Michael Fifer

Dr. Fifer received his undergraduate degree summa cum laude from Harvard College and completed his medical degree at Harvard Medical School. Following internship and residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, he completed his subspecialty fellowship in cardiovascular diseases at Brigham and Women's Hospital. Dr. Fifer joined the faculty of Harvard Medical School in 1984 and is currently a Professor of Medicine in the Cardiology Division at Massachusetts General Hospital where he is Medical Director of the Knight Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory, Co-director with Dr. Gus J. Vlahakes of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Program, and Director of Interventional Cardiology Associates. Dr. Fifer also maintains a general cardiology practice.

Dr. Fifer's research focuses on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He has been a pioneer in the use of alcohol septal ablation, an innovative procedure for patients with the obstructive form of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. The research arm of the program is currently conducting translational and clinical studies aimed at elucidating the pathophysiologic mechanism of the disease and discovering new treatments.

Clinical Interests

• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
• Left ventricular hypertrophy

Medical Education

• MD, Harvard Medical School
• Residency, Massachusetts General Hospital
• Fellowship, Brigham and Women's Hospital

Board Certifications

• Cardiovascular Disease
• Internal Medicine

Research Summary

Dr. Fifer's research focuses on hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He introduced alcohol septal ablation, an innovative procedure for patients with hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, to the northeastern United States. He has published definitive reviews on the management of hypertrohpic cardiomyopathy in Circulation. The research program of the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Program of the Heart Center of Massachusetts General Hospital is currently conducting translational and clinical studies aimed at elucidating the pathophysiologic mechanism of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and discovering new treatments for the disease.

Publications

• Rothman RD, Baggish AL, O’Callaghan C, Lowry PA, Bhatt AB, MacRae CA, Yannekis G, Sanborn DM, Mela T, Yeh RW, Palacios I, Vlahakes GJ, Fifer MA. Management strategy in 249 consecutive patients with obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy referred to a dedicated program. Am J Card 2012;110:1169-74.
• Elmariah S, Fifer MA. Medical, surgical and interventional management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with obstruction. Curr Treat Options Cardiovasc Med 2012;14:665-678.
• Sanborn DMY, Sigwart U, Fifer MA. Patient selection for alcohol septal ablation for hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy: clinical and echocardiographic evaluation. Interv Cardiol 2012;4:349-59.
• Shimada YJ,. Passeri JJ, Baggish AL, O’Callaghan C, Lowry PA, Yannekis G, Abbara S, Ghoshhajra BB, Ho CY, Januzzi JL, Seidman CE, Fifer MA. Effects of losartan on left ventricular hypertrophy and fibrosis in patients with nonobstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. J Am Coll Cardiology HF 2013;1:480-7.