Montefiore News Releases

National Leader to Bring Unique Expertise in Subspecialty Heart Care

NEW YORK (March 18, 2014) – Montefiore Medical Center has named Ali Zaidi, M.D., director, Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD) Program, Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care. Dr. Zaidi previously served as director of Research at the Columbus Ohio Adult Congenital Heart (COACH) Disease Program at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University. He brings unique expertise as a pioneering physician trained in the subspecialty of ACHD, as well as Adult Cardiovascular Disease and Pediatric Cardiology.   

The Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care is a nationally recognized leader in research and serves as a primary resource for patients requiring complex, high-risk procedures. Montefiore offers a full range of treatments for ACHD, including medical management, interventional cardiac catheterization, arrhythmia ablation, pacemaker therapies and surgical interventions. 

“Dr. Zaidi’s addition to our team will greatly improve congenital heart care for our patients – young and old,” said Daphne Hsu, M.D., co-director, Pediatric Heart Center, Children’s Hospital at Montefiore; chief, Division of Pediatric Cardiology, Montefiore and Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University; and professor of Pediatrics, Einstein. “He is an exceptional clinician and researcher, and I look forward to seeing how he will help transform the care of adults with congenital heart disease in the tri-state region.” 

Dr. Zaidi is a national expert in the treatment of adolescents and adults with congenital heart diseases. He has advanced training in noninvasive cardiovascular imaging and, in his new role, will perform comprehensive heart failure, arrhythmia and heart transplantation evaluations in ACHD patients. Dr. Zaidi also has extensive experience in the management of patients with connective tissue disorders and pregnant women with CHD.  

“Montefiore will be able to provide a seamless continuum of care for congenital heart disease patients who progress from pediatric care into adolescence and adulthood because of Dr. Zaidi’s expertise,” said Mario Garcia, M.D., co-director, Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care; chief, Division of Cardiology, Montefiore and Einstein; and professor of Medicine and Radiology, Einstein. “Dr. Zaidi’s reinvigoration of our ACHD program will lead to improved options and outcomes for our patients.” 

Dr. Zaidi also is recognized for his commitment to innovative research. Through the COACH Program, he conducted studies in advanced cardiac imaging, transitioning from pediatric to ACHD care and outcomes for ACHD patients. He has presented his work at the American Academy of Pediatrics, American Society of Echocardiography, American College of Cardiology and the International Symposium on ACHD.

“Montefiore’s leadership recognizes that the specialties of ACHD and pediatric cardiology need to work collaboratively to provide cutting-edge care,” Dr. Zaidi said. “Since more children with CHD now survive into adulthood, the numbers of adults with congenital heart disease outnumber children. These patients need long term follow-up and I look forward to leading a program that will offer our expert services to patients from our surrounding region.”

Dr. Zaidi received his Medical Degree from The Aga Khan University Medical College in Karachi, Pakistan and completed combined residencies in Pediatrics and Internal Medicine at Hershey Medical Center of Pennsylvania State University, College of Medicine in Hershey, Pennsylvania, where he also was chief resident for Internal Medicine. He completed fellowships in Adult Cardiovascular Disease and Pediatric Cardiology at the Nationwide Children’s Hospital and The Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus, Ohio, asides from advanced training in ACHD and Cardiac Imaging.