Basmah Safdar, MD, FACEP
Professor of Emergency MedicineCards
Additional Titles
Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs and Development, Emergency Medicine
Co-Chair, Chest Pain Center
Safdar Lab
Contact Info
Additional Titles
Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs and Development, Emergency Medicine
Co-Chair, Chest Pain Center
Safdar Lab
Contact Info
Additional Titles
Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs and Development, Emergency Medicine
Co-Chair, Chest Pain Center
Safdar Lab
Contact Info
About
Titles
Professor of Emergency Medicine
Vice Chair for Faculty Affairs and Development, Emergency Medicine; Co-Chair, Chest Pain Center
Biography
Basmah Safdar, M.D. is an internationally recognized scholar in sex and gender-specific research with a focus on microvascular health - in the heart, brain and now COVID-19. Funded by a diverse grant portfolio (NIH, CDC, Foundations and Investigator Initiated Industry awards) she has successfully conducted numerous clinical trials and translational research in emergency settings. She leads the Yale CMD (coronary microvascular dysfunction) Registry that intersects with a multi-disciplinary clinical program addressing the systemic nature of microvascular dysfunction including in COVID-19.
Dr. Safdar co-chaired the 2014, Society of Academic Emergency Medicine Consensus Conference on “Sex and Gender Specific Research – Investigate, Understand and Translate how Gender Affects Patient Outcomes” leading the advocacy to address disparities in patient care. She teaches and speaks regularly on this topic at regional and national forums.
In her capacity as the Medical Director of the Chest Pain Center (formerly leading the Women’s Heart Program at Yale New Haven Hospital), Dr. Safdar adeptly combines a data driven approach with extensive operational and content expertise to drive clinical program advancement, programmatic efficiencies, and champions the implementation of value-based chest pain care through the health care delivery continuum.
In her operational and administrative responsibilities, Dr. Safdar applies a systems lens merging her academic expertise with a servant leadership ethos to foster consensus and establish standardized efficient practices. She is deeply committed to cultivating equitable and transparent platforms for patients and physician workforce. Nationally, she recently completed a 3-year term as President of Academy for Women in Academy Emergency Medicine (AWAEM), a national organization for Emergency Medicine and used this platform to collate faculty development resources for early and mid-career women faculty in emergency medicine. She remains committed to teaching and to provide mentorship to undergraduates, medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty at Yale. In her role as Vice Chair, Dr. Safdar leads the faculty affairs, development and mentorship program for the department.
In recognition of her service and exceptional leadership, Dr. Safdar was sponsored by the Dean to participate in the 2023-2024 Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM) Program. This prestigious initiative is dedicated to cultivating a diverse cohort of accomplished women leaders poised to make significant contributions to academic medicine's leadership landscape.
Appointments
Emergency Medicine
ProfessorPrimary
Other Departments & Organizations
Education & Training
- MSc
- Harvard University, Cardiovascular Epidemiology (2013)
- Resident
- Yale-New Haven Hospital (2004)
- Chief Resident
- Yale New Haven Hospital (2004)
- MD
- Aga Khan University (1999)
Research
Overview
Dr. Safdar has been following the sex-specific signals of microvascular dysfunction for the past two decades. Her original work on physiological reactivity testing in chest pain patients helped uncover a signal for microvascular dysfunction in low-moderate risk ED chest pain patients. This discovery led to the use of cardiac PET/CT in describing a clinical phenotype of coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD) in ED patient. Her team has described the clinical profile of these patients from ED settings, identified a potential biomarker with a prognostic role in these patients as well as described other determinants such as electrocardiographic signatures and short-term outcomes for these patients. Yale is pleased to be one of the few EDs in the country to routinely evaluate chest pain patients for CMD. Dr. Safdar leads the Yale CMD biorepository that prospectively enrolls patients with CMD along with a biorepository including genetic samples for future testing. The next direction of her work is to assess the role of sex and endothelial dysfunction in precision based personalized medicine.
Medical Research Interests
Public Health Interests
ORCID
0000-0002-9640-7133Safdar Lab
The Safdar Lab focuses on conducting sex and gender-specific research in microvascular health, focusing on the heart, brain, and COVID-19.
View Lab Website
Research at a Glance
Yale Co-Authors
Publications Timeline
Research Interests
Gail D'Onofrio, MD, MS
James Dziura, MPH, PhD
Harlan Krumholz, MD, SM
Rachel Dreyer, PhD
Gary Désir, MD
Alexandra Lansky, MD, FACC, FAHA, FESC
Emergency Medicine
Chest Pain
COVID-19
Microvascular Angina
Cardiovascular Diseases
Women's Health
Publications
Featured Publications
Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with microvascular angina: an international and prospective cohort study by the Coronary Vasomotor Disorders International Study (COVADIS) Group
Shimokawa H, Suda A, Takahashi J, Berry C, Camici PG, Crea F, Escaned J, Ford T, Yii E, Kaski JC, Kiyooka T, Mehta PK, Ong P, Ozaki Y, Pepine C, Rimoldi O, Safdar B, Sechtem U, Tsujita K, Yasuda S, Beltrame JF, Merz CNB, Group O. Clinical characteristics and prognosis of patients with microvascular angina: an international and prospective cohort study by the Coronary Vasomotor Disorders International Study (COVADIS) Group. European Heart Journal 2021, 42: 4592-4600. PMID: 34038937, PMCID: PMC8633728, DOI: 10.1093/eurheartj/ehab282.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMajor cardiovascular eventsCoronary artery diseaseMicrovascular anginaPrognosis of patientsInternational Study GroupClinical characteristicsStudy groupPrevious historyMultivariable Cox proportional hazards analysisNon-fatal myocardial infarctionCox proportional hazards analysisSeattle Angina Questionnaire scoresNon-fatal strokeAcute coronary syndromeProspective cohort studyStable angina pectorisProportional hazards analysisImportant health problemComparable prognosisCardiovascular deathCardiovascular eventsCoronary syndromePrimary endpointCohort studyUnstable anginaInstitutional solutions addressing disparities in compensation and advancement of emergency medicine physicians: A critical appraisal of gaps and associated recommendations
Madsen TE, Heron S, Lall MD, Blomkalns A, Arbelaez C, Lopez B, Lin M, Rounds K, Sethuraman KN, Safdar B. Institutional solutions addressing disparities in compensation and advancement of emergency medicine physicians: A critical appraisal of gaps and associated recommendations. Academic Emergency Medicine 2022, 29: 710-718. PMID: 35064998, DOI: 10.1111/acem.14452.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchEffect of Physician Gender and Race on Simulated Patients’ Ratings and Confidence in Their Physicians
Solnick RE, Peyton K, Kraft-Todd G, Safdar B. Effect of Physician Gender and Race on Simulated Patients’ Ratings and Confidence in Their Physicians. JAMA Network Open 2020, 3: e1920511. PMID: 32083686, PMCID: PMC7043197, DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.20511.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsWhite male physiciansPatient satisfactionPhysician genderMale physiciansHistory of cancerAbdominal surgical proceduresEmergency department physiciansLower patient satisfactionSignificant differencesOnline symptom checkersBlack physiciansComposite outcomeControl physiciansPhysician diagnosisPatient evaluationDepartment physiciansPatient ratingsSurgical proceduresMAIN OUTCOMEPhysician confidenceClinical diagnosisPhysiciansWhite womenDiagnosisWhite menSurvival of the Fittest: Impact of Cardiorespiratory Fitness on Outcomes in Men and Women with Cardiovascular Disease
Safdar B, Mangi AA. Survival of the Fittest: Impact of Cardiorespiratory Fitness on Outcomes in Men and Women with Cardiovascular Disease. Clinical Therapeutics 2020, 42: 385-392. PMID: 32088022, DOI: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2020.01.014.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsPeak cardiorespiratory fitnessCardiorespiratory fitnessCardiovascular diseaseCardiac rehabilitationPhysical inactivityMyocardial infarctionImpact of CRFOnset of CVDPeak exercise capacityCardiac rehabilitation programModifiable risk factorsRecurrent myocardial infarctionPoor functional outcomeCause of mortalitySex differencesImpact of sexCVD outcomesExercise capacityImproved survivalLow referralMale patientsFemale patientsExercise prescriptionFunctional outcomeRisk factorsChapter 6 Cardiovascular disease: Sex and gender evidence in acute ischemic syndrome and heart failure
Safdar B. Chapter 6 Cardiovascular disease: Sex and gender evidence in acute ischemic syndrome and heart failure. 2021, 101-127. DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-816569-0.00006-1.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchAltmetricConceptsCardiovascular diseaseHeart failureManagement of CVDAcute cardiovascular conditionsAcute ischemic syndromesCongestive heart failureIschemic heart diseasePrimary care practicesCause of mortalityIschemic syndromeCardiac remodelingHeart diseaseCardiovascular conditionsAutonomic regulationCare practicesClinical perspectiveGender evidenceSex differencesDiseaseSexHypertensionGenderObesityDiabetesFailureRenalase Identified by Machine Learning Methods as A Novel Independent Predictor of Mortality in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19
Safdar B, Sobiesk M, Bertsimas D, Nowroozpoor A, Deng Y, D’Onofrio G, Dziura J, El-Khoury J, Guo X, Simonov M, Taylor R, Wang M, Desir G. Renalase Identified by Machine Learning Methods as A Novel Independent Predictor of Mortality in Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19. Journal Of Biotechnology And Biomedicine 2024, 07 DOI: 10.26502/jbb.2642-91280139.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchConceptsAssociation of renalase with clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19
Safdar B, Wang M, Guo X, Cha C, Chun HJ, Deng Y, Dziura J, El-Khoury JM, Gorelick F, Ko AI, Lee AI, Safirstein R, Simonov M, Zhou B, Desir GV. Association of renalase with clinical outcomes in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. PLOS ONE 2022, 17: e0264178. PMID: 35259186, PMCID: PMC8903289, DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0264178.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCOVID-19 patientsRenalase levelsIntensive care unit admissionHospitalized COVID-19 patientsMean age 64 yearsCOVID-19Cox proportional hazards modelCare unit admissionPrimary composite outcomeRetrospective cohort studyUse of vasopressorsSevere COVID-19IL-6 levelsAge 64 yearsRisk of deathCOVID-19 subjectsInitial disease severityProportional hazards modelCOVID-19 diseasePlasma renalaseUnit admissionICU admissionCohort studyComposite outcomeCytokine levelsIs microvascular dysfunction a systemic disorder with common biomarkers found in the heart, brain, and kidneys? — A scoping review
Nowroozpoor A, Gutterman D, Safdar B. Is microvascular dysfunction a systemic disorder with common biomarkers found in the heart, brain, and kidneys? — A scoping review. Microvascular Research 2020, 134: 104123. PMID: 33333140, DOI: 10.1016/j.mvr.2020.104123.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsMicrovascular dysfunctionUnderlying systemic processC-reactive proteinLow-density cholesterolMulti-system involvementUric acidDifferent disease entitiesMulti-system manifestationsVon Willebrand factorNT-proBNPEndothelial dysfunctionTotal cholesterolClinical evidenceImmune activationSystemic disordersVitamin DIL-6Asymmetric dimethylarginineBlood biomarkersInforms cliniciansDisease entityCystatin CVital organsDysfunctionCommon biomarkersDiagnosis of coronary microvascular dysfunction in the clinic
Ong P, Safdar B, Seitz A, Hubert A, Beltrame J, Prescott E. Diagnosis of coronary microvascular dysfunction in the clinic. Cardiovascular Research 2020, 116: 841-855. PMID: 31904824, DOI: 10.1093/cvr/cvz339.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsInterventional diagnostic proceduresCoronary microvascular dysfunctionCoronary microcirculationMicrovascular dysfunctionIntracoronary acetylcholine testingCoronary microvascular functionCoronary blood flowIndividual patient characteristicsChronic pathologic conditionsAcetylcholine testingCoronary spasmRecurrent symptomsCoronary vasoconstrictorPatient characteristicsCoronary thrombosisMicrovascular functionInvasive assessmentClinical conditionsEffective treatmentRespective patientsBlood flowCardiac metabolismClinical importancePathologic conditionsInvasive methodElevated renalase levels in patients with acute coronary microvascular dysfunction – A possible biomarker for ischemia
Safdar B, Guo X, Johnson C, D'Onofrio G, Dziura J, Sinusas AJ, Testani J, Rao V, Desir G. Elevated renalase levels in patients with acute coronary microvascular dysfunction – A possible biomarker for ischemia. International Journal Of Cardiology 2019, 279: 155-161. PMID: 30630613, PMCID: PMC6482834, DOI: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2018.12.061.Peer-Reviewed Original ResearchCitationsAltmetricMeSH Keywords and ConceptsConceptsCoronary microvascular dysfunctionFramingham risk scorePET/CTChest painInflammatory markersMicrovascular dysfunctionEmergency departmentRisk scoreRb-82 PET/CTElevated renalase levelsAcute chest painCoronary artery diseaseC-reactive proteinVascular endothelial growth factorAnti-inflammatory proteinTumor necrosis factorEndothelial growth factorAngina historyCMD diagnosisRenalase levelsHypertensive crisisED presentationsHemodynamic instabilityArtery diseaseHeart failure
Clinical Trials
Current Trials
The Impact of Phosphate Metabolism on Healthy Aging
HIC ID2000023461RoleSub InvestigatorPrimary Completion Date11/30/2022Recruiting ParticipantsGenderBothAge13+ years
Academic Achievements & Community Involvement
honor The Hedwig van Ameringen Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine® (ELAM®) program
National AwardDrexel UniversityDetails04/18/2024honor Women Executive Leaderhip Program
National AwardImpact CenterDetails03/27/2022United Stateshonor AWAEM Midcareer Award
National AwardSociety of Academic Emergency MedicineDetails05/31/2020United Stateshonor Momentum Leadership Award
National AwardAcademy for Women in Emergency MedicineDetails01/01/2014honor Best Clinical Science Research Award, Resident Category
National AwardSociety of Academic Emergency MedicineDetails01/01/2005United States
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Board Certifications
Emergency Medicine
- Certification Organization
- AB of Emergency Medicine
- Latest Certification Date
- 2016
- Original Certification Date
- 2005
Yale Medicine News
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News
- August 06, 2024
Yale Researchers at European Society of Cardiology Conference 2024
- July 16, 2024Source: HealthCentral
What Causes a Pricking Sensation in the Chest?
- June 28, 2023
Yale Emergency Medicine Women Faculty Recognized Nationally
- December 08, 2022
Yale Joins Network to Study and Advance Emergency Medical Care
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