Dr. Clifford Kavinsky
Professor of Internal Medicine
Rush Center for Congenital & Structural Heart Disease
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, IL
Clifford Kavinsky, MD PhD FSCAI
Dr. Clifford Kavinsky is Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics at Rush University Medical Center. He is an expert on catheter-based therapies for heart and vascular disease, and is an internationally recognized leader in the use of novel treatments for adults with congenital and structural heart disease. Dr. Kavinsky is a US News and World Report nationally ranked “Top Doctor” in Interventional Cardiology.
Dr. Kavinsky contributes to Rush’s long standing commitment to excellence in patient care, teaching and research. He is currently the director for the Rush advanced training program in cardiovascular disease. His outstanding clinical care has been recognized by a generous gift from the Herb Family as part of the largest single donation in Rush history. The Herb Family Clifford J Kavinsky Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory opened in January 2012.
Dr. Kavinsky has published broadly in the area of structural heart disease, and serves as Associate Editor of the Journal of Structural Heart Disease. He is the director of the Rush Center for adult Structural Heart Disease. He conducts clinical trials on innovative procedures such as percutaneous aortic valve replacement (TAVR), mitral valve repair and PFO closure to prevent stroke. As Director of the Rush Cardiovascular Pre-Clinical Laboratory, he established a fully equipped large animal catheterization laboratory for evaluating new devices. Through his leadership, this laboratory sponsors well- received physician training courses on advanced interventional techniques.
Dr. Kavinsky has held the positions of Director of the Coronary Care Unit, Fellowship program director, Director of the medical practice, and Assistant director of the section of cardiology. As director of the Rush University Fellowship in Cardiovascular Disease from 2002 to 2012, he oversaw the training of numerous current and future leaders in academic and clinical cardiology.
Rush University Medical Center Honors and Awards (Selected)
Section of Cardiology Excellence in Teaching Award | 2006, 2012 |
Internal Medicine Distinguished Teaching and Service Award | 1996, 2006 |
John S. Graettinger M.D. Award for Outstanding Teaching2004 | 2004 |
Teaching Attending of the Year | 1995 |
Herrick Postgraduate Research Fellowship | 1986-1989 |
Education
Dr. Kavinsky completed his B.S. in Biology at Washington University in Saint Louis.
He went on to earn a Ph.D. in Biological Sciences from the University of Chicago. He completed post-doctoral training in molecular biology in the Laboratory of James D Watson at Cold Spring Harbor, New York. He obtained his MD and completed post-graduate training in Internal Medicine, Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology at Rush University in Chicago. He served as Chief Resident in the Department of Internal Medicine and Chief Fellow in the Section of Cardiology.