Rachel J. Lampert MD, FACC, FHRS

Rachel Lampert, MD, is a cardiologist with Yale Medicine who specializes in electrophysiology. She treats patients with arrhythmias, syncope, palpitations, and other related conditions. Many of them are athletes who are thinking of getting back into the game or patients with a terminal diagnosis who are hoping to maintain a good quality of life.

When it comes to treating these complex issues, Dr. Lampert believes strongly in collaborating with patients to develop a plan that works for each of them, a model of patient-physician interaction called shared decision-making. “I will explain the options to my patients, and they will tell me about their goals and preferences,” she says. “The patient is a very active participant during this whole process.”

Dr. Lampert’s dedication to her patients extends into her research—many of her research questions have been inspired by patient questions. For example, many have asked which of the lifestyle restrictions for patients with medical devices are actually necessary. Dr. Lampert has collected data and has since published several papers on this topic. Some have focused on athletes, including a study of athletes competing with ICDs, and others on the terminally ill, looking at practices and patient experiences and wishes regarding the deactivation of an ICD as they reach the end of their lives. Also, she has brought Yale into a study on MRI for patients with devices, which found that contrary to previous recommendations, patients with pacemakers may be able to safely undergo an MRI scan. “I’m committed to giving patients who have devices their lives back,” she says.

In addition to seeing patients and conducting research, Dr. Lampert teaches at the Yale School of Medicine as a professor of internal medicine, and cardiology, and serves as an active member of the Heart Rhythm Society, American College of Cardiology, and the Leadership Council for Sports and Exercise.