Ellen Keeley, MD, MS

My name is Ellen Keeley, MD, MS, and I am a professor of medicine in the University of Florida Division of Cardiovascular Medicine. I completed my internal medicine residency at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia, a clinical cardiology fellowship at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, and an interventional cardiology fellowship at William Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Michigan.

I took care of my family from a young age, so it was natural for me to be drawn to medicine as a vocation. I fell in love with cardiology as a medical student when I heard a heart murmur in a patient for the first time. It is my goal to always advocate for patients as if they were my own family member.

My clinical interest is primary percutaneous coronary intervention for acute ST elevation myocardial infarction. My research interests study the extent of myocardial fibrosis and its effect on left ventricular remodeling following acute ST elevation myocardial infarction, and the effectiveness of a post-heart attack clinic to improve patient outcomes and decrease unplanned readmissions following hospital discharge after a myocardial infarction.

I am currently working on two projects that I am excited about. The first is a study measuring heart inflammation using a novel type of cardiac MRI in patients with a specific type of heart failure called “heart failure with preserved ejection fraction.” The second is a study focused on the role of iron in patients with Takotsubo cardiomyopathy (also referred to as “the broken heart syndrome”). Both cardiac conditions are associated with significant morbidity and mortality, and they do not have specific therapy because of our lack of understanding of what drives them. I hope my projects will provide useful information that can translate into new and effective treatments in the future.

One of the most fun things for me is to teach cardiology fellows hands-on in the cath lab and watch their expression after they succeed doing it for the first time. That never gets old. I consider mentoring and teaching residents and fellows a crucial part of my job and have received recognition for it over the years. In addition, carrying out investigator-initiated clinical/translational research is of utmost importance to me, and I have received several grants to fund these projects.

In my free time, I enjoy running, Pilates and walking our dog. Above all, I cherish every moment I get to spend with my daughter, who is now in college, and my husband.