Steve Attanasio

Steve Attanasio, DO is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at Rush Medical College, specializing in Cardiology. He serves as Director of the Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship Program and Director of the Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Rush University Medical Center. He also co-chairs the RUSH Chest Pain Center, leading multidisciplinary efforts in acute cardiac care.

His research focuses on interventional cardiology techniques, pulmonary embolism management, and critical care outcomes. He pioneered the implementation of the Radiology-Led Pulmonary Embolism Response Team (PERT), which streamlines emergency thrombectomy procedures. His work addresses disparities in transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) outcomes and explores innovative catheter-based therapies for complex cardiovascular conditions like chylopericardium and right-sided cardiac masses.

Dr. Attanasio's clinical interests include mechanical circulatory support in cardiogenic shock, integration of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin testing, and optimizing transfusion strategies in acute myocardial infarction. His systematic reviews and meta-analyses have advanced understanding of valve replacement techniques and gender-based procedural outcomes. He has authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles across cardiology, critical care, and vascular medicine.

Leadership roles include directing the Cardiac ICU where he implements protocols for hemodynamic stabilization and mechanical assistance. He trains future cardiologists through the fellowship program emphasizing procedural excellence and patient-centered care. Current initiatives focus on reducing disparities in access to mechanical thrombectomy and improving post-TAVR survival rates through evidence-based strategies.