Jeff Healey serves as the director of arrhythmia services and holds the position of associate professor of medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. As a clinical trialist and member of the Population Health Research Institute, Dr. Healey completed his clinical training in cardiology and electrophysiology at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute. He furthered his academic pursuits by obtaining a Master’s degree in health research methodology at McMaster University.
Engaging in diverse clinical activities, Dr. Healey is proficient in catheter ablation and pacemaker/ICD implantation. His research endeavors focus on conducting randomized clinical trials and large registries in the fields of cardiac arrhythmias and cardiac devices. His primary research interest lies in studying the impact of risk factors and risk factor modification on the development of atrial fibrillation and its associated complications, particularly stroke.
Dr. Healey gained recognition as the lead author of the ASSERT trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2012. This groundbreaking study demonstrated the increased stroke risk associated with sub-clinical atrial fibrillation detected by pacemakers. Thomson-Reuters acknowledged ASSERT as the 38th most-cited scientific publication in 2012 (#16 in Medicine). Currently, Dr. Healey is leading two major ongoing studies: the SIMPLE trial, a 2500-patient randomized trial evaluating the value of performing intra-operative defibrillation threshold testing at the time of ICD insertion, and the RELY AF Registry, a 15,000-patient worldwide registry examining the causes, treatment, and outcomes in patients with atrial fibrillation.
With a prolific academic record, Dr. Healey has authored over 280 manuscripts and abstracts, including 60 manuscripts in the past 2 years, with 24 as the first or last author. He has secured numerous grants from prestigious organizations like the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, the Heart and Stroke Foundation, and industry partners. Dr. Healey's leadership extends to roles such as co-chair of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society’s Atrial Fibrillation Guidelines Committee, co-chair of the CCS Guidelines for Perioperative management of pacemakers and defibrillators, and past chair of the Cardiac Care Network of Ontario’s Heart Rhythm Working group.
As the principal investigator and chair of the Canadian Stroke Prevention Intervention Network (CSPIN), Dr. Healey leads a ten-year network grant funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, and industry partners. CSPIN focuses on conducting clinical trials related to atrial fibrillation and stroke prevention while supporting the development of new Canadian researchers in this vital field.
