Aug 2013 — Present
Affiliate Associate Professor
Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Boca Raton, FL — core clinical faculty, FAU Cardiology Fellowship (2 fellows/yr since 2019)
Physician Profile
Jonathan Vafai, MD, FACC, FASE
Nearly two decades of cardiovascular experience, including more than 16 years in clinical practice and leadership in echocardiography and cardiovascular care.
← Back to homepageExperience
01 / Work Experience
June 2020 — Present
Chairman, Department of Cardiology
Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, FL
July 2012 — Present
Medical Director, Echocardiography Laboratory
Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, FL
November 2011 — Present
Cardiologist
South Florida Heart Institute PA / Palm Beach Health Network, Delray Beach, FL
Practice acquired by Palm Beach Health Network, September 2012.
January 2018 — May 2020
Vice-Chairman, Department of Medicine
Delray Medical Center, Delray Beach, FL
July 2010 — October 2011
Cardiologist
Heart Specialists of Central Jersey, LLP, Freehold, NJ
Leadership & quality improvement
02 / As Chairman
As Chairman of the Department of Cardiology, Dr. Vafai oversees departmental quality-improvement initiatives, including:
- Documentation. Improved clinical documentation completion rates department-wide.
- Imaging protocols. Developed and implemented updated echocardiography laboratory protocols.
- Catheterization lab safety. Led initiatives that reduced bleeding complications in the cardiac catheterization lab.
- Current initiative. Leading a quality initiative to reduce acute kidney injury following cardiac catheterization.
Education, training and appointments
03 / Academics and background
Faculty appointments
Jun 2004 — Jun 2007
Clinical Fellow in Medicine
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Hospital affiliation & committees
Delray Medical Center — Clinical privileges, Nov 2011–Present
Medical Executive Committee, 2020–Present
Peer Review Committee, 2014–Present
Credentials Committee, 2015–2020
Training & education
Jul 2007 — Jun 2010
Cardiology Fellow · Chief Fellow, 2009–2010
NYU School of Medicine Program
Northwell Health, Manhasset, NY
Jun 2004 — Jun 2007
Intern & Resident, Internal Medicine
Harvard Medical School
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA
2000 — 2004
Doctor of Medicine
New York University School of Medicine
1996 — 2000
B.A., Biochemistry — Cum Laude
New York University College of Arts and Science
Clinical trials, publications, abstracts & selected lectures
Clinical trials
SUMMIT Trial
Echocardiographer
TRILUMINATE Trial
Heart Failure Specialist
Evolut Low Risk Trial
Echocardiographer
EMPOWER Trial
Echocardiographer
Peer-reviewed publications
- Kahan J, Hamed M, Lobana VR, Haider MA, Vafai J, Syed A, Smith K, Ravaee B, Lieberman EH. "Escaping History: The Cardiovascular Health and Prevention Manual." Amazon, September 4, 2024.
- Catanzaro JN, Makaryus J, Vafai J, Makaryus AN, Jadonath R, Beldner S. "Dual Atrioventricular-Nodal Physiology, Elicited by Pacing and Leading to a Reversible Cardiomyopathy." Texas Heart Institute Journal, 36(4): 352 (2009).
- Vafai J, Pinto DS, Gibson CM. "Evidenced-Based Management of ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction: 2007 Update." Cardiology Quarterly, First Quarter, 2007.
- Kirtane AJ, Vafai J, Murphy SA, Aroesty JM, Sabatine MS, Cannon CP, Gibson CM. "Angiographically Evident Thrombus Following Fibrinolytic Therapy Is Associated with Impaired Myocardial Perfusion in STEMI: A CLARITY-TIMI 28 Substudy." European Heart Journal, 27: 2040c (2006).
- Gan HH, Perlow RA, Roy S, Ko J, Wu M, Huang J, Yan S, Nicoletta A, Vafai J, Sun D, Wang L, Noah JE, Schlick T. "Analysis of Protein Sequence/Structure Similarity Relationships." Biophysical Journal, 83: 2781 (2002).
- Rokhsar CK, Shupack JL, Vafai JJ, Washenik K. "Efficacy of Topical Sensitizers in the Treatment of Alopecia Areata." Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, 39: 751-61 (1998).
Abstracts
- Vafai J, Singh A, Catanzaro J, Makaryus AN, Altman EJ, Jadonath RL, Beldner S. "Effect of Left Circumflex Coronary Artery Disease on the Left Marginal Vein and Its Implications for Biventricular Lead Placement." Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography, 3(4S): S21, July 2009.
- Havens AK, Vafai J, Idel S, Teupser D, O'Donnell CJ, Breslow JL. "Inflammation Pathway Gene Polymorphisms and Heart Disease Related Phenotypes in the Framingham Study Cohort." NHLBI's PGA Symposium, July 2005.
- Anantharaman T, et al., Vafai J, et al. "Optical Mapping: A Complete System for Whole Genome Shotgun Mapping." DOE Human Genome Workshop, March 2000.
Selected lectures
- "E/M Primer." FAU Cardiology Grand Rounds, Delray Beach, FL, March 22, 2024 & April 8, 2022.
- "Cardiac Monitoring of Cardio-Toxic Chemotherapy: The ABCs of Cardiac Imaging." Cardio-Onc Grand Rounds, Delray Beach, FL, February 28, 2020.
- "LV Chamber Quantification 2015 Update." Delray Echo Meeting, Delray Beach, FL, July 23, 2015.
- "Pericardial Diseases." Noon Conference, Internal Medicine Residency Program, Long Island Jewish Medical Center, New Hyde Park, NY, September 2008 & September 2009.
Board certifications
04 / Boards
American Board of Internal Medicine2007 · recert. to 2027
ABIM, Cardiovascular Disease2010 · recert. to 2030
Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology2010
National Board of Echocardiography (ASCeXAM)recert. 2022
Licensed to practice medicine in Florida and New York.
Recognition
05 / Honors & societies
Honors & awards
2016–26Castle Connolly "Top Doctor"
2009Chief Fellow, Northwell Health (formerly North Shore–LIJ) Cardiology Fellowship
2008Lawrence Scherr, MD, Department of Medicine Scholarly Activity Award
Professional societies
American Society of Echocardiography — Fellow
Finance Committee, 2021–23 · Education Committee, 2023–25
American College of Cardiology — Fellow
Consulting & review
Consultant, McKesson / Change Healthcare / Optum
2016 — Present
Expert Reviewer, Florida Board of Medicine
December 2021 — June 2025
Medical-Legal Review / Expert Witness
2018 — Present