Dr David O'Donnell

“From the moment I became an electrophysiologist, I have been committed to always putting my patients at the centre of all decisions. After 20 years of clinical experience, I now maintain this commitment as the CEO of Advara HeartCare”

About Dr David O’Donnell 

Dr David O’Donnell is the Chief Executive Officer of Advara HeartCare, Sleep & Respiratory and is a Cardiologist & Electrophysiologist at our centre in Heidelberg, Victoria.

Prior to this, he was the Executive Manager of Cardiology, Sleep & Respiratory at GenesisCare, leading them to become the largest standalone cardiology provider in Australia after moving away from the GenesisCare network in October 2022.  He was also a previous Member of the Board of Directors for GenesisCare and Chairman of the Clinical Management Committee (CMC) for GenesisCare Cardiology Victoria.

Dr O’Donnell graduated from University of Melbourne Medical School in 1993, before going on to complete his initial training at the Austin Hospital, Heidelberg. Following his tenure in Melbourne, he went on to complete his Advanced Training in Electrophysiology at the Freeman Hospital in Newcastle, United Kingdom.

Throughout 1992 and 1993, Dr O’Donnell received several undergraduate awards including the Association of Medical Officers of Health Prize for the top medical student, the HG Furnell Award for the most outstanding medical student, and the Senior Medical Staff Award for the top student of that year. In the UK in 2002, he was also awarded the NASPE Fellow Clinical Research Award, the Eric and Bonnie Prystowsky Clinical Research Award and was a finalist in the NASPE Young Investigators Award.

Dr O’Donnell has a long standing clinical interest in arrhythmias, and specialises in atrial fibrillation, with a specific interest in athletes with atrial fibrillation. (World Cup soccer players, Olympic medallists, AFL / WAFL players and Grand Tour Cyclists)

In recent years, his clinical and research focus has been on pioneering the newest techniques for Cardiac Resynchronisation Therapy (CRT) devices in heart failure patients.

As an active educator, Dr O’Donnell runs several device implant courses, training Australian and international physicians in a range of therapeutic areas, particularly CRT. He has also presented at many international electrophysiology congresses.

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)