Highlighted Researcher: Arash Harzand

What is your professional background?
I attended medical school at the University of Miami as part of a combined MD/MBA program, after which I came to Emory where I completed my Internal Medicine residency followed by a fellowship in Cardiovascular disease as part of the clinician-investigator pathway. I also served as the Chief Resident for Quality and Patient Safety at the Atlanta VA for 1 year before fellowship.

In what division do you work, and who is your mentor?  
I work in the Division of Cardiology. Most of my research time is spent at the Atlanta VA where my primary research mentors are Drs. Peter Wilson, Amit Shah, and Luke Brewster.

Briefly describe your research. Why is it important?  
My primary focus is studying new care models at the intersection of cardiovascular disease and digital technology. I’m specifically interested in home-based exercise rehabilitation programs, such as structured walking for PAD and cardiac rehab for CAD, and how smartphones, apps, and wearable devices can be used to deliver these programs to patients remotely.

What do you like most about Emory?  
There’s no shortage of resources and help to take advantage of, especially as a young investigator. The close relationship with the Atlanta VA is a big appeal to me, since I spend most of my time working there with Veterans with heart and vascular diseases.

What do you like to do in your spare time?  
I love to hike and travel, especially remote areas across the world.