INDIANAPOLIS — The Cardiovascular Institute at Indiana University School of Medicine and IU Health has named two respected and accomplished physicians to serve as its co-directors. Together, the duo will spearhead the enterprise's cutting-edge heart health research and patient care.
Sara J. Pereira, MD, FACS, began her work as co-director in August, while Matthew J. Feinstein, MD, MSc, FACC, FAHA, will start Jan. 12.
Pereira previously served as a professor of surgery, program director for the Thoracic Surgery Residency Programs and surgical director of the Structural Heart Program at the University of Utah. Prior to that, she served as vice chair in the Department of Surgery at the University of Alabama Birmingham.
She earned her biology degree from the University of California, Berkeley and medical degree from the University of California, Irvine. She completed her residency at the University of Cincinnati and her fellowship at the University of Alabama Birmingham.
In addition to her role with the institute, Pereira also serves as division chief of cardiothoracic surgery and a professor of surgery with IU School of Medicine.
"It is an exciting time at IU School of Medicine and IU Health, and I am honored to represent our surgical teams in the Cardiovascular Institute," Pereira said. "We are dedicated to expanding cardiovascular surgery programs and driving excellence in quality, research and innovation — delivering compassionate care and outstanding outcomes for patients across Indiana and beyond."
Feinstein comes to IU from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where he served as the Thomas D. Spies professor of cardiometabolic inflammation, a tenured associate professor of medicine-cardiovascular diseases, preventive medicine and pathology, director of the Clinical and Translational Immunocardiology Program and director of student research.
He earned a sociology degree from Princeton University, as well as a medical degree and Master of Science from Northwestern. He completed his residency and several fellowships at Northwestern. He was also a practicing cardiologist at Northwestern Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute.
In addition to serving as co-director of the Cardiovascular Institute, Feinstein will be chief of the division of cardiovascular medicine at the IU School of Medicine, as well as a professor of medicine and the Medtronic Zipes Professor of Cardiology.
"My family and I are thrilled to join the IU School of Medicine and IU Health communities, and I am deeply honored and excited by the opportunity to serve as co-director of the Cardiovascular Institute," Feinstein said. "I look forward to working with the outstanding, forward-thinking team and collaborators to drive meaningful impact and innovation in cardiovascular care throughout the state of Indiana and beyond."
About the Indiana University School of Medicine
The IU School of Medicine is the largest medical school in the U.S. and is annually ranked among the top medical schools in the nation by U.S. News & World Report. The school offers high-quality medical education, access to leading medical research and rich campus life in nine Indiana cities, including rural and urban locations consistently recognized for livability. According to the Blue Ridge Institute for Medical Research, the IU School of Medicine ranks No. 13 in 2024 National Institutes of Health funding among all public medical schools in the country.
Writer: Rory Appleton, rapplet@iu.edu
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