Hope for High-risk Coronary Artery Patients
A new suite of minimally invasive coronary and cardiac support interventions offers effective treatment alternatives for many patients with complex coronary artery disease.
Farouc Jaffer, MD, PhD
Farouc Jaffer, MD, PhD
Interventional Cardiologist | Cardiologist
Director, Coronary Intervention, Massachusetts General Hospital
Director, MGH Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) program
Associate Physician, MGH Cardiology, Department of Medicine
Director, Coronary Intervention, Massachusetts General Hospital
Director, MGH Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) Percutaneous Coronary Intervention (PCI) program
Associate Physician, MGH Cardiology, Department of Medicine
About Farouc Jaffer, MD, PhD
Dr. Farouc Jaffer graduated from Stanford University in 1990 with a B.S. in Mathematical and Computational Sciences, and received in MD and PhD in Biophysics from the University of Pennsylvania of Medicine in 1996. He completed a residency in internal medicine at the Brigham and Women's Hospital, followed by a fellowship in cardiovascular medicine and interventional cardiology at Massachusetts General Hospital. In 2003, he joined the Cardiology Division as faculty.
Dr. Jaffer is currently an Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and an Attending Interventional Cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. He is Director of Coronary Intervention and Director of the Chronic Total Occlusion (CTO) PCI Program at Massachusetts General Hospital. The MGH is a leading center for treating the most complex coronary blockages, such as CTO. Many patients, previously without options, have successfully underwent CTO PCI, and have experienced marked reductions in angina (chest pain) and shortness of breath.
Dr. Jaffer is also a Principal Investigator in the MGH Cardiovascular Research Center where his NIH-funded laboratory develops novel molecular imaging approaches to image high-risk plaques and blood clots, to better prevent heart attacks, strokes, and venous blood clots.
Departments, Centers, & Programs:
Clinical Interests:
- Coronary artery disease
- Coronary artery imaging
- Imaging and therapy of vulnerable plaque
- Interventional cardiology
- Spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD)
Treats:
- Adult
Locations
Mass General Heart Center
55 Fruit St.
Boston, MA 02114
Phone: 866-644-8910
Medical Education
- MD, Univ of Penn/School of Medicine
- Residency, Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Fellowship, Massachusetts General Hospital
Accepted Insurance Plans
- Aetna
- Beech Street
- Blue Cross Blue Shield
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Medicare
- Cigna
- Commonwealth Care Alliance
- Coventry
- Fallon Health
- Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
- Humana
- Maine Community Health Options
- Mass General Brigham Health Plan
- MassHealth
- Medicaid ME
- Medicaid NH
- Medicaid RI
- Medicaid VT
- Medicare
- Medicare ACO
- Multiplan
- Railroad Medicare
- Senior Whole Health
- TriCare
- Tufts Health Plan
- United Health Care
- Wellpoint
- WellSense
- WellSense NH
Note: This provider may accept more insurance plans than shown; please call the practice to find out if your plan is accepted.
Research
We are developing new approaches to image high-risk plaques (narrowings, blockages) that cause myocardial infarction (heart attacks). Imaging of high-risk ("vulnerable") coronary plaques could ultimately help prevent heart attacks from occurring.
Specifically, we are developing new intravascular optical (near-infrared fluorescence) imaging catheters to visualize inflammation in plaques. Inflammation is a key driver of plaque ruptures and heart attacks. Novel molecular imaging catheters are undergoing bench and experimental testing. Our goal is to translate these technologies to patients with coronary artery disease (CAD), with the goal of identifying inflamed high-risk plaques. Eventually identifying these plaques may allow us to pre-emptively treat them prior to rupture and heart attack.
Publications
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Select Publications:
- Jaffer FA, et al. Real-time Catheter Molecular Sensing of Inflammation in Proteolytically Active Atherosclerosis. Circulation 2008; 118:1802-9.
- Calfon MA, Vinegoni C, Ntziachristos V, Jaffer FA. Intravascular Near-infrared Fluorescence Molecular Imaging of Atherosclerosis: Towards Coronary Arterial Visualization of Biologically High-Risk Plaques. Journal of Biomedical Optics (Jan. 14, 2010).
- Sabatine MS, Jaffer FA, et al. A 32-Year-Old Woman, 3 Weeks Postpartum, with Substernal Chest Pain. New England Journal of Medicine 2010; 363:1164-1173.
Great bedside manner.
Dr. Jaffer made me very comfortable to talk about my problem with him before I go to see him. I was experiencing high anxiety as soon as I left his office my anxiety was gone. He was very helpful and explained everything to me master hospital. Lucky to have doctor like Dr. Jaffer and I'm lucky to have him as my healthcare provider.
Knowledgeable Articulate Fair Easy to talk with
Thank you for being so kind and understanding. I really appreciated your gentle approach to this procedure I am going to have. You explained everything to me in a manner that made me feel calm. It was so nice to meet you and I appreciate your time
I was impressed with the doctor and his associate. They both listened to what I had to say and they went over the procedure thoroughly.
I was finally listened to and validated 100%. Very refreshing to finally sit with a provider who did not discount my symptoms or concerns.
Dr. Jaffer was very nice, knowledgeable and professional. He responsive to my needs and answered all my concerns. He explained test results so I could understand.
The doctor took his time to show me on the computer exactly where my troubles are and he explained in easy words so I was able to fully understand.
Dr. Jaffer is a star. Best cardiologist I've ever had.
Knowledgeable and professional