CURRICULUM VITAE
Of
Owen Abraham Obel
Name
Owen A. Obel
Address
Cardiology, 4500 South Lancaster Road, Dallas, Tx
Telephone
(+1) 214 8571527 (office)
(+1) 214 8220632 (page)
E mail
owen.obel@utsouthwestern.edu
Date of Birth
22 May 1962, Johannesburg, South Africa
Nationality
Dual US and UK citizen
Licensure
Massachusetts (Full)
Texas (Full)
United Kingdom (Internal Medicine, Cardiology)
South Africa (Internal Medicine, Cardiology)
General Education
King Edward VII and Redhill School
Johannesburg, South Africa
1974 - 1980
Medical Education
University of Witwatersrand
Johannesburg, South Africa
1981 - 1986
Qualifications
MB BCh (MD)
(Honors in Medicine and Pediatrics)
Dec 1986
Member of Royal College of Physicians (UK)
Nov 1993
UK - Board certified equivalent (Internal Medicine and
Cardiology)
South Africa – Board certified equivalent (Internal
Medicine and Cardiology)
Affiliations
Thesis
Fellow of Heart Rhythm Society (2012)
University of London 2011 (Doctor of Medicine)
Supervisor: Professor AJ Camm
Title: Thromboembolism in Atrial Fibrillation:
Hemodynamic and Haematologic Mechanisms
2
Current Position
November 2004 - Present
Director of Pacing and Electrophysiology,
Dallas VA Medical Center
Associate Professor in Medicine and Cardiology
Director of Education - EP Fellowship Program,
UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
Cardiological Training
EP Fellowship
July 2002 –June 2004
-
Director of fully equipped invasive EP lab at
DVAMC (biplane lab with all standard
equipment including CARTO, ESI and
intracardiac echo) with ± 700 cases performed
annually (approximately 400 devices; 200
standard ablations, 70 AF ablations, 20 VT
ablations/year)
-
Responsible for running of EP and Pacing
Service at DVAMC
-
Responsible for compiling and running
educational curriculum training of 4 ACGME–
accredited EP Fellows at UT Southwestern, 2
of whom are full-time at DVAMC
Clinical Fellow in Cardiac Pacing and
Electrophysiology
Cardiac Arrhythmia Service
Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA
Supervisor: Dr Jeremy Ruskin
Cardiology Fellowship
Oct ’98 – June 2002
St Georges, Hospital, London (and affiliated hospitals)
Specialist Registrar in Cardiology
Supervisors: Prof AJ Camm; Dr E Rowland
Oct ’2000 – Oct 2001
Specialist Registrar in Cardiology
Sussex Cardiac Centre – Royal Sussex County
Hospital, Brighton, UK
Supervisor: Dr S O ‘Nunain
Oct ’99 – Oct 2000
Specialist Registrar in Cardiology
Mayday University Hospital, London, UK
3
Supervisor: Dr S Joseph
Oct ’98 – Oct ’99
Specialist Registrar in Cardiology
Worthing Hospital, UK
Supervisor: Dr M Signy
Feb ’96 – Oct ’98
Research Fellow in Cardiology, Electrophysiology
St George’s Hospital, London, UK
Supervisor: Professor AJ Camm
Skills
Trained and experienced in all aspects of invasive
electrophysiology.
Trained and experienced in cardiac arrhythmia
ablation including AF and VT ablation (including
epicardial ablation) at 1st operator level including
frequent current use of electroanatomical mapping
techniques (CARTO and ESI) and intracardiac echo.
Trained and experienced in pacemaker and ICD
implantation and interpretation having performed well
over 1000 such procedures at 1st operator level.
Trained and experienced in complex and biventricular
device implantation, device revision, and device
upgrades, tunnelling etc, at 1st operator level.
Trained in transthoracic echocardiography, basic
transesophageal echocardiography, extensive
diagnostic coronary angiography.
Research Interests
Main current research interest: Effect of AV node
ablation and biventricular pacing for refractory AF and
heart failure on atrial electrical remodelling (recently
awarded VISN 17 grant -$100 000).
PI in Dallas for Impulse Dynamics – a study on
Cardiac Contractility Modulation in Heart Failure (FIX
HF 5)
Publications
Camm AJ, Obel OA. Epidemiology and mechanism of atrial fibrillation and atrial
flutter. American Journal of Cardiology 1996; 78(8A):3-11
Obel OA, Camm AJ. Supraventricular tachycardia. ECG diagnosis and anatomy.
European Heart Journal 1997; 18 Suppl C:C2-11
4
Obel OA, Camm AJ. Accessory pathway reciprocating tachycardia. European
Heart Journal 1998; 19 Suppl E: E13-E24
Obel OA, Camm AJ. The use of drugs for cardioversion of recent onset atrial
fibrillation and flutter: focus on ibutilide. Drugs & Aging 1998; 12 (6): 461-76
Obel OA, Rowland ER. Characteristics and differential diagnosis of arrhythmias.
Chapter in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy/Dysplasia. Nava A,
Rossi L, Thiene G (Eds). pp197-209, Elselvier, Amsterdam 1997
Obel OA, Camm AJ. Alcohol and the heart. Alcoholism 1998; 17(3): 1-2
Obel OA, Camm AJ. Supraventricular Tachycardia. Chapter in Cardiology.
Bayes de Luna A, Brochier M, Dienstl F, Jezek V, Mortensen SA, Poole-Wilson
PA, Braunwald E (Eds). pp191-200, McGraw-Hill, London 1999
Obel OA, Camm AJ. Atrioventricular nodal re-entry: prevalence, presentation,
management, and new strategies for intervention in the context of aviation.
European Heart Journal 1999 Suppl D: D98-D104
Obel OA, Ward DEW. Advances in Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillators. Asian
Journal of Cardiology 1999
Gallagher MM, Obel OA, Camm AJ. Tachycardia-induced atrial myopathy: an
important mechanism in the pathophysiology of atrial fibrillation? Journal of
Cardiovascular Electrophysiology 1997; 8(9):1065-74
Hnatkova K, Obel OA, Camm AJ, Malik M. Technical Advances in SignalAveraged Electrocardiography. Cardiac Electrophysiology Review 1997; 1(3):
317-320
Price A. Obel OA. Cresswell J. Catch I. Rutter S. Barik S. Heller SR. Weetman
AP. Comparison of thyroid function in pregnant and non-pregnant Asian and
western Caucasian women. Clinica Chimica Acta. 308(1-2):91-8, 2001 Jun
Al-Saady NM, Obel OA, Camm AJ. The Left Atrial Appendage: structure,
function, and role in thromboembolism. Heart 1999; 82: 547-555
Obel OA. Revisiting established medical options - antiarrhythmic drugs and betablocker combinations. Resuscitation 2000: 45(3):S7-S10
Obel OA, Coltart DJ, Signy M. Balloon Pulmonary Valvuloplasty in Carcinoid
Syndrome. Heart 2000: 83: e2000
5
Obel OA, Camm AJ. Economic Aspects of Implantable-Cardioverter-Defibrillator
Therapy. Chapter in Fighting Sudden Cardiac Death. Aliot E, Clementy J,
Prystowsky E [Eds]. pp 671-688, Futura, Armonk, New York 2000
Gallagher MM. Hennessy BJ. Edvardsson N. Hart CM. Shannon MS. Obel OA.
Al-Saady NM. Camm AJ. Embolic complications of direct current cardioversion of
atrial arrhythmias: association with low intensity of anticoagulation at the time of
cardioversion. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 40: 926-33; 2002
Obel OA, Davidson C. Arrhythmias in an Athlete: The Effect of De-Training.
Postgraduate Medical Journal; 81:62-64 2005
Obel OA, Mansour M, Picard M, Ruskin JR, Keane D Persistence of Septal
Defects After Transeptal Puncture for Pulmonary Vein Isolation Procedures
PACE; 27:1411-1414, 2004
Obel OA, Luddington L, Maarouf N, Aytemir K, Ekwall C, Malik M, Camm AJ.
The Effects of Ventricular Rate and Regularity on the Velocity and Magnitude of
Left Atrial Appendage Flow in Atrial Fibrillation. Heart 2005; 91: 764-768
Obel OA, d’Avila A, Saad E, Neuzil P, Ruskin R, Reddy V. Ablation of Left
Ventricular Epicardial Outflow Tract Tachycardia from the Distal Great Cardiac
Vein. J Am Coll Cardiol 48:1813-17, 2006
Nesbitt WH, Lampe C, Lustgarten D, Obel OA. Supraventricular Tachycardia
with Two VA Intervals: What is the Mechanism? PACE; 30(2):253-5 2007
Chen J, Naseem RH, Obel OA, Joglar J. Habitual Cocaine Use Is Associated
with High Defibrillation Threshold During ICD Implantation. Journal of
Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, 18: 722-725, 2007
Brilakis ES, Collins LJ, Obel OA, Banerjee S Mechanical valve dysfunction after
percutaneous perimitral leak closure: salvage by percutaneous occluder retrieval.
Catheter Cardiovasc Interv. 75(6):876-81, 2010
Daniels J, Saunders J, Parvethanani S, Byrd A, Joglar J, Obel OA.
ICD Electrocardiographic Findings, Device Therapies, and Comorbidities in
Octogenarian Implantable Defibrillator Recipients. Journal of Cardiovascular
Electrophysiology, 21: 236-241, 2010
Kadish A, Nademanee K, Volosin K, Krueger S, Neelagaru S, Raval N, Obel O,
Weiner S, Wish M, Carson P, Ellenbogen K, Bourge R, Parides M, Chiacchierini
RP, Goldsmith R, Goldstein S, Mika Y, Burkhoff D, Abraham WT. A randomized
controlled trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of cardiac contractility
modulation in advanced heart failure. Am Heart J.161(2):329-337,2011
6
Daniels JD, Sun S, Zafereo J, Minhajuddin A, Nguyen C, Obel O, Wu R, Joglar
JA Preventing shoulder pain after cardiac rhythm management device
implantation: a randomized, controlled study. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol. 2011
Jun;34(6):672-8.
Brilakis ES, Lichtenwalter C, Abdel-karim AR, de Lemos JA, Obel O, Addo T,
Roesle M, Haagen D, Rangan BV, Saeed B, Bissett JK, Sachdeva R, Voudris
VV, Karyofillis P, Kar B, Rossen J, Fasseas P, Berger P, Banerjee S. Continued
benefit from paclitaxel-eluting compared with bare-metal stent implantation in
saphenous vein graft lesions during long-term follow-up of the SOS (Stenting of
Saphenous Vein Grafts) trial. JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2011 Feb;4(2):176-82.
Abraham WT, Nademanee K, Volosin K, Krueger S, Neelagaru S, Raval N, Obel
O, Weiner S, Wish M, Carson P, Ellenbogen K, Bourge R, Parides M,
Chiacchierini RP, Goldsmith R, Goldstein S, Mika Y, Burkhoff D, Kadish A; FIXHF-5 Investigators and Coordinators. Subgroup analysis of a randomized
controlled trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of cardiac contractility
modulation in advanced heart failure. J Card Fail. 2011 Sep;17(9):710-7.
Owens A, Heinzman K, Obel O. Anti-tachycardia pacing as both therapy and
diagnostic tool. What is the diagnosis? Heart Rhythm. 2011 May 25. [Epub ahead
of print]
Lo MY, Obel O. Maximizing Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in Patients With
Atrial Fibrillation. Journal of Innovations in Cardiac Rhythm Management. 2011
(2) 584-593
Letters
Obel OA. Cardiological examinations. Journal of the Royal College of Physicians
of London 1997; 31(6):704-5
Abstracts
Obel OA, Al-Saady N, Fredericks S, Gallagher M, Waktare J, Camm AJ. Patients
With Non-Valvular Atrial Fibrillation Have Evidence of Thrombin Generation But
Not Endothelial Activation. Journal of the American College of Cardiology 1998;
31 (2A): 332A
Obel OA, Treasure T, Murday A, Smith J, Gaer J, Camm AJ. The Effects of Brief
Periods of Acute Atrial Fibrillation on Left Atrial Mechanical Function and
Activation of Coagulation. PACE; 1998, 21 (4) II: 897
Obel OA, Treasure T, Murday A, Smith J, Gaer J, Camm AJ. The Effects of
Post-Operative Atrial Fibrillation on Left Atrial Mechanical Function and Activation
of Coagulation. European Heart Journal; 1998, 19 (Suppl): 96
7
Obel OA, Al-Saady N, Luddington L, Murday A, Treasure T, Camm AJ.
Hypercoagulability of Left Atrial Appendage Blood From Patients With Atrial
Fibrillation. European Heart Journal; 1998, 19 (Suppl): 460
Obel OA, Al-Saady N, Luddington L, Murday A, Treasure T, Camm AJ. Regional
Intra-cardiac Variability of Pre-thrombotic Markers in Patients with Non-valvular
Atrial Fibrillation. Circulation; 1998, 17 (Suppl): 704
Obel OA, Aytemir K, Luddington L, Maarouf N, Ekwall C, Malik M, and Camm
AJ; The Efffects of Ventricular Rate and Rhythm on the Velocity and Magnitude
of Left Atrial Appendage Flow in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation. PACE; 1999, 22
(4), 710
Obel OA, Aytemir K, Luddington L, Maarouf N, Ekwall C, Malik M, and Camm
AJ; The Relative Effects of Ventricular Rate and Rhythm on Ejection Fraction in
Patients With Atrial Fibrillation, PACE; 1999, 22 (4), 710
Obel OA, Aytemir K, Luddington L, Maarouf N, Ekwall C, Malik M, and Camm
AJ; The Efffects of Ventricular Rate and Rhythm on the Velocity and Magnitude
of Left Atrial Appendage Flow in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation, PACE 1999, 22
(4), 842
Gallagher MM, Hart CM, Shannon MS, Obel OA, Al-Saady N, Camm AJ.
Embolic Complications of Direct Current Cardioversion of Atrial Arrhythmias.
PACE; 1998, 21 (4) II: 953
M.M. Gallagher, C.M. Hart, M.S Shannon, Obel OA, N.M. Al-Saady, A.J. Camm.
Safety of Direct Current Conversion of Atrial Arrhythmias. Journal of the
American College of Cardiology 1998; 31 (2A): 38A
M. M. Gallagher, B.J. Hennessy, C.M. Hart, M.S. Shannon, A.M. Murtagh, Obel
OA, A.J. Camm. Embolic Complications of Direct Current Cardioversion Reflect
Inadequate Intensity of Anticoagulation Circulation; 1998, 17 (Suppl): 767
Obel OA, Mansour M, Picard M, Ruskin JR, Keane D Persistence of Septal
Defects After Transeptal Puncture for Pulmonary Vein Isolation Procedures
NASPE 2004
Abrol R, Nguyen C, Le B, Cogan J, Nesbitt W, Naseem R, Hamden M, Kowal R,
Obel OA, Anderson JA, Joglar J. Radiation exposure to physician operators
during biventricular device implants. 2005 Heart Rhythm Society Scientific
Sessions; May 4-7,2005; New Orleans, LA. Abstract P2-114
Nesbitt W, Lampe C, Obel OA. Impantation of Left ventricular Pacing Leads
Without the Use of a Sheath Heart Rhythm Journal 2006; 3 (1S) S143
8
Obel IWP, Daniels J, Lokhoff N, Van Wijk F, Obel OA. Initial Experience With a
Single Coronary Sinus Lead for Left-Sided Atrioventricular Pacing. Heart Rhythm
Journal 2007 (5S) S25
Srinivasan N, Ho J, Naseem R, Joglar J, Collins L, Obel OA. AV Node Ablation
and Biventricular Pacing − A Comparison between Ischemic and Non-Ischemic
Cardiomyopathy - Heart Rhythm Journal 2009 5S S463
Ahmed SH, Amin A, Joglar J, Obel OA. Does Interatrial Conduction Delay
Preclude Atrioventricular Optimization in Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy,
and Would a Left Atrial Bipole Help? - Heart Rhythm Journal 2009 5S S188
Torres-Heisecke R, Dimas,V MD; Owens A, Joglar,J; Obel OA. Unexpected
Restoration of Sinus Rhythm After Atrioventricular Node Ablation and
Biventricular Pacing in Heart Failure Patients With Atrial Fibrillation. (ACC March
2010)
Presentations, Lectureship
September 1999 – ‘Fighting Sudden Cardiac Death – a Worldwide Challenge’,
Palais de Congress, Paris – 3 lectures on behalf of Prof AJ Camm
Internal Medicine Grand Rounds, UT Southwestern, Dallas, Texas, March 2006,
January 2011
Internal Medicine Grand Rounds, Presbyterian Hospital, Dallas, Texas, March
2006
Numerous lectures delivered for Pacing/ICD/ablation catheter corporations at
sponsored symposia for EP Fellows
Presenter at core curricula sessions at HRS scientific sessions in 2007 and 2008;
session chairman in 2009, 2010, 2013
Other Previous Training
General Medicine
Feb’94 – Jan’96
Registrar in General Medicine
Trent Regional Health Authority, UK
Feb ’93 – Jan ’94
Senior House Officer, Medicine
Kent & Canterbury Hospital, UK
Aug ’92 – Jan ’93
Senior House Officer in Medicine
Bradford Royal Infirmary, UK
Aug ’91 – Mar ’92
Senior House Officer in Medicine
9
William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, UK
Feb ’91 – July ’91
Senior House Officer, Orthopedics
William Harvey Hospital, Ashford, UK
Feb ’89 – Jan ‘91
Compulsory Military Service (MD in a Mission Hospital
in Zululand, South Africa)
1 Jan ‘88 – 30 June ‘88
Senior House Officer, Medicine
Hillbrow Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa
1 Jan ‘87 – 31 Dec ‘87
Internship (Medicine and Surgery)
Hillbrow Hospital, Johannesburg, South Africa
Other interests
Family, music, travel, photography
10