Basmah Safdar, MD, specializes in emergency medicine with a focus on microvascular health, particularly in the heart and brain, and its relation to COVID-19.
Dr. Safdar has expertise in coronary microvascular dysfunction (CMD), a type of heart disease that affects small blood vessels that regulate blood flow to heart tissue. She leads the Yale CMD Registry and is the medical director of the Chest Pain Center at Yale New Haven Hospital, where she works to improve how chest pain is treated, using data-driven approaches to enhance patient care.
“I pride myself on having the ability to find a needle in a haystack, all the while maintaining the ability to see and care for the patient as a whole,” Dr. Safdar says. “Emergency medicine is a team sport. It’s a dynamic environment that requires the ability to work with a diverse team of healthcare professionals. Collaboration is necessary to provide high-quality care to every patient.”
A professor of emergency medicine at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Safdar's research explores how differences in vascular biology between men and women affect health, particularly focusing on microvascular dysfunction—a condition where small blood vessels don't function properly, reducing blood flow and causing symptoms like chest pain.
Her work has led to advancements in understanding chest pain in emergency settings and the identification of clinical phenotypes and biomarkers that may predict outcomes. She leads a large research team and has built a significant portfolio from federal, foundation, and industry grants, extending her research into precision medicine.
In her role as Vice Chair at Yale School of Medicine, Dr. Safdar brings 25 years of expertise in faculty development and communication strategies within medical and academic settings. She focuses on developing early and mid-career faculty through tailored curricula designed to equip healthcare professionals with essential skills for navigating complex clinical environments and promoting patient-centered care through effective collaboration and time management.
She earned her medical degree from Aga Khan University in Pakistan, completed residency and chief residency in emergency medicine at Yale School of Medicine, and holds a master of science in cardiovascular epidemiology from Harvard University. She is a 2024 Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine (ELAM) Fellow, a testament to her vision, skills, and dedication.
