Cardiology Fellowship Research Updates

Name: Martin A. Chacon Portillo, MD
Where Are You From? Chihuahua, Chihuahua, Mexico
How did you get into Cardiology? I became fascinated with cardiology the day I read my first ECG in medical school. It was astonishing to see how a few lines and curves, when interpreted correctly, could help diagnose and triage patients with a wide range of pathologies. What continues to draw me to cardiology is the ability to evaluate the heart from all angles—its pumping, valvular, electrical, and vascular components—using advanced imaging technologies and minimally invasive interventions to provide truly comprehensive care. This holistic approach, where I can guide patients from their initial symptoms to definitive treatment, is incredibly fulfilling to me.
Tell us about your current research and what you love about it. My current research delves into the safety of performing radiation therapy on patients with cardiac implantable electric devices with personalized strategies, seeking to refine the detection of radiation-induced device complications and limit unnecessary testing and procedures. What excites me most is how our current research is attempting to redefine how cardiac implantable electric devices are configured to limit the number of interrogation sessions we perform and hopefully avoid delaying life-saving treatments such as radiation therapy in patients with cancer.