Dr. David Messika-Zeitoun is an outstanding clinician-investigator who is making an indelible mark for uOttawa, the Heart Institute, and Canada for his novel insights into the pathophysiology and management of Valvular Heart Disease (VHD).
His leadership in the CCS Working Group on Valvular Heart Disease and as Associate Editor of the European Heart Journal demonstrates his influence in shaping clinical practice and research priorities. For example, the VHD Mobile Screening Program team is collaborating with health economists to assess the program’s economic value and advocate for funding from the Ministry of Health. This highly impactful and successful initiative directly aligns with the UOHI 2025-2030 Strategic Plan to, “maximize care in the community and streamline Institute access.”
Dr. Messika-Zeitoun’s research has led to the development and validation of the TRI-SCORE, a risk score now widely used to guide clinical management of tricuspid regurgitation, and he has refined grading schemes for tricuspid regurgitation, improving patient outcomes and management strategies. His work on large multicenter registries such as TRIGISTRY and MITRACURE continues to generate high-impact publications and international collaborations. He has published over 300 peer-reviewed articles, including more than 105 publications in the past five years.
Furthermore, Dr. Messika-Zeitoun is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of clinicians and scientists. The Valvular Heart Disease fellowship program he recently initiated provides advanced training in VHD evaluation, management, and research, covering epidemiology, pathophysiology, imaging, and therapeutic interventions.
Dr. Messika-Zeitoun’s work has and will continue to transform the landscape of valvular heart disease care locally, nationally, and internationally.