Clifford Kavinsky, MD, PhD

Clifford Kavinsky, MD, PhD, is associate professor of medicine, director of the Coronary Care Unit and the fellowship training program director for Cardiovascular Medicine.  Dr. Kavinsky received his bachelor’s of arts from Washington University in St. Louis, MO.  After receiving a doctorate in molecular biology at the University of Chicago, he studied membrane biochemistry in the laboratory of J.D. Watson at Cold Spring Harbor.  While engaged in post-doctoral research as an assistant professor in the Section of Cardiology at the University of Chicago, he was involved in elucidating the alpha helical structure of the myosin heavy chain molecule using DNA cloning techniques. 

Dr. Kavinsky received his medical degree and completed his internal medicine residency at Rush University Medical Center where he was the recipient of the Herrick Post-Graduate Research Fellow­ship.  He then completed a cardiology fellowship including advanced training in inter­ventional cardiology.  He has previously held the positions of chief medical resident and chief cardiology fellow, as well as assistant section director and acting section director. 

Dr. Kavinsky’s primary research interests focus on the develop­ment of new tech­niques for catheter based, non-surgical treatment of patients with structural heart disease which includes percutaneous valve therapy, as well as novel percutaneous treatments for a variety of congenital and acquired cardiovascular disorders.

Dr. Kavinsky's Current Clinical Trials

Clinical Registry for PFO Closure: Clinical registry to allow access to a new PFO (patent foramen ovale) occluder device for those patients who have had at least 2 strokes and who have failed drug therapy.

Investigating the PFO / Migraine Relationship: Investigational study exploring the relationship between PFO (patent foramen ovale) and migraine headaches.