than any other program in the Northeast. It provides heart pumps for patients who need support while they are waiting for a donor heart or who are ineligible for a transplant and need another permanent solution. Heart transplants are the gold standard treatment for patients with end-stage heart failure. But many face a long, difficult wait for a donor heart, and some don’t survive. Yale Medicine is one of a handful of centers in the country to push existing boundaries in heart transplant by aggressively seeking out donor hearts other centers turn down even though they may be suitable for some patients. This process, using what’s called “donation after circulatory death” (DCD) organs, is helping more of our patients get heart transplants sooner. What’s more, our one-year survival rates for heart transplants—93%—are better than the national average. Multi-organ transplants People who live with heart failure have a high likelihood of also having kidney dysfunction from a variety of causes, and this can be a limiting factor in being able to get a heart transplant. For these patients, our heart specialists collaborate with Yale Medicine’s world-class abdominal transplant team and have achieved a robust volume and successful track record in performing heart-kidney transplants. Pioneers in LVAD Yale Medicine helped to pioneer the use of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), providing patients whose hearts are too weak to function on their own with implantable devices that can pump blood for them. Yale Medicine is one of the leaders in the Northeast in volume and outcomes with LVADs and is certified by the Joint Commission, the nation’s predominant standard-setting and accrediting body in health care. Each one of our patients is treated by a team that includes cardiologists, transplant surgeons, infectious disease specialists, nephrologists, critical care doctors, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, nutritionists, and transplant coordinators, among others. Transplant doctors at Yale are national leaders in the field. Currently, the presidents of United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) and the American Society of Transplantation are at Yale, and they have helped to write the guidelines for how to treat patients after solid organ transplants as the field advances. Outcomes above average Patients whose future once seemed difficult have survived for decades after a heart transplant or LVAD implant. The average one-year survival after a Yale Medicine heart transplant is 93%, which is higher than the national average. This is partly due to meticulous follow-up care that includes treatment with immunosu

Sometimes, an athlete—seemingly in peak physical condition—experiences sudden cardiac arrest on the playing field due to an undiagnosed heart condition. Yale Medicine’s Sports Cardiology Program is dedicated to preventing such tragedies through comprehensive screening, evaluation, and management of cardiovascular disease in athletes. The Sports Cardiology Program brings a multidisciplinary approach to the identification and treatment of potentially life-threatening cardiac abnormalities in athletes. The program provides two distinct services: Pre-participation screening of college and university athletes to detect any potential abnormalities before they compete Consultation and care for athletes of any age who either have known cardiovascular disease or who have symptoms that could be related to cardiovascular disease Yale Medicine specialists begin with an electrocardiogram (ECG), which records the electrical activity of the heart, to check for a variety of cardiac conditions. When screening college and university athletes, Yale experts interpret the ECG, offer recommendations for follow-up care, if needed, and work closely with the school to monitor and advise the athlete going forward. Yale physicians have been performing ECG screenings for Yale University athletes since 2015. With the launch of the Sports Cardiology Program, Yale Medicine is now performing screenings for athletes at three local universities, as well as the Connecticut Whale women’s professional hockey team. In addition to a pre-participation screening of college athletes, the Sports Cardiology Program provides ongoing clinical care for athletes of any age (including children) who have a known cardiac condition or symptoms that may indicate cardiac abnormalities, such as passing out or palpitations. In both cases, the goal is to develop an effective diagnosis, treatment, and management strategy for the athlete and provide recommendations on whether and how the athlete can safely participate in competitive sports. The foundation of Yale Medicine’s program is its multidisciplinary approach to these issues. A team of experts from many specialty areas works together to provide comprehensive, integrated services and holistic care for athletes. The program’s director, Rachel Lampert, MD , is a sports cardiologist, electrophysiologist, and arrhythmia specialist who frequently writes and speaks on preventing sudden cardiac arrest in athletes. Dr. Lampert has conducted extensive research in this area, including studies on whether athletes with implanted defibrillators can safely participate in sports. The Sports Cardiology Program also features imaging teams that use highly specialized diagnostic tools such as cardiac MRIs and echocardiography. The team also includes experts in adult and pediatric arrhythmia, cardiac channelopathies, cardiomyopathy, genetic cardiovascular diseases, and more. In addition, Dr. Lampert and her team frequently partner with Yale’s Sports Medicine Pro

Our highly skilled and experienced team specializes in electrophysiology, or the diagnosis and treatment of heart-rhythm abnormalities, also known as arrhythmias. We treat complex arrhythmias and structural heart disease at Yale New Haven Hospital and through several outpatient office locations. At Yale New Haven Hospital, our physicians operate Connecticut’s largest and most comprehensive program for ventricular tachycardia ablation, a procedure that eliminates the heart tissue that causes arrhythmia. Our Complex Ablation Program offers epicardial ablation to treat ventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation that originates from the outer surface of the heart. Our operating suites are equipped with cutting-edge technology, including three-dimensional mapping systems, intracardiac ultrasound, and robotics. We offer a full range of device therapies, including pacemakers, defibrillators, and cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT). We routinely monitor implantable devices using remote technology to ensure patients’ safety, wherever they are. We also offer a clinic in which doctors from electrophysiology and geriatrics work together to manage patients with recurrent falls and syncope, or fainting caused by low blood pressure. Additionally, Yale New Haven Hospital runs the only Atrial Fibrillation Support Group in the state. The group is for all patients and their families and aims to help individuals and their loved ones cope with the psychological and emotional burdens of their disease. For patients at Yale New Haven Hospital, an advanced nurse practitioner dedicated to arrhythmia management is ready to assist, working closely with physicians to ensure a seamless inpatient to outpatient transition.

The Cardiovascular Disease and Pregnancy Program at Yale offers comprehensive and individualized support before, during, and after pregnancy for people with heart conditions. Our mission is to improve outcomes in pregnancy for patients with either pre-existing or newly diagnosed heart disease and ensure that pregnant patients receive appropriate and specialized risk assessment, treatment, and support. Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of maternal mortality in the United States. While most people with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions can safely and successfully become pregnant, carry a baby to term, and breastfeed, patients with cardiovascular conditions are at higher risk of complications during pregnancy and after delivery. Pregnancy can also reveal or cause previously undiagnosed heart problems, and certain pregnancy complications can put patients at a higher risk for future cardiovascular disease. Yale’s Cardiovascular Disease and Pregnancy Program brings together cardiologists, maternal-fetal medicine specialists , nutritionists, pharmacists, lactation consultants , social workers, and family planning specialists who utilize their unique expertise to provide comprehensive patient care. Our multidisciplinary team meets regularly to create individualized care plans for each pregnant patient with heart disease. We provide care to: People with known heart disease, including congenital heart disease and acquired heart diseases, such as abnormal heart rhythms (arrhythmias), heart failure, and ischemic heart disease (coronary artery disease) People who develop cardiovascular disease or are newly diagnosed with heart disease during pregnancy (for example, peripartum cardiomyopathy) People who develop pregnancy-specific complications (including preeclampsia and related hypertensive disorders or gestational diabetes) that put them at higher risk for future cardiovascular disease Before pregnancy Contraception counseling: We provide individualized contraception counseling to patients with cardiovascular conditions to help determine the best and most reliable form of contraception for them based on a variety of factors, including specific heart conditions, interaction with other medications, and personal preferences. Comprehensive risk assessment: We provide a comprehensive risk assessment for patients with heart conditions who wish to become pregnant. We coordinate care to ensure they receive updated imaging and diagnostic studies and are on pregnancy-safe medications before they conceive. We also work closely with patients to provide nutrition and exercise guidance. Preconception counseling: We provide consultations to explore and discuss a potential pregnancy and family building. During this visit, we will answer all patient questions and develop care recommendations to support patients prior to, during, and after pregnancy. We also introduce members of the care team. During pregnancy Prenatal care management: We work wi

Capturing and interpreting images of the heart are essential to successfully managing cardiac conditions. Our program features advanced technology to capture images of the heart, which allows our physicians to make accurate diagnoses and determine the best course of treatment. Among the techniques we use are nuclear cardiology, echocardiography, and cardiac CT (computed tomography) imaging, a diagnostic method that allows us to take images of blood vessels, bones, and internal organs. Our nuclear cardiology laboratories offer such state-of-the-art imaging techniques as single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), positron emission tomography (PET), and SPECT-CT, and our team has a long history of groundbreaking research in cardiovascular nuclear imaging. Our echocardiography (ultrasound) laboratories provide a comprehensive array of 2-D and 3-D transthoracic (chest wall) and transesophageal (through the esophagus) imaging options, as well as intracardiac echo imaging (ICE), an imaging technique that allows physicians to get a clear picture of the inner workings of the heart.

Our program is a unique collaboration between Yale and University College London Heart Hospital that offers patients the highest level of care and international expertise. We provide evaluation of patients and families with inherited cardiomyopathies, arrhythmias, vascular diseases, and coronary and metabolic syndromes. The complexity of inherited cardiovascular disease often outweighs the resources of traditional medical specialty practices. Using detailed clinical evaluation to inform genetics and vice versa, we offer a patient-centered approach that employs a care and treatment plan that matches the intricacies of each patient’s disease and his or her needs. We see a wide array of patients from across Connecticut and beyond. Our expertise includes treating such conditions as: Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy Familial dilated cardiomyopathy Sudden death syndromes Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy Our services include state-of-the art cardiac imaging, metabolic stress testing, genetic testing and counseling, and a full spectrum of treatment options, including: Septal myectomy and ablation Analysis of genetic mutations Complex electrophysiologic ablations Assessment of risk factors for sudden cardiac death Pacemaker and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation

The Preventive Cardiovascular Health Program at Yale (PCHPY) brings a personalized approach to cardiovascular disease prevention. Patients referred to the program meet with one of our cardiologists for an in-depth consultation that takes into account their biology and biography, along with information from advanced diagnostic testing. This approach leads to a more personalized, evidence-based approach to cardiovascular risk assessment. Using this information, and in partnership with patients, we design tailored programs to reduce cardiovascular risk and improve well-being. PCHPY brings together experts in cardiovascular disease prevention, including cardiologists, nutritionists, exercise physiologists and health psychologists. We also work together with Digital Technology Solutions (Information Technology) and digital health companies to offer high-tech/low-burden approaches to cardiovascular care. Our team is highly attuned to the challenges of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and taking medication, and understands that a one-size-fits all approach often falls short. Instead, we strive to understand and integrate each person’ priorities, preferences and goals into the care plan. This program is particularly focused on people who are: At increased risk for cardiovascular disease, including people with: Severe hypercholesterolemia or familial hypercholesterolemia or elevated Lp(a) Family history of premature coronary artery disease (before the age of 60) Poorly controlled hypertension Underlying inflammatory condition (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis, HIV) A diagnosis of ischemic heart disease or coronary artery disease Women with cardiovascular disease Individuals seeking a more personalized approach to cardiovascular health PCHPY additionally works with communities to identify and address barriers to cardiovascular health, focusing on environmental and social factors that contribute to disparities in health outcomes.

The Cardio-Oncology Program at Smilow Cancer Hospital is designed to help address the cardio-toxic side effects of chemotherapy treatment, as well as the confounding problem of co-existing cardiac disease and cancer. The program also provides pre-surgical and pre-treatment cardiac evaluation for patients with cancer. The program began in response to emerging data, which indicates that newly developed drugs for cancer treatment are having unanticipated side effects. Drugs such as Herceptin, which is very effective in the treatment of breast cancer, can have cardio-toxic side effects that are just beginning to be understood and researched. The difficulty when dealing with cardio-toxic side effects, such as fatigue and shortness of breath, is that they can often mask themselves as normal effects from the cancer treatment itself. For patients with a pre-existing heart dysfunction, our team will make decisions on how to monitor these patients, and optimize cancer treatment to mitigate these side effects. If a patient is found to have cardio-toxicities during treatment with chemotherapy, our team will work together with the oncologist and the patient to decide on the best course of action. In some cases, collaboration with the oncologist will need to take place in order to change the chemotherapy to something that's less cardio-toxic. The goal of this program is to help patients through their treatment so they have the best chance to be cured of their cancer.

Our program offers innovative care for patients with advanced and complex structural heart disease. From diagnosis to treatment, our team is dedicated to treating all forms of structural heart disease, some of which are congenital, or present at birth, and others that develop with age. We take the utmost care in treating these defects, which can affect the interior walls of the heart, the valves inside the heart, and the arteries and veins that carry blood to the rest of the body. As the first program in the state of Connecticut dedicated to the care of adult patients with complex congenital heart disease, we offer the full spectrum of care, providing regular inpatient and outpatient services to adult congenital heart patients. We offer an array of imaging, exercise testing, and surgical options, as well as less invasive catheterization therapies. Our multidisciplinary team includes interventional experts in congenital cardiac catheterization and electrophysiology who have decades of combined experience in the field. Our cardiothoracic surgical team has expertise in congenital heart disease and adult cardiac surgery with experience that spans three decades. Other members of the team include experts from the Yale General & Advanced Heart Failure Program, as well as a wide array of subspecialists in related areas, including liver and kidney disease. Adolescents and adult patients can expect to receive detailed education about their underlying congenital heart defect, its management, and the implications for future functioning. We ensure that our patients with pediatric congenital heart disease will be managed in the context of adult medicine with a multidisciplinary team that includes pediatric and adult cardiologists, adult pulmonologists, genetic counselors, and social workers. Our center provides state-of-the-art diagnostic imaging, including echocardiography and MRI. We work closely with Yale Medicine High-Risk Obstetric and Maternal-Fetal Medicine Programs to provide obstetrics and perinatology services to women with congenital heart disease, and we provide referrals for fetal echocardiography in cases where it is appropriate.

About Us At Yale Medicine, our cardiac surgery team consists of internationally recognized heart surgeons who provide personalized, compassionate care for adult and pediatric patients. We understand the challenges of living with a heart condition and are committed to partnering with patients and their families to find the best treatment plan and offer ongoing support after surgery. Our team includes highly experienced, board-certified cardiac surgeons along with an expert group of cardiologists, cardiac-focused nurses, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners. Our cardiac surgeons collaborate with Yale's cardiologists, vascular surgeons, and internists to manage heart-related issues such as heart failure, coronary artery disease, heart valve conditions, and heart rhythm disorders. Our surgeons perform the latest, most advanced techniques in minimally invasive and traditional surgeries to treat a full range of cardiac diseases and conditions, including: Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) Valve repair and replacement (aortic and mitral) Aneurysm repair (aortic, thoracic aortic, left ventricular) Arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythm), including hybrid ablation heart failure and artificial heart or ventricular assist devices Heart failure, including artificial heart or ventricular assist devices Heart transplantation Congenital heart diseases in children and adults