"Great work going on" Q&A With Deepak L. Bhatt, MD, MPH

What are your top priorities in your first year at Mount Sinai Heart?

There is great work going on at Mount Sinai Heart, and I really want to get the word out more broadly and let the whole world know about the incredible clinical care, basic, translational, and clinical research, and educational opportunities here.

What are the most significant projects you are pursuing right now as a physician and researcher?

I am working on several clinical trials spanning areas such as primary percutaneous coronary intervention, acute coronary syndromes, heart failure, and prevention. Additionally, I am helping lead trials of medications and procedures to treat diabetes and obesity.

Describe the path, and some mentors, that led you to leadership in cardiovascular medicine.

I was very fortunate to meet Valentin Fuster, MD, PhD, while I was a resident at the University of Pennsylvania when he was a visiting professor. He has been an extremely close and valuable mentor ever since that time. Eugene Braunwald, MD (who had trained in cardiology at Mount Sinai) and Peter Libby, MD, brought me to Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School from Cleveland Clinic and have been incredible mentors and supporters.

What are the biggest challenges that cardiovascular medicine faces right now?

Health care workers, including those in cardiovascular medicine, have done an incredible job throughout the pandemic. We need to make sure to address issues of burnout and wellness to try to maintain a healthy and happy workforce to tackle the growing global cardiovascular disease burden.

What new therapies, procedures, or research are a cause for hope?

Advances in cardiovascular genetics and regenerative medicine are starting to make the transition from the laboratory to the bedside. Artificial intelligence as it pertains to health care is still in its infancy but holds great promise in areas such as cardiovascular imaging.

Is there anything else you would like colleagues in cardiology to know?

Mount Sinai Heart is a special place with an exceptionally talented faculty, so stay tuned for the next stage in its evolution.