Professor Chris Semsarian AM

Professor Chris Semsarian is a cardiologist with a specific clinical and research focus in inherited (genetic) heart disease. He trained at the University of Sydney, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, and Harvard Medical School. A focus area of his research is in the investigation and prevention of sudden cardiac death in the young, particularly amongst children and young adults.

 

Chris Semsarian established the Agnes Ginges Centre for Molecular Cardiology in 2001, a research program which is at the interface of basic science, clinical research and public health, with the ultimate goal to prevent the complications of genetic heart diseases in our community. He has published over 400 peer-reviewed scientific publications, in the highest-ranking cardiovascular and general medical journals. He has also been the primary supervisor of over 30 PhD, honours, and medical honours students since 2003, and is an active member of the mentoring program at the University of Sydney, particularly in supporting gender equity.

 

He has led major community programs in the area of prevention of sudden death, including having defibrillators in all public places including sporting grounds, as well as organised programs to teach CPR to all members of the community. Professor Semsarian was awarded a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia (AM) on January 26, 2017 for significant service to medicine in the field of cardiology as a clinician, administrator and educator, and to the community.