Rami Alharethi, MD
Disclosures: Nothing to disclose - 07/24/2022

Rami Alharethi, MD FACC FHFSA

Medical Director, Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support Program.

Intermountain Heart Institute, Murray, UT

[email protected]

Office: 801-507-4678

Cell:     801-505-8377

 

EDUCATION:

 

1988-1995      Medical Diploma, Aleppo University, Faculty of Medicine, Aleppo, Syria

 

1998-2001              Internal Medicine Residency, St. Joseph Hospital, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL

 

2001-2003              Heart Failure & Cardiac Transplantation Fellowship, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

 

2003-2005              Cardiovascular Fellowship, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT

 

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

 

1996-1997              Research Assistant, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA

1997-1998              Research Assistant, Massachusetts General Hospital, Dept. of Pathology, Boston, MA

2005- 2009              Assistant Professor, Cardiology division, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon

2007-2009              Medical Director, Heart Failure & Cardiac transplant program, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, Oregon

2009-2016              Assistant Medical Director, Cardiac Transplant Program, Intermountain Medical Center. Salt Lake City, UT

2009- Present              Cardiology Director, Mechanical Circulatory Support Program, Intermountain Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT

2016-Present              Medical Director, Medical Director, Heart Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support Program, Intermountain Medical Center, Salt Lake City, UT

 

 

MEMBERSHIP IN PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES:

2005              Fellow of Heart Failure Society of America (HFSA).

2004                                                          International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation (ISHLT).

2010                                          Fellow of American College of Cardiology

 

 

 

 

HONORS AND AWARDS:

 

2005                                          Fellow of the year, University of Utah.

2007              Internal Medicine teaching award, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR

2009              Internal Medicine teaching award, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR

 

LANGUAGES

 

English, Arabic

 

CERTIFICATIONS

 

2004                                 American Board of Cardiovascular Medicine

 

2010                          American Board of Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology

 

LICEMSE                           

 

State of Utah

State of Nevada

 

PROFESSIONAL SOCIETIES

 

Heart Failure Society of America

 

International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation

 

Fellow of American College of Cardiology

 

RESEARCH

 

2007-2008              Principal Investigator: HF-Action: Heart Failure and a Controlled Trial Investigating Outcomes of Exercise Training. National Institutes of Health.

 

2008-2009              Principal Investigator: Telemonitoring to Improve Heart Failure Outcomes (Tele-HF). National Institutes of Health.

 

2009              Co-Principal Investigator: CUPID Trial-Calcium Regulation by Percutaneous Administration of Gene Therapy in Cardiac Disease.

 

2009              Co-Principal Investigator: CMV-Accelerated CR in Cardiac Transplant Recipients.

 

2009-2011                            Co-investigator, DIURETIC OPTIMIZATION STRATEGIES EVALUATOIN IN ACUTE HEART FAILURE (DOSE-AHF). National Institutes of Health.

 

2009-2012                            Co-investigator, PROTOCOL FOR THE CARDIORENAL RESCUE STUDY IN ACUTE DECOMPENSATED HEART FAILURE (CARESS-HF). National Institutes of Health.

 

2009-2012              Co-investigator, PHOSPHODIESTERASE-5 INHIBITION TO IMPROVE CLINICAL STATUS AND EXERCISE CAPACITY IN DIASTOLIC HEART FAILURE (RELAX-HF). National Institutes of Health.

 

2009-Present              Co-investigator, Genome-wide Associations with Peripartum Cardiomyopathy.

 

2009-Present              Principle Investigator, The Peripartum Cardiomyopathy Network.

              National Institutes of Health.

 

2010-2015              Principle Investigator, Left Atrial Pressure Monitoring to optimize Heart Failure Therapy Study (LAPTOP-HF).

 

2011-Present              Principle Investigator, Cardiac biomarker and Peripartum Cardiomyopathy (Intermountain Research and Medical Foundation grant 40000.00$, Harold Burton Foundation 10000.00$).

 

2011-2015              Co-Investigator, Prevention of Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy Using Rituximab Therapy in Cardiac Transplantation. National Institutes of Health.

 

2012-2014              Principle Investigator, Acute Treatment with Omecamtiv Mecarbil to Increase Contractility in Acute Heart Failure.

 

2012-2013              Principle Investigator, Insulin growth Factor-1 and Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy (Intermountain Research and Medical Foundation grant 8196.00 $).

 

2016- Present              Principle Investigator, Barostim Therapy for Heart Failure.

 

2017-Present              Principle Investigator, A Double-blind, Randomized, Placebo-controlled, Multicenter Study to Assess the Efficacy and Safety of Omecamtiv Mecarbil on Mortality and Morbidity in Subjects with Chronic Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction (GALACTIC-HF).

 

2019- Present              Principle Investigator, Donor Derived Cell Free DNA and Cardiac Allograft Vasculopathy.

              (Intermountain Research and Medical Foundation grant $39,123.00)

 

2019-Present               Surveillance HeartCare Outcomes Registry (SHORE)

 

 

PUBLICATIONS

 

 

a)     Peripartum Cardiomyopathy

  1. McNamara DM, Elkayam U, Alharethi R, Damp J, Hsich E, Ewald G, Modi K, Alexis JD, Ramani GV, Semigran MJ, Haythe J, Markham DW, Marek J, Gorcsan J 3rd, Wu WC, Lin Y, Halder I, Pisarcik J, Cooper LT, Fett JD; IPAC Investigators. Clinical Outcomes for Peripartum Cardiomyopathy in North America: Results of the IPAC Study (Investigations of Pregnancy-Associated Cardiomyopathy). J Am Coll Cardiol. 2015 Aug 25;66(8):905

 

  1. Ware JS, Li J, Mazaika E, Yasso CM, DeSouza T, Cappola TP, Tsai EJ, Hilfiker-Kleiner D, Kamiya CA, Mazzarotto F, Cook SA, Halder I, Prasad SK, Pisarcik J, Hanley-Yanez K, Alharethi R, Damp J, Hsich E, Elkayam U, Sheppard R, Kealey A, Alexis J, Ramani G, Safirstein J, Boehmer J, Pauly DF, Wittstein IS, Thohan V, Zucker MJ, Liu P, Gorcsan J 3rd, McNamara DM, Seidman CE, Seidman JG, Arany Z; IMAC-2 and IPAC Investigators. Shared Genetic Predisposition in Peripartum and Dilated Cardiomyopathies. N Engl J Med. 2016 Jan 21;374(3):233-41.

 

  1. Damp J, Givertz MM, Semigran M, Alharethi R, Ewald G, Felker GM, Bozkurt B, Boehmer J, Haythe J, Skopicki H, Hanley-Yanez K, Pisarcik J, Halder I, Gorcsan J 3rd, Rana S, Arany Z, Fett JD, McNamara DM; IPAC Investigators. Relaxin-2 and Soluble Flt1 Levels in Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Results of the Multicenter IPAC Study. JACC Heart Fail. 2016 May;4(5):380-8.

 

  1. Blauwet LA, Delgado-Montero A, Ryo K, Marek JJ, Alharethi R, Mather PJ, Modi K, Sheppard R, Thohan V, Pisarcik J, McNamara DM, Gorcsan J 3rd; IPAC Investigators*. Right Ventricular Function in Peripartum Cardiomyopathy at Presentation Is Associated With Subsequent Left Ventricular Recovery and Clinical Outcomes. Circ Heart Fail. 2016 May;9(5).

 

  1. Horne BD, Rasmusson KD, Alharethi R, Budge D, Brunisholz KD, Metz T, Carlquist JF, Connolly JJ, Porter TF, Lappé DL, Muhlestein JB, Silver R, Stehlik J, Park JJ, May HT, Bair TL, Anderson JL, Renlund DG, Kfoury AG. Genome-wide significance and replication of the chromosome 12p11.22 locus near the PTHLH gene for peripartum cardiomyopathy. Circ Cardiovasc Genet. 2011 Aug 1;4(4):359-66.

 

  1. Rasmusson K, Brunisholz K, Budge D, Horne BD, Alharethi R, Folsom J, Connolly JJ, Stehlik J, Kfoury A. Peripartum cardiomyopathy: post-transplant outcomes from the United Network for Organ Sharing Database. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2012 Feb; 31 (2) :180-6.

 

b)      Heart Failure Management and Outcomes

 

  1. Horne BD, Lappé DL, Muhlestein JB, May HT, Ronnow BS, Brunisholz KD, Kfoury AG, Bunch TJ, Alharethi R, Budge D, Whisenant BK, Bair TL, Jensen KR, Anderson JL. Repeated measurement of the intermountain risk score enhances prognostication for mortality. PLoS One. 2013;8(7).

 

  1. Horne BD, Roberts CA, Rasmusson KD, Buckway J, Alharethi R, Cruz J, Evans RS, Lloyd JF, Bair TL, Kfoury AG, Lappé DL. Risk score-guided multidisciplinary team-based Care for Heart Failure Inpatients is associated with lower 30-day readmission and lower 30-day mortality. Am Heart J. 2020 Jan; 219:78-88

 

c)      Impact of Mechanical Circulatory Support on Chronic Heart Failure

 

We evaluated the outcomes of chronic heart failure patients with durable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) including recovery and LVAD complications.

 

  1. Raymond AL, Kfoury AG, Bishop CJ, Davis ES, Goebel KM, Stoker S, Selzman CH, Clayson SE, Smith H, Cowley CG, Alharethi R, Budge D, Reid BB “Obesity and left ventricular assist device driveline exit site infection” . ASAIO J. 2010 Jan-Feb;56(1):57-60.

 

  1. Brush S, Budge D, Alharethi R, McCormick AJ, MacPherson JE, Reid BB, Ledford ID, Smith HK, Stoker S, Clayson SE, Doty JR, Caine WT, Drakos S, Kfoury AG. End-of-life decision making and implementation in recipients of a destination left ventricular assist device. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2010 Dec;29(12):1337-41.

 

  1. Ventura PA, Alharethi R, Budge D, Reid BB, Horne BD, Mason NO, Stoker S, Caine WT, Rasmusson B, Doty J, Clayson SE, Kfoury AG. “Differential impact on post-transplant outcomes between pulsatile- and continuous-flow left ventricular assist devices”. Clin Transplant 2011 Mar 14.

 

  1. Labedi MR, Alharethi R, Kfoury AG, Budge D, Bruce R, Rasmusson B, Bunch TJ. Electromagnetic interference of automatic implantable cardioverter defibrillator and HeartWare left ventricular assist device. ASAIO J. 2013 Mar-Apr;59(2):136-9.

 

  1. Drakos SG, Wever-Pinzon O, Selzman CH, Gilbert EM, Alharethi R, Reid BB, Saidi A, Diakos NA, Stoker S, Davis ES, Movsesian M, Li DY, Stehlik J, Kfoury AG, UCAR (Utah Cardiac Recovery Program) Investigators. Magnitude and time course of changes induced by continuous-flow left ventricular assist device unloading in chronic heart failure: insights into cardiac recovery. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2013 May 14;61(19):1985-94.

 

  1. Symons JD, Deeter L, Deeter N, Bonn T, Cho JM, Ferrin P, McCreath L, Diakos NA, Taleb I, Alharethi R, McKellar S, Wever-Pinzon O, Navankasattusas S, Selzman CH, Fang JC, Drakos SG. Effect of Continuous-Flow Left Ventricular Assist Device Support on Coronary Artery Endothelial Function in Ischemic and Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy. Circ Heart Fail. 2019 Aug;12(8).

 

d)      Post Heart Transplantation Outcomes and Complications

 

  1. Alharethi R, Shaddy RE, Doty DB, Moore SA, Hammond EH, Dabbas B, Fuller TC, Renlund DG “Early Failure of a Tricuspid Valve Replacement with a Mitral Valve Homograft in a Heart transplant Recipient” J Heart Lung Transplant. 2004 Dec;23(12):1460-2.

 

  1. Rami Alharethi, MD; Feras Bader, MD; Abdallah G Kfoury, MD; M. Elizabeth H Hammond, MD; Shreekanth V Karwande, MD; Edward M Gilbert, MD; Donald B Doty, MD; Mary E Hagan, MSFNP; Heidi Thomas, MS; Dale G Renlund, MD “Tricuspid Valve Replacement after Cardiac Transplantation”  J Heart Lung Transplant. 2006; 25:48-52.

 

  1. Revelo MP, Stehlik J, Miller D, Snow GL, Everitt MD, Budge D, Bader FM, Alharethi R, Gilbert EM, Reid BB, Selzman CH, Hammond ME, Kfoury AG. Antibody testing for cardiac antibody-mediated rejection: which panel correlates best with cardiovascular death? J Heart Lung Transplant. 2011 Feb;30(2):144-50.

 

  1. Everitt MD, Donaldson AE, Stehlik J, Kaza AK, Budge D, Alharethi R, Bullock EA, Kfoury AG, Yetman AT Would access to device therapies improve transplant outcomes for adults with congenital heart disease? Analysis of the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS). J Heart Lung Transplant. 2011 Apr;30(4):395-401.

 

  1. Nixon JL, Kfoury AG, Brunisholz K, Horne BD, Myrick C, Miller DV, Budge D, Bader F, Everitt M, Saidi A, Stehlik J, Schmidt TC, Alharethi R. Impact of high-dose inotropic donor support on early myocardial necrosis and outcomes in cardiac transplantation. Clin Transplant 2012 Mar-Apr;26(2):322-7

 

  1. Revelo MP, Miller DV, Stehlik J, Brunisholz K, Drakos S, Gilbert EM, Everitt M, Budge D, Alharethi R, Snow G, Hammond EH, Kfoury AG. Longitudinal evaluation of microvessel density in survivors vs nonsurvivors of cardiac pathologic antibody-mediated rejection. Cardiovasc Pathol. 2012 Feb 28.

 

  1. Kfoury AG, Snow GL, Budge D, Alharethi RA, Stehlik J, Everitt MD, Miller DV, Drakos SG, Reid BB, Revelo MP, Gilbert EM, Selzman CH, Bader FM, Connelly JJ, Hammond ME. A longitudinal study of the course of asymptomatic antibody-mediated rejection in heart transplantation. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2012 Jan; 31 (1) :46-51.

 

  1. Januzzi JL, Horne BD, Moore SA, Galenko O, Snow GL, Brunisholz KD, Muhlestein JB, Alharethi R, Carlquist JF, Budge D, Rasmussen K, Kfoury AG. Interleukin receptor family member ST2 concentrations in patients following heart transplantation. Biomarkers. 2013 May;18(3):250-6.

 

  1. Wever-Pinzon O, Drakos SG, Kfoury AG, Nativi JN, Gilbert EM, Everitt M, Alharethi R, Brunisholz K, Bader FM, Li DY, Selzman CH, Stehlik J. Morbidity and mortality in heart transplant candidates supported with mechanical circulatory support: is reappraisal of the current United network for organ sharing thoracic organ allocation policy justified?. Circulation. 2013 Jan 29;127(4):452-62.

 

  1. Nixon JL, Kfoury AG, McCubrey R, Brunisholz K, Bair T, Balling KD, Budge D, Doty J, Rasmusson B, Reid B, Smith H, Thomsen G, Goddard M, Alharethi R. Lactic acidosis after cardiac transplantation: foe or common innocent bystander? Transplantation. 2015 Jun;99(6):1216-9

 

  1. Kfoury AG, Miller DV, Snow GL, Afshar K, Stehlik J, Drakos SG, Budge D, Fang JC, Revelo MP, Alharethi R, Gilbert EM, Caine WT, McKellar S, Molina KM, Hammond ME. Mixed cellular and antibody-mediated rejection in heart transplantation: In-depth pathologic and clinical observations. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2016 Mar; 35(3):335-41.

 

  1. Johnson AK, McCandless SP, Alharethi R, Caine WT, Budge D, Wright GA, Rauf A, Miller A, Stoker S, Smith H, Afshar K, Reid BB, Rasmusson BY, Kfoury AG. Reasons for, and outcomes of patients who were referred for a ventricular assist device but were declined: the recent era forgotten ones. Clin Transplant. 2016 Mar;30(3):195-201.

 

  1. Ko BS, Drakos S, Kfoury AG, Hurst D, Stoddard GJ, Willis CA, Delgado JC, Hammond EH, Gilbert EM, Alharethi R, Revelo MP, Nativi-Nicolau J, Reid BB, McKellar SH, Wever-Pinzon O, Miller DV, Eckels DD, Fang JC, Selzman CH, Stehlik J; Utah Transplant Affiliated Hospitals (U.T.A.H.) Cardiac Transplant Program. Immunologic effects of continuous flow left ventricular assist devices before and after heart transplant. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2016 Aug;35(8):1024-30.

 

  1. Khush KK, Patel J, Pinney S, Kao A, Alharethi R, DePasquale E, Ewald G, Berman P, Kanwar M, Hiller D, Yee JP, Woodward RN, Hall S, Kobashigawa J. Noninvasive detection of graft injury after heart transplant using donor-derived cell-free DNA: A prospective multicenter study. Am J Transplant. 2019