Denise Dayle Barnard, MD

Denise Barnard, MD, is a board-certified cardiologist who is actively involved in UC San Diego Health's Advanced Heart Failure, Cardiac Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Assist Device Programs. She is a nationally recognized heart failure expert and also practices at the VA San Diego Healthcare.

Dr. Barnard established the Women's Cardiovascular Health Program after working with the Go Red Campaign designed to educate women about their greatest health threat. She lectures to physicians, students and the general public on topics including women's cardiovascular health, heart failure awareness, treatment and prevention, as well as advanced therapies in heart failure. She is also interested in complementary and alternative medicine practices in heart failure.

Dr. Barnard likes to work with her patients toward a positive goal, and feels communication is an essential tool. She believes patients should be informed about their condition and be able to understand what it means. She says one of her strengths is her low-key style and ability to translate "doctor-speak" into easily understandable terms.

As a professor in the Department of Medicine, Dr. Barnard trains medical students, interns and residents at UC San Diego School of Medicine. She is actively involved in local, national and international clinical research trials.

Dr. Barnard completed her fellowship and residency at UC San Diego School of Medicine, where she also earned her medical degree. She is board certified in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology and cardiovascular disease.

Dr. Barnard has been a member of the Cardiology Division at UC San Diego Health since 1991. She serves or has served on local and national committees for the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association and the Heart Failure Society of America. She is on the editorial boards of several cardiology-specific journals and a member of numerous speaker's bureaus. Her outside interests includes gardening, camping, fishing, and target shooting.

She is an avid fan of several professional sports and appreciates a wide variety of music, but typically listens to country. She is a strong supporter of the military and our wounded warriors and their families.

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For more information, see Heart Care.