Christian Verdicchio

Dr Christian Verdicchio is a Clinical Senior Lecturer at the University of Sydney's Faculty of Medicine and Health and the Adelaide Medical School at the University of Adelaide. He serves as CEO of Heart Support Australia, leading Australia's largest cardiovascular disease peer support network. Previously, he held roles as Corporate Allied Health and Cardiac Rehabilitation Manager at Macquarie Health, establishing Australia’s largest private cardiac rehab program across 12 hospitals. His research focuses on exercise in cardiovascular disease and sports cardiology, with a PhD under Prof. Prash Sanders titled 'Exercise in Atrial Fibrillation.'

Education: PhD in Medicine (University of Adelaide) with Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence. He also holds a Merit Award from the University of South Australia (2014). Teaching roles include courses in Exercise Science, Nutrition, Human Physiology, and MBBS research supervision.

Research interests include cardiopulmonary exercise testing and exercise prescription for complex cardiovascular patients, particularly atrial fibrillation. He has contributed to national guidelines for cardiac rehabilitation and explored pandemic impacts on healthcare delivery.

Awards include multiple travel grants from the Heart Foundation, Lions Medical Research, and the European Society of Cardiology’s EuroPrevent Young Investigator recognition. He is a referee with SA National Premier League and former match official for Hyundai-A-League, blending sports officiating with academic work.

Grants include the 2022 'Measure It!' trial funded by the Department of Health and Aged Care. Governance roles include President of Com.It.Es South Australia and Board Director of Adelaide Italian Festival. Professional memberships span ESSA, European Association of Preventive Cardiology, and Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand.