Ajay S. Vaidya

Dr. Ajay S. Vaidya is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Medicine and Clinical Investigator at the Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California. He serves as Section Chief and Medical Director of Heart Failure, Transplant, and Mechanical Circulatory Support, and leads the "Judge John A. Houston Artificial Intelligence Technology for Heart Monitoring Project" ($5M grant recipient). His roles include Associate Program Director of the Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship and Course Director for multiple cardiology training programs.

Education: BS in Social Policy from Northwestern University; MD/MPH from Tufts University School of Medicine (AOA Honor Society); Internal Medicine Residency at UCSF; Cardiology Fellowship at Mount Sinai; Advanced Heart Failure fellowship at Cedars Sinai.

Research focuses on heart failure outcomes, antibody desensitization, cardiogenic shock, and AI-driven cardiac monitoring. Key areas include clinical trials for novel therapeutics, heart transplant rejection surveillance, and physics-based AI solutions. He leads a research lab and has authored over 20 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.

Publications highlight innovations in mechanical circulatory support, transplant outcomes, and non-invasive monitoring. Recent work addresses UNOS policy impacts, device comparisons, and pregnancy post-LVAD explantation.

• Awards: Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, Pasadena Magazine Top Doctors, Super Doctors (2022–2025), AOA Honor Society (2011).
• Grants & Leadership: $5M grant PI, Equity and Representation Working Group (GEMS), multiple institutional leadership roles.

He oversees cardiology rotations for medical students, residents, and fellows, emphasizing diversity in cardiology training. His lab develops AI tools for heart failure monitoring and clinical decision-making.