Welcome to the Division of Cardiology at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson. I am excited and honored to lead this renowned clinical division, which has a long and outstanding history of clinical excellence, education and discovery. Our division is in the midst of an exciting era or rapid growth. We pride ourselves in the exceptional clinical care that we provide in diverse and highly complex areas of cardiology. Our mission is to deliver outstanding clinical cardiovascular care, to educate the next generation of leaders in cardiovascular medicine, and to lead the way in transformative medical discoveries and innovations…

Hesham Sadek, MD, PhD
Chief, Division of Cardiology
Director, Sarver Heart Center

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Cardiology

The Division of Cardiology includes nationally recognized faculty in cardiovascular medicine, heart failure and transplant cardiology, advanced coronary and structural interventions, cardiac imaging, resuscitation sciences, and electrophysiology. These physicians and physician scientists are committed to advancing patient care, collaborating with basic scientists to bridge bench-to-bedside knowledge and pursuing multidisciplinary and cutting edge clinical and population research in cardiovascular disease.

A diverse group of fellows comprise our fellowship programs in Cardiovascular Disease and Interventional Cardiology.

As the heart of the University of Arizona Sarver Heart Center, the cardiology faculty and fellows work closely with the more than 135 heart center members from across campus. Disciplines represented in the center include cellular and molecular medicine, immunology, physiology, biomedical engineering, nursing, pharmacology, cardiothoracic surgery, neurology, pediatric cardiology, vascular surgery, emergency medicine, endocrinology, pathology and radiology. Medical students, residents and fellows with interest in cardiovascular research are encouraged to pursue opportunities with mentors within the heart center, and to compete for investigational research awards offered through the Sarver Heart Center.

Established within the UA College of Medicine in 1968 by its first chief Frank I. Marcus, MD, the division and its faculty have been involved in some impressive "firsts," such as:

  • Discovering that radiofrequency energy was a safer substitute for DC energy in eliminating arrhythmia sites in the heart.
  • Performing the world’s first successful bridge-to-transplant procedure using an artificial heart.
  • Demonstrating and promoting chest-compression-only CPR as a resuscitation method that doubles survival from sudden cardiac arrest.

We look forward to many more innovative advances in cardiovascular care to come.

News

[A man in a dark suit coat and black shirt stands outside a building that has Sarver Heart Center signage.]
Connecting with Sarver Heart Center’s Dr. Hesham Sadek: A Q&A

Still in his first year as center director, he wants to lead the Cardiology division and Sarver Heart Center to a top 10 ranking while finding ways to repurpose drug therapies for rare disorders.
[University of Arizona block-A logo with Department of Medicine below it]
FID teaching excellence session schedule released for New Year

The Winter-Spring 2025 schedule for Faculty Instructional Development sessions – seven in all – within the Department of Medicine has been released. Five are offered via Zoom and two in person. Register today!
[A doctor examines a patient wearing a pink robe sitting on the edge of a bed]
Can the heart heal itself? New study says it can.

An international research team co-led by Dr. Hesham Sadek, Cadiology division chief and Sarver Heart Center director at the College of Medicine – Tucson, found evidence that heart muscle can regenerate after heart failure in some people with artificial hearts.

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