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Anthony Azakie, M.D., C.M.

Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics
Chief, Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery
Surgical Director, UCSF Pediatric Heart Center
Surgical Director, Adult Congenital Heart Program
Director, Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Labs

Contact Information

(415) 476-3501: Phone
(415) 476-9678: Fax
azakiet@surgery.ucsf.edu

Education

  • 1984-87, McGill University B.S., Physiology
  • 1987-91, McGill University M.D.,C.M., Faculty of Medicine

Residencies

  • 1991-93, UCSF, Intern, Surgery
  • 1995-97, UCSF, Senior Resident, Surgery
  • 1997-98, UCSF, Chief Resident, Surgery
  • 1998, University of Toronto, St. Michael's Hospital, Senior Resident, Adult Cardiac Surgery
  • 1999, University of Toronto, Toronto General Hospital, Chief Resident, Adult Cardiac Surgery
  • 1999-00, University of Toronto, Toronto General Hospital, Senior Resident, Thoracic Surgery
  • 2000, University of Toronto, Hospital for Sick Children & Toronto General Hospital, Chief Resident, Congenital Heart Surgery

Fellowships

  • 2001-02, UCSF, Fellow, Pediatric Cardiac Surgery
  • 2001, University of Toronto, Hospital for Sick Children & Toronto General Hospital, Fellow, Congenital Heart Surgery

Postdoctoral Training

  • 1993-95, UCSF, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Postdoctoral Fellow, Cardiovascular Disease (Cardiology)

Board Certification

  • American Board of Surgery, 1998
  • Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in Cardiac Surgery, 2001

Program Affiliations

  • Associate Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics, UC Davis
  • UCSF Fetal Treatment Center
  • UCSF Pediatric Heart Center

Clinical Expertise

Research Interests

  • Perinatal Pulmonary Hypertension: Developmental Mediators
  • Molecular regulation of cardiac differentiation

Biography

Dr. Anthony Azakie is Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery at the University of California San Francisco and Surgical Director of the Pediatric Heart Center. He specializes in all complex neonatal and pediatric cardiac surgery treating a variety of congenital heart defects including hypoplastic left heart syndrome, tetralogy of Fallot, transposition of the great arteries, atrioventricular septal defects, diseases of the pulmonary veins, single ventricle lesions and aortic arch problems. He also specializes in surgery for adults with treated and untreated congenital heart defects.

Dr. Azakie works in close collaboration with other branches of the Pediatric Heart Center including the echocardiography service, catheterization lab, electrophysiology program, and pediatric cardiac intensive care unit to provide comprehensive cardiac care. He attended medical school at McGill University where he ranked in the top 5% and was awarded the Stewart Prize for most qualified graduating student as well as the Wood Gold Medal for most outstanding clinical performance.

Dr. Azakie first came to UCSF to complete his residency in General Surgery. He continued his residency in Adult Cardiac Surgery and Thoracic Surgery at the University of Toronto, Toronto General Hospital and St. Michael's Hospital. He trained as Chief Resident and Fellow in Congenital Heart Surgery through the University of Toronto at the Toronto General Hospital and Hospital for Sick Children. He returned to UCSF in 2001 as a Clinical Instructor in Pediatric Cardiac Surgery and he is currently Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at UCSF and UC Davis. Dr. Azakie has given invited presentations worldwide and has authored over 50 peer-reviewed publications.

Research Summary

Dr. Azakie is Director of the UCSF Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgical Laboratory. His research focuses on identifying mechanisms for the formation of myocardium and characterizing clinically relevant maladaptive responses of cardiac muscle.

Selected Publications

  1. Azakie A, Larkin SB, Farrance IK, Grenningloh G, Ordahl CP. DTEF-1, a novel member of the transcription enhancer factor-1 (TEF-1) multigene family. J Biol Chem. 217: 8260-5, 4/1/1996.
  2. Azakie A, Russell JL, McCrindle BW, Van Arsdell GS, Benson LN, Coles JG, Williams WG. Anatomic repair of anomalous left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery by aortic reimplantation: early survival, patterns of ventricular recovery and late outcome. Ann Thorac Surg. 75: 1535-41, 5/1/2003.
  3. Azakie A, Martinez D, Sapru A, Fineman J, Teitel D, Karl TR. Impact of right ventricle to pulmonary artery conduit on outcome of the modified Norwood procedure. Ann Thorac Surg. 77: 1727-33, 5/1/2004.
  4. Azakie A, Muse J, Gardner M, Skidmore KL, Miller SP, Karl TR, McQuillen PS. Cerebral oxygen balance is impaired during repair of aortic coarctation in infants and children. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 130: 830-6, 9/1/2005.
  5. Azakie A, Lamont L, Fineman JR, He Y. Divergent transcriptional enhancer factor-1 (DTEF-1) regulates the cardiac troponin promoter. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol. 289: C1522-34, 12/1/2005.
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In the News

  • Dr. Anthony Azakie and Patient's Mother Selected as Oprah's "Heroes"

    UCSF Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery - Nov 16, 2010

    Anthony Azakie, M.D., C.M., Chief of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery, was recently invited to appear as a member of the studio audience on "Oprah" along with Becky Rogers, the mother of Dr. Azakie's patient Jayken (pictured right). Jayken was born with a life-threatening congenital heart defect. Jayken underwent successful surgery with Dr. Azakie for repair of an interrupted aortic arch with a ventricular septal defect. After writing about her experience to the Oprah Winfrey Show, Mrs. Rogers and Dr. Azakie were selected to be in the audience. Members of the studio audience were recipients of Oprah's Favorite Things, specifically chosen by the Queen of Talk as they are people she calls "heroes".

    Read More

  • Roseville Baby Battles Rare Heart Defect at UCSF Children’s Hospital

    UCSF Medical Center - Oct 08, 2007

    Allison and Jon Smith first learned from an ultrasound that the baby boy they were expecting would be born with a severe and rare heart defect. In Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome, or HLHS, the heart does not develop properly and the infant is born with only one ventricle contributing to circulation, essentially having only half a heart. The Smiths were referred to Anthony Azakie, M.D., surgical director of the UCSF Pediatric Heart Center at UCSF Children's Hospital.

    Read Full Story "Baby Joshua Battles Rare Heart Defect"

  • Brother & Sister Share Special Hearts

    UCSF Medical Center - Aug 01, 2006

    Brother and Sister Share Special Hearts"Watching 11-year-old Weston Williams ride his unicycle or three-year-old Delaney Williams play, one would never suspect that brother and sister were born with a serious, life-threatening heart condition that causes an abnormally slow heartbeat. Weston's first pacemaker was implanted at UCSF in July 1998. And Weston's younger sister, Delaney, had her pacemaker - the smallest model available - implanted at birth by Anthony Azakie, M.D., C.M., Surgical Director of the UCSF Pediatric Heart Center."

    Read the full story
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