Associate Professor Rajiv Mahajan

Associate Professor Rajiv Mahajan
 Position Associate Professor
 Org Unit Medical Specialties
 Email rajiv.mahajan@adelaide.edu.au
 Telephone +61 8 8182 9439
 Location Lyell McEwin Hospital ,   Lyell McEwin Hospital

  • Biography/ Background

    A/Prof Mahajan is a clinical academic appointed as Associate Professor in the Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide and Cardiac Electrophysiologist at the Lyell McEwin Hospital, Northern Adelaide Local Health Network, South Australia.

    A/Prof Mahajan graduated from the University of Delhi in December 1997. He undertook Physician training from the Delhi University and Cardiology training from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, India. He worked in an academic position as Assistant Professor in Cardiology at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Research and Education prior to undertaking Electrophysiology and Pacing Fellowship at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. During this time, he also completed his PhD at The University of Adelaide resulting in ground-breaking work that was instrumental in understanding the mechanistic link between obesity, epicardial fat and atrial fibrillation (AF). During the early career period, he was supported by fellowship co-funded by the NHMRC and NHF (2016-2020) and subsequently by The Hospital Research Foundation (2020-2022).

    In 2017, A/Prof Mahajan was appointed to the position of a Clinical Academic in the Adelaide Medical School, The University of Adelaide and Lyell McEwin Hospital. During this time, A/Prof Mahajan has established a clinical electrophysiology fellowship based at Lyell McEwin Hospital and developed and leads an electrophysiology research program based around these clinical services. Thus far, he has amassed a dedicated research team that currently consists of an academic staff, two research staff and supervises two HDR students.

    A/Prof Mahajan is an invited reviewer for several peer-reviewed journals and currently serving on the editorial board of Heart Rhythm Case Reports (Heart Rhythm Society, USA). He was an invited speaker at several international and national conferences including invites to world renowned societies (HRS, ESC, Asia Pacific HRS, CSANZ). He has co-authored the guidelines on behalf of the Heart Rhythm Council of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand (CSANZ and the European Cardiac Society (ESC). He has published chapters in important cardiac electrophysiology textbooks including Cardiac Electrophysiology: From Cell to Bedside, Zipes DP (Ed) (2017). A/Prof Mahajan has a strong track record, with over 125 publications in peer review top cardiology journals.

    He has a particular interest in risk factors for atrial fibrillation and interventions aimed at improving outcomes of patients with this common heart rhythm disorder. In addition, He is interested in investigating the potential ways that can reduce the burden of AF related stroke in the general population.

  • Qualifications

    MBBS, MD, PhD, FRACP, FHRS

  • Awards & Achievements
    • Eric Prystowsky Clinical Research Award, Heart Rhythm Society, Boston (2015).
    • Travelling fellowship (University of Adelaide) to Heart Rhythm Society conference, Boston (2015).
    • First prize, Best Oral Abstract, Asia Pacific Heart Rhythm Society (2013).
    • First prize, Ralph Reader Young Investigator Award, Cardiology Society of Australia and New Zealand (2013).
    • First prize, Young Investigator Award, Heart Rhythm Society, Denver (2013).
    • Travelling fellowship (CSANZ) to Cardiology Society of Australasia and New Zealand conference, Brisbane (2013).
    • First prize, SA Heart Research Award (2013).
    • First prize, Nimmo Prize (2012). Royal Adelaide Hospital Research Forum.
    • International Postgraduate Research Scholarship (2011). University of Adelaide.
    • Australian Post Graduate Award (2011). University of Adelaide.
    • Leo J Mahar Electrophysiology Scholarship (2011). University of Adelaide.
    • National Council of Educational Research and Training Scholarship, India (1991- 2005).

     

  • Teaching Interests
    Lyell McEwin Hospital and University of Adelaide, 2017-current.

    PhD students

    1. Ms Anh H Nyugen (May 2023) - Precision Health and AF.

    2. Dr Rakesh Agarwal (Feb 2022-current) - Cognitive function and AF.

    3. Ms Tira Ratanakosit (submitted thesis) - Biophysics of Radiofrequency ablation.

     

    Honours students

    1. Ms Bhavya Garg (First class Honours) 2022. Patient Reported Outcomes on health literacy in patients with AF.

     

    Electrophysiology and pacing fellows (Lyell McEwin Hospital).

    Present

    1. Dr Rakesh Agarwal

    Past

    1. Dr Chris Wong (co- shared with RAH)

     

    MBBS Year 4-5 medical students for Arrhythmia rotation.

     

    Royal Adelaide Hospital and University of Adelaide, 2013-2017.

     

    PhD students

    1. Anand Thiyagarajah (Co-supervised)- Posterior wall isolation in AF ablation. 

    2. Dian A. Munawar (Co-supervised)- Pacing for the prevention of atrial fibrillation.

    3. Thomas Agbaedeng (Co-supervised). Obesity and Sudden Cardiac Death. He presented for the Ralph Reader prize at the annual scientific sessions of the CSANZ 2017 and received 1st prize, Young Investigator Award at annual scientific meeting of European Heart Rhythm Association (2017).

    4.  Christian Vincent Verdicchio (Co-supervised). Co-supervisor. Exercise and AF. Awarded University Medal for his PhD and finalist for the Young Investigator Award at the EuroPrevent (2019).

     

    Electrophysiology and pacing fellows: clinical training, supervision in the electrophysiology laboratory and research mentoring of 5 fellows.

    MBBS Year 4-5 medical students for Arrhythmia rotation.

  • Publications

    His work in the recent years has been published in high impact journals and has been recognised with multiple citations. The most important publications address important aspects of atrial fibrillation; in particular preclinical and clinical work on the association of obesity and atrial fibrillation. Please check my resercher profile for complete list of publications.

  • Professional Associations
    • Cardiology Society of Australia and New Zealand; 2013 Associate member.
    • International Society of Heart Research (Australasian Section); 2012-present.
    • American College of Cardiology; 2013 International Associate member.
    • American Heart Association; 2012-present.
    • Heart Rhythm Society, USA; 2010-present.
    • Indian Heart Rhythm Society; 2007-present.

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Entry last updated: Thursday, 4 May 2023

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