Alex Barbagelata, MD

I was born and raised in Argentina. I received my medical degree from the University of Buenos Aires and did my Residency/Cardiology Fellowship

Alex Barbagelata, MD
Alex Barbagelata, MD

and Cardiac catheterization training at the Favaloro Foundation at Sanatorio Guemes in Buenos Aires. International Scholar in Artificial Organs at the Cleveland Clinic in1990 and more than 25 years experience as a clinical and invasive cardiologist.

I have a long history associated with Duke University Cardiology Division and Duke Heart Center. In 1992 I was sent to the DCRI By Dr Rene G. Favaloro (known for implementing CABG worldwide) with the mission to mimic the Duke clinical research model.

With a group of Duke experts we developed the Latino version of the Duke Databank for Cardiovascular Diseases from 1992-1994. This version was implemented at the Favaloro Institute (the largest Latin American cardiovascular Institute at that time) with a data transfer protocol to duke for data validation and operation until 1998.  This experience is in the “Archives of the Duke Databank History”

In addition I was trained in Clinical trials and Clinical Research doing a number of Duke trials in South America and a significant number of publications. I returned to the US in 2005 as a faculty member in the Cardiology Division at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston TX, with the rank of Associate Professor of Medicine, as CCU and Cardiac Cath Lab attending (invasive cardiologist). I helped to establish an advanced heart failure fellowship program which I directed beginning 2006.  I also have experience in newer areas such as devices in heart failure both percutaneous and surgical such as being part of the approval team for destination therapy on Heart Mate II. I was UNOS primary physician in the Heart Transplant program 2011-2013.

I have been involved with the Duke University Cardiovascular research Society (DUCCS) organization since 1997.  I was involved with the trial AMISTAD (Acute Myocardial Infarction Study Adenosine) and collaborated in different academic activities including the TIME Multicenter study with wireless ECG transmission to smartphone in STEMI.  I am also on the ST LEUIS steering committee.  In 2010, I became a member of the DUCCS Board of Directors and my appointment was recently renewed.

I have been married to Silvina Diaz Usandivaras, a wonderful Argentinean woman, for almost 25 years.  We have 3 beautiful daughters.

Currently, I have a Duke affiliation as Adjunct Assistant Professor of Medicine/Cardiology and divide my time between the US and Argentina with a commitment to expand DUCCS activities in the South,  My goal is to be on the cutting edge in patient care, research and education in cardiovascular care.