Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, MD, FHRS
Dr. Dhanunjaya (DJ) Lakkireddy is the Executive Medical Director of the Kansas City Heart Rhythm Institute at HCA Midwest and a Professor of Medicine at the University of Missouri. He is board certified in Cardiology and Electrophysiology, and is an internationally-renowned electrophysiologist whose contributions have helped advance the field.
Dr. Lakkireddy is one of the most creative and productive physician scientist with more than 350 peer reviewed articles and abstracts to his credit. His enthusiasm for clinical research in the field of electrophysiology and cardiology is boundless. He has been the primary investigator for over 100 investigator initiated studies and industry sponsored trials that have expanded the scope of clinical practice in cardiology and electrophysiology.
He was the lead investigator of the ‘YOGA MY HEART’ study, internationally recognized for its innovation in exploring alternative medical strategies as a supplement to standard medical therapy. He received the Prevention Award for the year 2011 for his contributions to cardiovascular health by the Prevention magazine. He was recognized by Ingram’s magazine with a “Heroes in Medicine” award in 2014.
Dr. Lakkireddy is an integral part of numerous scholarly projects and is an engaging teacher and mentor. His dedication to excellence in patient care is a source of great motivation for physicians in training. He is an invited speaker at several national and international meetings. He is credited with shepherding several new tools and techniques to the Midwest area. His pioneering works in the fields of atrial fibrillation, ventricular tachycardia, remote magnetic navigation, and alternative therapies for the treatment of atrial fibrillation have paved the way for future research. He is a pre-eminent scientist in the field of Left Atrial Appendage and Atrial Fibrillation research.
Dr. Lakkireddy is the Program Director for the Kansas City Heart Rhythm Symposium. This is designed to provide education to both Physicians, Nurses, Nurse Practioners and lab staff in the field of heart rhythm disorders for the surrounding eight states. He is co-director for “International Symposium on Left Atrial Appendage” focused on the frontier science of left atrial appendage. This topic is of tremendous interest in the practice of cardiovascular care. The symposium offers very informative presentations on the anatomy, physiology and pathological aspects of the left atrial appendage along with old and new therapeutic strategies of stroke prophylaxis including cardiac devices for LAA exclusion.
He is the founder for Global Atrial Fibrillation Alliance, a not for profit patient-physician-industry alliance working towards a common goal of creating world free of atrial fibrillation. He was instrumental in inaugurating the World AF Awareness Day and AF run that is held worldwide on the second Saturday of September every year.
Dr. Lakkireddy is the associate editor for the reputable online open access arrhythmia journal that is released bi-monthly – The Journal of Atrial Fibrillation (www.jafib.com). He is the sitting Governor for the Kansas Chapter of American College of Cardiology (ACC). He is an active member of the ACC steering committee for the Board of Governors, Population Council and EP Leadership Council. He sits on various editorial boards for peer reviewed journals and numerous steering committees.