Emil Najjar

Higher Education 

2024   EuroElso 40-hour training course in ECMO, France

2024   ISHLT Master Academy in Heart Failure and Transplantation, Czech Republic

2022   Core Competencies in Basic Science and Translational Research, live virtual activity, ISHLT Academy

2022   The London Postgraduate Course in Heart Failure Management, University of Zurich, Switzerland 

2020   PhD, Department of cardiology, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden 

             Thesis “Hemodynamics, echocardiography, and biomarkers in different heart failure phenotypes” 

2019   Master class in mechanical circulatory support, ISHLT, USA 

2018   Core competencies in mechanical circulatory support, ISHLT, France 

Clinical Board Certificates 

2022   European Heart Failure Association Certification Exam

2014   Board certification in Cardiology, Sweden 

2013   European certification in adult transthoracic echocardiography, Greece 

2012   Board certification in Internal Medicine, Sweden  

2007   License to practice medicine, Sweden

Current Employment: 

2021-  Consultant cardiologist, Heart and Vascular Theme, Section for Heart Failure and Valvular disease, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden 

2020-  Clinical researcher, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden 

2018-  Medical director for ventricular assist device program, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden 

 Previous Employment: 

2015-2020 Cardiology specialist, Heart and Vascular theme, Section for Heart Failure and Valvular disease, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden 

2012-2014 Fellowship cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden 

2011-2012 Residency, Internal medicine, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden 

2007-2011 Residency, Internal medicine, Södertälje Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden 

2006-2007 Internship, Södertälje Hospital, Stockholm, Stockholm, Sweden 

Memberships in Organizations

My research focuses on advanced heart failure and left ventricular assist device therapy, particularly optimization of HeartMate 3 devices and improving long-term patient outcomes. I am actively involved in VAD weaning registry and have a strong interest in cardiac recovery.

Clinical Trial Experience 

-Local principal investigator for SweVAD (Randomized trial of a left ventricular assist device as destination therapy versus guideline-directed medical therapy in patients with advanced heart failure) 

-National principal investigator for VICTOR (VerICiguaT in adults withChrOnicheart failure and Reduced ejection fraction) 

- National principal investigator for VELOCITY HF trial (A study to learn how safe starting vericiguat at a dose of 5 milligrams is in participants with chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction)

GCP: Certified; most recent re-certification 2024 

Supervision & Teaching Experience 

-Main supervisor for a PhD student: Abraham Merzo since 2023, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden

-Co-supervisor for a PhD student Daniel Ceken since 2023, Karolinska Institutet, Sweden

-About 200 teaching hours about heart failure for medical students, residents, fellows, specialists

Conference & Event Organization