Verghese Mathew, MD, FACC, FSCAI, Named Director of Clinical Operations for Loyola's Division of Cardiology

Newswise — MAYWOOD, IL – Verghese Mathew, MD, FACC, FSCAI, a nationally known interventional cardiologist, has been named director of clinical operations for Loyola Medicine’s division of cardiology. Dr. Mathew comes to Loyola from Mayo Clinic, where he held several leadership positions in the cardiac and vascular areas. Working in conjunction with cardiology chair David Wilber, MD, FAHA, FACC, Dr. Mathew will manage clinical cardiology programs and augment the division’s research and educational enterprises. Dr. Mathew is a professor in the division of cardiology in the department of medicine of Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, his medical school alma mater. “Dr. Mathew brings a wealth of both clinical and research expertise to Loyola,” Dr. Wilber said. “He will play an increasingly important role in enhancing the division's regional and national profile, and in the supervision of our cardiovascular disease programs.” Dr. Mathew said Loyola’s cardiovascular service line has tremendous talent and a decades-long reputation for clinical excellence. “I look forward to providing state-of-the-art cardiovascular care, and advancing the academic mission and profile of the cardiology division in conjunction with all our physicians and staff,” he said. With a keen interest in integrated models of care, Dr. Mathew focuses on the application of advanced cardiovascular diagnostic and therapeutic modalities to appropriate patient subsets. Dr. Mathew has extensive clinical and research experience in interventional cardiology, including complex coronary artery disease, peripheral artery disease and aortic valve disease. Interventional cardiology is a subspecialty of cardiology that uses catheter-based techniques and devices, such stents, to treat coronary and vascular disease. Dr. Mathew has been an investigator in many trials that have evaluated and led to the approval of currently used technologies, such as coronary stents, drug eluting stents (which reduce the likelihood of re-narrowing within stents) and transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). TAVR is much less invasive than traditional open-heart surgery, which often requires a sternotomy (splitting the breastbone). The TAVR device is deployed through a catheter that’s inserted in an artery in the groin or a small incision in the chest. TAVR is now approved for patients who are at above-average risk for open heart surgery. Dr. Mathew predicts TAVR eventually will become available to patients who are healthy enough to tolerate open heart surgery. Dr. Mathew has also played an important role in many trials evaluating various cardiac medications, especially anti-platelet and anti-coagulant drugs used in conjunction with stent procedures. He has played a pivotal role in TAILOR-PCI, an NIH sponsored trial lead by Mayo Clinic and University of Toronto. TAILOR-PCI is testing a personalized medicine approach to choosing appropriate antiplatelet therapy after stent placement. Dr. Mathew has written or co-authored more than 125 peer-reviewed papers, editorials and invited commentaries, along with numerous book chapters. He has been an invited speaker at many national and international medical conferences. Dr. Mathew grew up in Chicago and the Chicago suburbs, and earned his medical degree from Loyola’s Stritch School of Medicine. “Returning to Chicago and Loyola after 26 years is a double homecoming for me,” he said. Dr. Mathew completed a residency in internal medicine and fellowships in cardiovascular diseases and interventional cardiology at Mayo Clinic. He is board certified in interventional cardiology and cardiovascular diseases. He is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology and a Fellow of the Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions. Loyola Medicine is nationally recognized for its expertise in diagnosing and treating a broad range of heart and vascular conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, heart rhythm disorders, hypertension, stroke, valvular disease, vascular disease and pediatric heart conditions.