Dr. Haissam Haddad O.C., S.O.M., MD, FRCPC, CCPE

Dr. Haddad received his B.Sc. from Tichreen University in Syria in 1980 and graduated from Medical School at Tichreen University in 1983. 

Following a family medicine practice in Syria, Dr. Haddad immigrated to Canada and trained in Internal Medicine at Dalhousie University and successfully completed his Cardiology training at the University of Alberta.

In July 1997, Dr. Haddad joined the Division of Cardiology, Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre, Dalhousie University in Halifax, Nova Scotia and was Medical Director of the Heart Transplant Program and Director of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.

In September 2001, Dr. Haddad joined the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, serving as professor of Medicine, Division of Cardiology. He also served as the Director of the Heart Failure Program, and Medical Director of Heart Transplant Program from 2001 to 2014. He was also an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Systems and Computer Engineering at Carleton University in Ottawa from 2003 to 2016.

He was a member of the Panel of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society’s consensus conferences on the management of heart failure (2001-2016), on heart transplantation in adults (2003) and on heart transplantation in pediatrics (2005). He also chaired the society’s consensus conference for heart transplant in 2008. He also served as Chair of the Board of Directors to the Canadian Heart Failure Society from April 2015 to November 2016.

Dr Haddad has earned numerous prestigious awards, namely the Anemia Institute for Research Education Award in 2004,  the First Award Prize in the International Competition of the American College of Physicians in 2000, and the Canadian Heart Failure Network Excellence Award in 2011. 

In 2016, Dr. Haddad and his family relocated to Saskatoon, Sask. where he leads the Department of Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan (USask). He is currently Professor and Head of the Department of Medicine, Provincial Head, Medicine and the Louis Horlick Chair in Medicine.

In 2023, Dr. Haddad was appointed to the Order of Canada in recognition of his contributions to the medical field through his work at Ottawa Heart Institute and USask. 

In 2025, Dr. Haddad was awarded the Saskatchewan Order of Merit for his significant contributions to the medical field in Saskatchewan.

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Education

• July 1996 - June 1997 - Cardiology Chief Resident, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
• July 1995 - June 1996 - Cardiology Resident, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta
• July 1992 - June 1995 - Internal Medicine Resident, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia
• July 1991 - June 1992 - Rotating Internship, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS
• December 1983 - M.D. - Tichreen University, Syria
• June 1980 - B.Sc. - Tichreen University, Syria

• Optimal medical therapy with or without surgical revascularization and long- term outcomes in ischemic cardiomyopathy. Pedro S Farsky et al J Thorac Surgery. 2022 Dec; 164(6):1890-1899.e4. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2020.12.094.Epub 2021 Jan 7. PMID: 33610365.

• Autonomic Cardiovascular reflex control of hemodynamics during exercise in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and the effects of exercise training. Natasha Boyes, Darcy Marciniuk, Haddad H Corey Tomczak. Rev Cardiovasc Med 2022 Feb 21;23(2)72. doi: 10.31083/j.rcm2302072. PMID: 35229563.

• Randomized Comparison of Metformin Continuation Versus Interruption Following Coronary Angiography/Angioplasty: Contemporary Risk for Lactic Acidosis. Shavadia JS, Minhas R, Orvold J, Basran R, Wells C, DeVilliers J, Pearce C, Eckstein J, Mangipudi R, Haddad H. JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2022 Jan 24;15(2):233-236. doi: 10.1016/j.jcin.2021.10.029. PMID: 35058000.

• Artificial Intelligence to Diagnosis Heart failure Based on Chest X-Ray and Potential Clinical Implications. Adams SJ, Hadadd H. Can J Cardiol 2021 Aug;37(8) 1153-1155. PMID: 33667617.

• Antemortem diagnosis of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis in a patient with previously resected pancreatic adenocarcinoma: a case report.Muhammadzai HZU, Shavadia J, Okpalauwaekwe U, Haddad H. European Heart Journal. Case Report. 2020 Aug 30;4(5):1-4. PMID: 33216825. 

• HEARTBiT: A Transcriptomic Signature for Excluding Acute Cellular Rejection in Adult Heart Allograft Patients. Shannon CP, Hollander Z, Dai DLY, Chen V, Assadian S, Lam KK, McManus JE, Zarzycki M, Kim Y, Kim JV, Balshaw R, Gidlöf O, Öhman J, Smith JG, Toma M, Ignaszewski A, Davies RA, Delgado D, Haddad H, Isaac D, Kim D, Mui A, Rajda M, West L, White M, Zieroth S, Tebbutt SJ, Keown PA, McMaster WR, Ng RT, McManus BM. Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 2020 Aug;36(8):1217-1227. PMID: 32553820.

• Canadian Real-World Experience of Using Sacubitril/Valsartan in Patients With Heart Failure With Reduced Ejection Fraction: Insight From the PARASAIL Study. Haddad H, Bergeron S, Ignaszewski A, Searles G, Rochdi D, Dhage P, Bastien N. CJC Open. 2020 Apr 26;2(5):344-353. PMID: 32995719.

• Renal function and coronary bypass surgery in patients with ischemic heart failure.Doenst T, Haddad H, Stebbins A, Hill JA, Velazquez EJ, Lee KL, Rouleau JL, Sopko G, Farsky PS, Al-Khalidi HR; Working Group and Surgical Treatment for IsChemic Heart failure Trial Investigators. The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. 2022 Feb;163(2):663-672.e3. doi:10.1016/j.jtcvs.2020.02.136. Epub 2020 Apr 3. PMID: 32386761.

• Mechanical circulatory support in cardiogenic shock. Frost A, Haddad H, Shavadia J. Current Opinion in Cardiology. 2020 Mar;35(2):145-149. PMID: 31895242.

• The Status of Specialized Ambulatory Heart Failure Care in Canada: A Joint Canadian Heart Failure Society and Canadian Cardiovascular Society Heart Failure Guidelines Survey. Writing Group, Virani SA, Zieroth S, Bray S, Ducharme A, Harkness K, Koshman SL, McDonald M, O'Meara E, Swiggum E; Canadian Heart Failure Society and the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Heart Failure Guidelines Panel; CCS HF Guidelines Primary and Secondary Panel, Chan M, Ezekowitz JA, Giannetti N, Grzeslo A, Heckman GA, Howlett JG, Lepage S, Mielniczuk L, Moe GW, Toma M, Abrams H, Al-Hesaye A, Cohen-Solal A, D'Astous M, De S, Delgado D, Desplantie O, Estrella-Holder E, Green L, Haddad H, Hernandez AF, Kouz S, LeBlanc MH, Lee D, Masoudi FA, Matteau S, McKelvie R, Parent MC, Rajda M, Ross HJ, Sussex B. CJC Open. 2020 Mar 7;2(3):151-160.PMID: 32462129 

• Validation of the patient assessment of chronic illness care (PACIC) short form scale in heart transplant recipients: the international cross-sectional bright study. Iglesias K, De Geest S, Berben L, Dobbels F, Denhaerynk K, Russell LC, Helmy R, Peytremann-Bridevaux I; BRIGHT study team.BMC Health Service Research. 2020 Mar 3;20(1):160. PMID: 32126998 

• CCS/CHFS Heart Failure Guidelines: Clinical Trial Update on Functional Mitral Regurgitation, SGLT2 Inhibitors, ARNI in HFpEF, and Tafamidis in Amyloidosis. O'Meara E, McDonald M, Chan M, Ducharme A, Ezekowitz JA, Giannetti N, Grzeslo A, Heckman GA, Howlett JG, Koshman SL, Lepage S, Mielniczuk LM, Moe GW, Swiggum E, Toma M, Virani SA, Zieroth S, De S, Matteau S, Parent MC, Asgar AW, Cohen G, Fine N, Davis M, Verma S, Cherney D, Abrams H, Al-Hesayen A, Cohen-Solal A, D'Astous M, Delgado DH, Desplantie O, Estrella-Holder E, Green L, Haddad H, Harkness K, Hernandez AF, Kouz S, LeBlanc MH, Lee D, Masoudi FA, McKelvie RS, Rajda M, Ross HJ, Sussex B. Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 2020 Feb;36(2):159-169. PMID: 32036861.

• Physiologic expansion of human heart-derived cells enhances therapeutic repair of injured myocardium. Mount S, Kanda P, Parent S, Khan S, Michie C, Davila L, Chan V, Davies RA, Haddad H, Courtman D, Stewart DJ, Davis DR. Stem Cell Research & Therapy. 2019 Nov 4;10(1):316. PMID: 31685023.

• Does prior coronary angioplasty affect outcomes of surgical coronary revascularization? Insights from the STICH trial. Nicolau JC, Stevens SR, Al-Khalidi HR, Jatene FB, Furtado RHM, Dallan LAO, Lisboa LAF, Desvigne-Nickens P, Haddad H, Jolicoeur EM, Petrie MC, Doenst T, Michler RE, Ohman EM, Maddury J, Ali I, Deja MA, Rouleau JL, Velazquez EJ, Hill JA. International Journal of Cardiology. 2019 Sep 15;291:36-41. Epub 2019 Mar 15. PMID: 30929973. 

• Secondary mitral regurgitation: percutaneous edge-to-edge repair on the cutting edge?Kushneriuk D, Haddad H, Basran R, Shavadia JS. Current Opinions in Cardiology. 2019 Mar;34(2):185-193. PMID: 30575648. 

• Prevalence of Medication Nonadherence to Co-medication Compared to Immunosuppressants in Heart Transplant Recipients: Findings From the International Cross-sectional BRIGHT Study. Helmy R, Scalso de Almeida S, Denhaerynck K, Berben L, Dobbels F, Russell CL, de Aguiar Roza B, De Geest S; BRIGHT study team. Clinical Therapeutics. 2019 Jan;41(1):130-136. Epub 2018 Dec 24. PMID: 30591285

• The international prevalence and variability of nonadherence to the nonpharmacologic treatment regimen after heart transplantation: Findings from the cross-sectional BRIGHT study. Helmy R, Duerinckx N, De Geest S, Denhaerynck K, Berben L, Russell CL, Van Cleemput J, Crespo-Leiro MG, Dobbels F; BRIGHT study team. Clinical Transplantation. 2018 Jul;32(7):e13280.

• Multilevel factors are associated with immunosuppressant nonadherence in heart transplant recipients: The international BRIGHT study. Denhaerynck K, Berben L, Dobbels F, Russell CL, Crespo-Leiro MG, Poncelet AJ, De Geest S; BRIGHT study team. American Journal of Transplantation. 2018 Jun;18(6):1447-1460. PMID: 29205855. 

• Update on revascularization in patients with heart failure and coronary artery disease. Hage F, Hage A, Haddad H, Kiaii B. Current Opinion in Cardiology. 2018 Mar;33(2):232-236. PMID: 29135484

• Hemothorax due to Ruptured Mycotic Aneurysm of Intercostal Arteries Associated with Infective Endocarditis. Liu EY, Crawford J, Haddad H. Case Reports in Medicine. 2017;2017:9213514. PMID: 29225626. 

• 2017 Comprehensive Update of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines for the Management of Heart Failure. Ezekowitz JA, O'Meara E, McDonald MA, Abrams H, Chan M, Ducharme A, Giannetti N, Grzeslo A, Hamilton PG, Heckman GA, Howlett JG, Koshman SL, Lepage S, McKelvie RS, Moe GW, Rajda M, Swiggum E, Virani SA, Zieroth S, Al-Hesayen A, Cohen-Solal A, D'Astous M, De S, Estrella-Holder E, Fremes S, Green L, Haddad H, Harkness K, Hernandez AF, Kouz S, LeBlanc MH, Masoudi FA, Ross HJ, Roussin A, Sussex B. Canadian Journal of Cardiology. 2017 Nov;33(11):1342-1433. PMID: 29111106.

• Heart transplant centers with multidisciplinary team show a higher level of chronic illness management - Findings from the International BRIGHT Study. Cajita MI, Baumgartner E, Berben L, Denhaerynck K, Helmy R, Schönfeld S, Berger G, Vetter C, Dobbels F, Russell CL, De Geest S; BRIGHT Study Team. Heart & Lung. 2017 Sep-Oct;46(5):351-356. PMID: 28624338.

• Isolation of human explant derived cardiac stem cells from cryopreserved heart tissue. Jackson R, Mount S, Ye B, Mayfield AE, Chan V, Boodhwani M, Davies RA, Haddad H, Davis DR. PLoS One. 2017 Apr 17;12(4):e0176000. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0176000. eCollection 2017.PMID: 28414815. 

• The impact of obesity on heart failure. Zhai AB, Haddad H. Current Opinions in Cardiology. 2017 Mar;32(2):196-202. PMID: 28092289. 

• Chemotherapy-related cardiac dysfunction: grey area in type I and type II classification. Moudgil R, Haddad H. Current Opinions in Cardiology. 2017 Mar;32(2):181-188. PMID: 27926539. 

• Genetic testing in cardiomyopathies: an update on indications and benefits. Aleksova N, Rutberg J, Green M, Haddad H. Current Opinions in Cardiology. 2017 Mar;32(2):189-195. PMID: 27861187.

• Health literacy in heart transplantation: Prevalence, correlates and associations with health behaviors- finding from the international BRIGHT study. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2017 Mar; 36 (3): 272-279. Cajita MI, Baumgartner E, Berben L. on behalf BRIGHT Study Team. PMID: 27773449.

• Long-Term Follow-Up of Outcomes With F-18-Fluorodeoxyglucose Positron Emission Tomography Imaging-Assisted Management of Patients With Severe Left Ventricular Dysfunction Secondary to Coronary Disease. Mc Ardle B, Shukla T, Nichol G, deKemp RA, Bernick J, Guo A, Lim SP, Davies RA, Haddad H, Duchesne L, Hendry P, Masters R, Ross H, Freeman M, Gulenchyn K, Racine N, Humen D, Benard F, Ruddy TD, Chow BJ, Mielniczuk L, DaSilva JN, Garrard L, Wells GA, Beanlands RS; PARR-2 Investigators. Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging. 2016 Sep;9(9): e004331. doi: 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.115.004331. PMID: 27609816.

• Reduced Myocardial Flow in Heart Failure Patients With Preserved Ejection Fraction. Srivaratharajah K, Coutinho T, deKemp R, Liu P, Haddad H, Stadnick E, Davies RA, Chih S, Dwivedi G, Guo A, Wells GA, Bernick J, Beanlands R, Mielniczuk LM. Circulation: Heart Failure. 2016 Jul;9(7). pii: e002562. doi: 10.1161. PMID: 27413034.

• Canadian Cardiovascular Society Guidelines for Evaluation and Management of Cardiovascular Complications of Cancer Therapy. Virani SA, Dent S, Brezden-Masley C, Clarke B, Davis MK, Jassal DS, Johnson C, Lemieux J, Paterson I, Sebag IA, Simmons C, Sulpher J, Thain K, Thavendiranathan P, Wentzell JR, Wurtele N, Côté MA, Fine NM, Haddad H, Hayley BD, Hopkins S, Joy AA, Rayson D, Stadnick E, Straatman L. Can J Cardiol. 2016 Jul;32(7):831-41. PMID: 27343741.

• Aliskiren, Enalapril, or Aliskiren and Enalapril in Heart Failure. McMurray JJ, Krum H, Abraham WT, Dickstein K, Køber LV, Desai AS, Solomon SD, Greenlaw N, Ali MA, Chiang Y, Shao Q, Tarnesby G, Massie BM; ATMOSPHERE Committees Investigators. New England Journal of Medicine. 2016 Apr 21;374(16):1521-32. PMID: 27043774.

• Heart failure and sleep-disordered breathing. Zhai AB, Yip A, Haddad H. Current Opinion in Cardiology 2016 Mar;31(2):224-8. doi: 10.1097/HCO.0000000000000263. PMID: 26766163.

• Heart rate and heart failure. Yip AM, Zhai AB, Haddad H. Current  Opinion in Cardiology. 2016 Mar;31(2):204-8. doi: 10.1097/HCO.0000000000000266. PMID: 26720333.

• Comparison of Transesophageal and Transthoracic Echocardiographic Measurements of Mechanism and Severity of Mitral Regurgitation in Ischemic Cardiomyopathy (from the Surgical Treatment of Ischemic Heart Failure Trial).Grayburn PA, She L, Roberts BJ, Golba KS, Mokrzycki K, Drozdz J, Cherniavsky A, Przybylski R, Wrobel K, Asch FM, Holly TA, Haddad H, Yii M, Maurer G, Kron I, Schaff H, Velazquez EJ, Oh JK. American Journal of Cardiology 2015 Sep 15;116(6):913-8.doi:0.1016/j.amjcard.2015.06.015. Epub 2015 Jun 25.  PMID:26170249

• Effects of Xanthine Oxidase Inhibition in Hyperuricemic Heart Failure Patients: The Xanthine Oxidase Inhibition for Hyperuricemic Heart Failure Patients (EXACT-HF) Study. Givertz MM, Anstrom KJ, Redfield MM, Deswal A, Haddad H, Butler J, Tang WH, Dunlap ME, LeWinter MM, Mann DL, Felker GM, O'Connor CM, Goldsmith SR, Ofili EO, Saltzberg MT, Margulies KB, Cappola TP, Konstam MA, Semigran MJ, McNulty SE, Lee KL, Shah MR, Hernandez AF; NHLBI Heart Failure Clinical Research Network. Circulation. 2015 May 19;131(20):1763-71.

• Heart rate control in patients with left ventricular systolic dysfunction and heart failure. Pourdjabbar A, Dwivedi G, Haddad R, Saikali A, Mielniczuk L, Haddad H. International Journal of Cardiology. 2015 Apr 1;184:276-277. doi: 10.1016/j.ijcard.2015.02.056. Epub 2015 Feb 24.

• Anticoagulation strategies for left ventricular assist devices.Toeg H, Ruel M, Haddad H. Current Opinion of Cardiology. 2015 Mar;30(2):192-196. doi: 10.1097/HCO.0000000000000143. PMID: 25574893. 

• The 2014 Canadian Cardiovascular Society Heart Failure Management Guidelines Focus Update: anemia, biomarkers, and recent therapeutic trial implications. Moe GW, Ezekowitz JA, O'Meara E, Lepage S, Howlett JG, Fremes S, Al-Hesayen A, Heckman GA, Abrams H, Ducharme A, Estrella-Holder E, Grzeslo A, Harkness K, Koshman SL, McDonald M, McKelvie R, Rajda M, Rao V, Swiggum E, Virani S, Zieroth S, Arnold JM, Ashton T, D'Astous M, Chan M, De S, Dorian P, Giannetti N, Haddad H, Isaac DL, Kouz S, Leblanc MH, Liu P, Ross HJ, Sussex B, White M; Canadian Cardiovascular Society. Canadian Journal of Cardiology  2015 Jan;31(1):3-16. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2014.10.022. Epub 2014 Dec 19. PMID: 25532421

•  Left ventricular assist device in the management of refractory electrical storm. Pourdjabbar A, Maze R, Hibbert B, Ruel M, Haddad H. Perfusion. 2014 Aug 8. pii: 0267659114546033.

• The Prognostic Value of Rb-82 Positron Emission Tomography in Patients Following Heart Transplant. Mc Ardle BA, Davies RA, Chen L, Small GR, Ruddy TD, Dwivedi G, Yam Y, Haddad H,     Mielniczuk LM, Stadnick E, Hessian R, Guo A, Beanlands RS, deKemp RA, Chow BJ. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging. 2014 Sep 2. pii: CIRCIMAGING.114.002184.

• Myocardial viability and impact of surgical ventricular reconstruction on outcomes of patients with severe left ventricular dysfunction undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery: Results of the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure trial. Holly TA, Bonow RO, Arnold JM, Oh JK, Varadarajan P, Pohost GM, Haddad H, Jones RH, Velazquez EJ, Birkenfeld B, Asch FM, Malinowski M, Barretto R, Kalil RA, Berman DS, Sun JL, Lee KL, Panza JA. Journal of Thoracic Cardiovascular Surgery 2014 Jul 30. pii: S0022-5223(14)00983-0. doi:   10.1016/j.jtcvs.2014.0.090.

• Effects of short-term continuous positive airway pressure on myocardial sympathetic nerve function and energetics in patients with heart failure and obstructive sleep apnea: a randomized study. Hall AB, Ziadi MC, Leech JA, Chen SY, Burwash IG, Renaud J, deKemp RA, Haddad H, Mielniczuk LM, Yoshinaga K, Guo A, Chen L, Walter O, Garrard L, DaSilva JN, Floras JS, Beanlands RS. Circulation. 2014 Sep 9;130(11):892-901. doi: 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.113.005893.                

• Report from a consensus conference on primary graft dysfunction after cardiac transplantation. Kobashigawa J, Zuckermann A, Macdonald P, Leprince P, Esmailian F, Luu M, Mancini D, Patel J, Razi R, Reichenspurner H, Russell S, Segovia J, Smedira N, Stehlik J, Wagner F; Conference participants. Journal of Heart Lung Transplant. 2014 Apr;33(4):327-40. doi:10.1016/j.healun.2014.02.027.

• An update in the management of acute decompensated heart failure. Maze R, Haddad H. Current Opinion in Cardiology 2014 Mar;29(2):180-4. doi: 10.1097/HCO.0000000000000038. PMID: 24385080.

• The 2013 Canadian Cardiovascular Society Heart Failure Management Guidelines Update: Focus on Rehabilitation and Exercise and Surgical Coronary Revascularization. Primary Panel:, Moe GW, Ezekowitz JA, O'Meara E, Howlett JG, Fremes SE, Al-Hesayen A, Heckman GA, Ducharme A, Estrella-Holder E, Grzeslo A, Harkness K, Lepage S, McDonald M, McKelvie RS, Nigam A, Rajda M, Rao V, Swiggum E, Virani S, Van Le V, Zieroth S; Secondary Panel:, Arnold JM, Ashton T, D'Astous M, Dorian P, Giannetti N, Haddad H, Isaac DL, Kouz S, Leblanc MH, Liu P, Ross HJ, Sussex B, White M. Canandian Journal of Cardiology 2014 Mar;30(3):249-63. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2013.10.010. Epub 2013 Oct  2013 Oct 19. pii: S0828-282X(13)01576-6. doi: 10.1016/j.cjca.2013.10.010.

• Cardiac signaling molecules and plasma biomarkers after cardiac transplantation: impact of tacrolimus versus cyclosporine. White M, Cantin B, Haddad H, Kobashigawa JA, Ross H, Carrier M, Pflugfelder PW, Isaac D, Cecere R, Whittom L, Ali IS, Wang SH, He Y, Groulx A, Touyz RM. Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2013 Dec;32(12):1222-32. doi: 10.1016/j.healun.2013.09.010.

• Mechanisms of functional mitral regurgitation in ischemic cardiomyopathy determined by transesophageal echocardiography (from the Surgical Treatment for Ischemic Heart Failure Trial). Golba K, Mokrzycki K, Drozdz J, Cherniavsky A, Wrobel K, Roberts BJ, Haddad H, Maurer G, Yii M, Asch FM, Handschumacher MD, Holly TA, Przybylski R, Kron I, Schaff H, Aston S, Horton J, Lee KL, Velazquez EJ, Grayburn PA; STICH TEE Substudy Investigators. American Journal of Cardiology 2013 Dec 1;112(11):1812-8. Epub 2013 Sep 13.