Rahul Rathod, MD, MBA
Associate Chair/Cardiologist-in-Chief, Finance & Business Operations; Director, Single Ventricle Program, Senior Associate Cardiologist, Department of Cardiology
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
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Rahul Rathod, MD, MBA
Associate Chair/Cardiologist-in-Chief, Finance & Business Operations; Director, Single Ventricle Program, Senior Associate Cardiologist, Department of Cardiology
Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School
Medical Services
Languages
English
Education
Undergraduate School
Duke University
1997
Durham
NC
Medical School
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
2002
Cleveland
OH
Residency
Rainbow Babies & Children's Hospital
2006
Cleveland
OH
Fellowship
Cardiology
Boston Children's Hospital
2009
Boston
MA
Fellowship
Senior Fellow, Echocardiography and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance
Boston Children's Hospital
2010
Boston
MA
Graduate School
Masters in Business Administration
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
2022
Cambridge
MA
Media
Cardiac Conversations
Our experts discuss specialized care for a single-ventricle heart
Healing for the Future
FORCE uses data and AI to improve the lives and outcomes of our patients after the Fontan operation. FORCE is the world’s largest collaboration and dataset in this population.
BostonMed Feature
Dr. Rahul Rathod featured on BostonMed, Episode 2
Certifications
American Board of Pediatrics (General)
American Board of Pediatrics (Cardiology)
Professional History
Dr. Rathod completed his medical school at Case Western Reserve University and his pediatrics residency at Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. He also served for an additional year as Chief Resident. He subsequently completed his cardiology fellowship at Boston Children's Hospital, including serving as Chief Fellow. His cardiology training included a fourth year as Senior Non-Invasive Fellow. Dr. Rathod is currently a member of the Cardiac Imaging Division in the Department of Cardiology at Boston Children's Hospital performing cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) and fetal, transesophageal, and transthoracic echocardiography. As a staff cardiologist, he maintains a busy clinical practice as well. His research interests focus primarily on the use of advanced CMR technologies in predicting outcomes of patients with complex congenital heart disease. Much of his work is with patients with single ventricle heart disease (e.g. hypoplastic left heart syndrome) or with a Fontan circulation. He is the founder and Director of the Fontan Outcomes Registry Using CMR Examinations, which is an international consortium focused on improving outcomes in this population. In addition to clinical and academic pursuits, Dr. Rathod is dedicated to improving systems, processes, and organizations and serves as the Associate Chair/Cardiologist-in-Chief of Finance and Business Operations.
Approach to Care
One of my closest family members was born with complex congenital heart disease. She gets her cardiology care at Boston Children’s Hospital, so I have been there – not as a doctor, but as a family member watching her go through surgeries and procedures. I have seen the cardiology nurses and doctors from Boston Children’s help us when we needed it most. I understand the ups and downs that come with having a loved one go through these trials. I remember what it is like to be on the other side. I try to use those lessons to help make me a better doctor.
When I meet a family for the first time, be it in the fetal clinic with a new diagnosis, the outpatient clinic with a new concern, or over the phone as a consult for a second opinion, I think of it as the beginning of a long relationship. What I enjoy most about Pediatric Cardiology is the long term bonds I can build with patients and their families, measured not in months but in years. I am there every step of the way, in the best of times and the most difficult of times. I believe it is the strength of that relationship that helps me deliver better care.
When I meet a family for the first time, be it in the fetal clinic with a new diagnosis, the outpatient clinic with a new concern, or over the phone as a consult for a second opinion, I think of it as the beginning of a long relationship. What I enjoy most about Pediatric Cardiology is the long term bonds I can build with patients and their families, measured not in months but in years. I am there every step of the way, in the best of times and the most difficult of times. I believe it is the strength of that relationship that helps me deliver better care.
Publications
Evolving Hemodynamics in Fontan Circulation: Age-Driven Insights in Patients with Interrupted Inferior Vena Cava and Hepatoazygos Shunt. View Abstract
Methylated Arginine Metabolites as Biomarkers for Clinical Status and Response to Type 5 Phosphodiesterase Inhibition in Patients With Fontan Circulation. View Abstract
Acute Effects of Enhanced External Counterpulsation in Adults With Fontan Circulation. View Abstract
Comparison of cine cardiac CT and echocardiography for assessment of ventricular function late after the Fontan operation. View Abstract
Biomechanics and clinical implications of Fontan upsizing. View Abstract
Cardiac MRI Predictors of Arrhythmic Sudden Cardiac Events in Patients With Fontan Circulation. View Abstract
Characterization and z-score calculation of cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging parameters in patients after the Fontan operation: A Fontan Outcome Registry using Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Examinations study. View Abstract
High-Performing Fontan Patients: A Fontan Outcome Registry by Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging Study. View Abstract
Life and Death: A Multicenter Study Evaluating Cardiologists' Approach to Difficult Conversations with Fontan Patients and Families. View Abstract
Society for Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance guidelines for reporting cardiovascular magnetic resonance examinations in patients with congenital heart disease. View Abstract
Identifying high-risk Fontan phenotypes using K-means clustering of cardiac magnetic resonance-based dyssynchrony metrics. View Abstract
Clinical Risk Assessment and Prediction in Congenital Heart Disease Across the Lifespan: JACC Scientific Statement. View Abstract
Biomechanical Analysis of Age-Dependent Changes in Fontan Power Loss. View Abstract
Complex patient with azygos continuation of the inferior vena cava: Value of flow simulation. View Abstract
Impact of Age-Related Change in Caval Flow Ratio on Hepatic Flow Distribution in the Fontan Circulation. View Abstract
Design and implementation of multicenter pediatric and congenital studies with cardiovascular magnetic resonance: Big data in smaller bodies. View Abstract
A Deep Learning Pipeline for Assessing Ventricular Volumes from a Cardiac MRI Registry of Patients with Single Ventricle Physiology. View Abstract
How Good Are Cardiologists at Predicting Major Adverse Events in Fontan Patients? View Abstract
Ventricular dyssynchrony late after the Fontan operation is associated with decreased survival. View Abstract
Effectiveness of Rabeprazole and Other Proton Pump Inhibitors in Managing GERD with Varying Severity: A Retrospective, Real-world EMR-based Study (POWER GERD Study). View Abstract
Impact of Age-related change in Caval Flow Ratio on Hepatic Flow Distribution in Fontan. View Abstract
Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Determine Single Ventricle Function in a Pediatric Population is Feasible in a Large Trial Setting: Experience from the Single Ventricle Reconstruction Trial Longitudinal Follow up. View Abstract
The Fontan Udenafil Exercise Longitudinal Trial: Subgroup Analysis. View Abstract
Magnetic resonance three-dimensional steady-state free precession imaging of the thoracic duct in patients with Fontan circulation and its relationship to outcomes. View Abstract
Single Ventricular Torsional Mechanics After Fontan Palliation and Their Impact on Outcomes. View Abstract
Thromboprophylaxis in Patients With Fontan Circulation. View Abstract
Predicting and maybe preventing Fontan-associated liver disease. View Abstract
Longitudinal changes in ventricular size and function are associated with death and transplantation late after the Fontan operation. View Abstract
Isolated Coarctation of the Aorta: Current Concepts and Perspectives. View Abstract
Protein losing enteropathy after the Fontan operation. View Abstract
Characterization of Circulating and Urinary Biomarkers in the Fontan Circulation and Their Correlation With Cardiac Imaging. View Abstract
Reaching consensus for unified medical language in Fontan care. View Abstract
Atrial pacing in Fontan patients: The effect of transvenous lead on clot burden. View Abstract
Atrial function in the Fontan circulation: comparison with invasively assessed systemic ventricular filling pressure. View Abstract
Integrated Clinical and Magnetic Resonance Imaging Assessments Late After Fontan Operation. View Abstract
A Novel Pulmonary Valve Replacement Surgery Strategy Using Contracting Band for Patients With Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot: An MRI-Based Multipatient Modeling Study. View Abstract
Resynchronizing Right and Left Ventricles With Right Bundle Branch Block in the Congenital Heart Disease Population. View Abstract
The Adult Patient with a Fontan. View Abstract
The Fontan outcomes network: first steps towards building a lifespan registry for individuals with Fontan circulation in the United States - CORRIGENDUM. View Abstract
CMR-Derived Ventricular Global Function Index in Patients Late After the Fontan Operation. View Abstract
The Fontan outcomes network: first steps towards building a lifespan registry for individuals with Fontan circulation in the United States. View Abstract
Speckle tracking echocardiographically-based analysis of ventricular strain in children: an intervendor comparison. View Abstract
Multi-Band Surgery for Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot Patients With Reduced Right Ventricle Ejection Fraction: A Pilot Study. View Abstract
Atrial function in Fontan patients assessed by CMR: Relation with exercise capacity and long-term outcomes. View Abstract
Surveillance and screening practices of New England congenital cardiologists for patients after the Fontan operation. View Abstract
Corrigendum to "Patient-specific in vivo right ventricle material parameter estimation for patients with tetralogy of fallot using MRI-Based models with different zero-load diastole and systole morphologies" [Int. J. Cardiol. 276 (2019) 93-99]. View Abstract
Ventricle stress/strain comparisons between Tetralogy of Fallot patients and healthy using models with different zero-load diastole and systole morphologies. View Abstract
Relation of Fontan Baffle Stroke Volume to Fontan Failure and Lower Exercise Capacity in Patients With an Atriopulmonary Fontan. View Abstract
Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance Imaging View Abstract
Maldistribution of pulmonary blood flow in patients after the Fontan operation is associated with worse exercise capacity. View Abstract
Patient-specific in vivo right ventricle material parameter estimation for patients with tetralogy of Fallot using MRI-based models with different zero-load diastole and systole morphologies. View Abstract
Three-Patch Aortic Root Reconstruction With Extended Left Main Coronary Artery Patch Augmentation in Neonates and Infants. View Abstract
Effects of Dose Reduction on Diagnostic Image Quality of Coronary Computed Tomography Angiography in Children Using a Third-Generation Dual-Source Computed Tomography Scanner. View Abstract
Impact of Ventricular Morphology on Fiber Stress and Strain in Fontan Patients. View Abstract
Inefficient Ventriculoarterial Coupling in Fontan Patients: A Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Study. View Abstract
Combining smaller patch, RV remodeling and tissue regeneration in pulmonary valve replacement surgery design may lead to better post-surgery RV cardiac function for patients with tetralogy of Fallot View Abstract
UpToDate, Post TW (Ed) View Abstract
UpToDate, Post TW (Ed) View Abstract
Impact of standardized clinical assessment and management plans on resource utilization and costs in children after the arterial switch operation. View Abstract
Comparison of Right Ventricle Morphological and Mechanical Characteristics for Healthy and Patients with Tetralogy of Fallot: An In Vivo MRI-Based Modeling Study. View Abstract
Myocardial rescue with autologous mitochondrial transplantation in a porcine model of ischemia/reperfusion. View Abstract
Patient-Specific MRI-Based Right Ventricle Models Using Different Zero-Load Diastole and Systole Geometries for Better Cardiac Stress and Strain Calculations and Pulmonary Valve Replacement Surgical Outcome Predictions. View Abstract
Factors associated with severe aortic dilation in patients with Fontan palliation. View Abstract
Right ventricular morphology and function following stage I palliation with a modified Blalock-Taussig shunt versus a right ventricle-to-pulmonary artery conduit. View Abstract
Myocardial Fibrosis in Congenital Heart Disease. View Abstract
Echocardiography and magnetic resonance imaging based strain analysis of functional single ventricles: a study of intra- and inter-modality reproducibility. View Abstract
Role of imaging in the evaluation of single ventricle with the Fontan palliation. View Abstract
Prenatal Diagnosis and Management of Berry Syndrome, a Rare Conotruncal Anatomy. View Abstract
Mechanical stress is associated with right ventricular response to pulmonary valve replacement in patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot. View Abstract
A fairy tale future for Fontans: Fact or fable? View Abstract
Laparoscopic Gastrojejunostomy Tube Placement in Infants with Congenital Cardiac Disease. View Abstract
Differentiating standardized clinical assessment and management plans from clinical practice guidelines. View Abstract
Comparison Between Echocardiography and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Predicting Transplant-Free Survival After the Fontan Operation. View Abstract
SCAMPs: A new tool for an old problem. View Abstract
Pulmonary arteriovenous malformations: The consequences of bypassing the capillary bed. View Abstract
Left Ventricular Dysfunction Following Neonatal Pulmonary Valve Balloon Dilation for Pulmonary Atresia or Critical Pulmonary Stenosis. View Abstract
A reinforced right-ventricle-to-pulmonary-artery conduit for the stage-1 Norwood procedure improves pulmonary artery growth. View Abstract
Gathering and learning from relevant clinical data: a new framework. View Abstract
FSI modeling approach to develop right ventricle pulmonary valve replacement surgical procedures with a contracting actuator and improve ventricle ejection fraction View Abstract
Exercise oscillatory ventilation in patients with Fontan physiology. View Abstract
Perinatal and infant outcomes of prenatal diagnosis of heterotaxy syndrome (asplenia and polysplenia). View Abstract
Transposition of the great arteries and sinus venosus defect with partially anomalous pulmonary venous return: physiological and anatomic considerations. View Abstract
Cardiac magnetic resonance parameters predict transplantation-free survival in patients with fontan circulation. View Abstract
Mixed aortic valve disease in the young: initial observations. View Abstract
Standardized clinical assessment and management plans: a clinician-led approach to unwarranted practice variation. View Abstract
Acute outcomes after introduction of a standardized clinical assessment and management plan (SCAMP) for balloon aortic valvuloplasty in congenital aortic stenosis. View Abstract
A Multiphysics Modeling Approach to Develop Right Ventricle Pulmonary Valve Replacement Surgical Procedures with a Contracting Band to Improve Ventricle Ejection Fraction. View Abstract
Standardized Clinical Assessment And Management Plans (SCAMPs) provide a better alternative to clinical practice guidelines. View Abstract
Resource Utilization Reduction for Evaluation of Chest Pain in Pediatrics Using a Novel Standardized Clinical Assessment and Management Plan (SCAMP). View Abstract
Using contracting band to improve right ventricle ejection fraction for patients with repaired tetralogy of Fallot: a modeling study using patient-specific CMR-based 2-layer anisotropic models of human right and left ventricles. View Abstract
Relation of systemic-to-pulmonary artery collateral flow in single ventricle physiology to palliative stage and clinical status. View Abstract
Provider attitudes toward Standardized Clinical Assessment and Management Plans (SCAMPs). View Abstract
Management of pediatric chest pain using a standardized assessment and management plan. View Abstract
The evolving role of intraoperative balloon pulmonary valvuloplasty in valve-sparing repair of tetralogy of Fallot. View Abstract
Deciding without data. View Abstract
A novel approach to gathering and acting on relevant clinical information: SCAMPs. View Abstract
Resource utilization after introduction of a standardized clinical assessment and management plan. View Abstract
Myocardial fibrosis identified by cardiac magnetic resonance late gadolinium enhancement is associated with adverse ventricular mechanics and ventricular tachycardia late after Fontan operation. View Abstract
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