Dr. Babak Alex Vakili, MD, FACC, FSCAI, CPI
Interventional Cardiologist | Vascular Specialist | Clinical Research Leader

Dr. Babak Alex Vakili began his academic journey at New York University, where he graduated cum laude with honors in Languages and Literatures while completing his pre-medical sciences. He went on to earn his Doctor of Medicine with special distinction in cardiovascular research from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 1995.

He completed his internal medicine residency at The New York Hospital–Weill Cornell Medical Center, where he trained under the mentorship of Dr. Richard B. Devereux, one of the world’s foremost echocardiographers and a past leader of the American Society of Echocardiography. During this formative period, he worked closely with Dr. Devereux on clinical training and academic research, co-authoring review articles and book chapters on left ventricular hypertrophy that remain widely cited in the cardiovascular literature.

Dr. Vakili then advanced to fellowship training in Cardiology and Interventional Cardiology at Albert Einstein/Montefiore, where he rose to the role of Chief Cardiology Fellow. There, he trained under the late Dr. Edmund Sonnenblick, a legendary Harvard cardiologist and prolific researcher whose mentorship profoundly shaped his investigative approach and deepened his expertise in cardiovascular medicine.

During his fellowship, Dr. Vakili also trained under Dr. Thierry H. Le Jemtel, a globally recognized leader in congestive heart failure and advanced heart failure therapies. Over three years of mentorship — including six months of specialized training in advanced heart failure — he worked closely with Dr. Le Jemtel on cutting-edge approaches to heart failure management, transplantation, and mechanical circulatory support. This intensive experience under one of the foremost authorities in the field added unique depth to his expertise and reinforced his lifelong commitment to advancing cardiovascular care.

As part of his interventional cardiology training, Dr. Vakili also had the privilege of working under Dr. E. Scott Monrad, a Harvard-trained interventional cardiologist and academic leader. Dr. Monrad, who completed his cardiovascular fellowship at Harvard Beth Israel Hospital (1982–1985), now serves as Training Program Director, Vice Chief of Cardiology for Patient Safety and Quality, and Professor of Clinical Medicine at Montefiore-Einstein/Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Under his guidance, Dr. Vakili refined his skills in interventional techniques, hemodynamic assessment of valvular disease, and complex heart failure care—training that profoundly enriched his clinical acumen and commitment to excellence.

Dr. Vakili’s decision to pursue cardiology was shaped by a deeply personal experience—his father’s heart attack during his childhood—which inspired his lifelong dedication to helping patients prevent and overcome heart disease.