Dr David O'Donnell

“From the moment I became an electrophysiologist, I have remained committed to placing patients at the heart of every decision. After more than 20 years of clinical experience, I continue to uphold this commitment in my role as CEO of AdvaraHeartCare.”

About Dr David O’Donnell 

David O’Donnell is the Chief Executive Officer of Advara HeartCare, Australia’s leading cardiology network operating more than 100 clinics nationally. A cardiologist and electrophysiologist with more than 20 years of clinical experience, David is one of Australia’s most recognised voices on the future of cardiovascular care and a leader who believes the defining challenge in cardiology is not how we treat disease, but how much earlier we can act to prevent it.

David founded Advara HeartCare in October 2022, having previously served as Executive Manager of Cardiology, Sleep & Respiratory at GenesisCare, where he led the division to become the largest standalone cardiology provider in Australia. As a Board Director at GenesisCare and Chair of the Victorian Clinical Management Committee, he developed the strategic and clinical foundations that now define Advara’s model: providing the best patient outcomes and experience through team-based care, advanced diagnostics, and a deliberate shift toward early detection and prevention at scale, including community testing programs designed to identify heart disease in people who do not yet know they have it.

As CEO of Advara HeartCare, David combines strategic healthcare leadership with a focus on innovation, operational excellence and patient-centred care. Having made the decision to focus on the executive side of healthcare, David completed a Residency at Harvard Business School in 2023. He recently completed the Harvard Medical School program, AI in Health Care, to bring expertise in the application of artificial intelligence and digital health technologies to cardiovascular medicine, supporting improved clinical outcomes and excellence in healthcare delivery.

Clinically, David specialises in arrhythmia management with a longstanding focus on atrial fibrillation, including in elite athletes among them World Cup footballers, Olympic medallists and Grand Tour cyclists. He has served as Principal Investigator across multiple landmark device trials and continues to see patients each week, a practice he regards as essential to leading a clinical organisation with credibility and purpose.

David graduated from the University of Melbourne Medical School in 1993 and completed advanced training in electrophysiology at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, UK. He has presented at major international electrophysiology congresses and has been recognised with international research awards including the NASPE Fellow Clinical Research Award and the Eric and Bonnie Prystowsky Clinical Research Award. He remains focused on building the infrastructure, evidence base and clinical models that will allow more Australians to access earlier, highest quality, and more personalised, cardiac care.

Awards 

• 2002 Eric and Bonnie Prystowsky Clinical Research Award
• 2002 NASPE Young Investigators Award Prize winner
• 2002 Eric and Bonnie Prystowsky Clinical Research Award
• 1992/1993 HG Furnell Award

Research Interests

Principal Investigator of the following clinical trials:

• SMART – Septal Mapping And Resynchronisation Therapy
• AdaptResponse
• ASD2
• EVICD – Extravascular Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
• CAAN-AF – Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy and AV Nodal Ablation Trial in Atrial Fibrillation Patients
• SoLVE CRT – Stimulation Of the Left Ventricular Endocardium for Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy in non-responders and previously untreatable patients
• CONFIRM Rx SMART Registry

Publications 

• Real-world behavior of CRT pacing using the AdaptivCRT algorithm on patient outcomes: Effect on mortality and atrial fibrillation incidence, 2020
• Characteristic Histopathological Findings and Cardiac Arrest Rhythm in Isolated Mitral Valve Prolapse and Sudden Cardiac Death, 2020
• First-in-Human Chronic Implant Experience of the Substernal Extravascular Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator, 2020
• Design and Preliminary Results of Sensing and Detection for an Extravascular Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator, 2021

Professional Memberships 

• Fellow of Cardiac Society of Australia New Zealand (FCSANZ)