Dr Jonathan Behar

Dr Jonathan Behar is a consultant cardiologist with a specialist interest in managing patients with heart rhythm disturbances. He is based at Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust where he is also a senior clinical lecturer within the Department of Imaging Sciences, Kings College London.

Jonathan graduated with honours from the Royal Free and University College Medical School before specialising in general medicine and cardiology in north London. He trained in cardiac rhythm management at the Barts Heart Centre and was a locum consultant at the Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals before taking up his current position.

Jonathan performed pioneering research collaborating with engineers, industry and clinical teams which led to the co-invention of an image guidance platform that integrates MRI and X-rays in real-time for personalising the care of patients undergoing cardiac procedures. This work was nominated for a European Innovation Award in 2017.

He has a passion for addressing unmet clinical needs through translational and innovative solutions. He was an NHS England Clinical Entrepreneur Fellow and recently led a team that digitised pre-operative consent for patients undergoing cardiac procedures. This work won the Royal College of Physicians Digital Award for Excellence in Patient Care 2021.

Special interests

Jonathan sees patients with a whole range of cardiac complaints including palpitations, dizziness, fainting, chest pain and breathlessness. He performs catheter ablations for a range of arrhythmias with a particular interest in new technologies for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. He is highly experienced in the implantation of cardiac devices (pacemakers, defibrillators and cardiac resynchronisation therapy) including the latest, miniaturised leadless pacemakers.

Jonathan has special interests in image guidance for cardiac procedures, cardiac resynchronisation therapy, novel pacing strategies and device innovation and novel technologies for catheter ablation and digital health.

Treatments

• Electrophysiological study
• Catheter ablation of supraventricular and ventricular tachycardias
• Implantable loop recorder
• Permanent pacemaker
• Implantable defibrillator
• Cardiac resynchronisation therapy

Education

2000 – 2006: MBBS, BSc, Royal Free and University College Medical School

2009: MRCP (UK)

2010 – 2018: North east London cardiology training programme including specialist arrhythmia training at the Barts Heart Centre

2017: PhD, Kings College London

2018: CCDS and CEPS-A, international accreditation in complex devices and electrophysiology

2019: Cardiology certificate of completion of training

2019: Fellowship of the European Heart Rhythm Association, FEHRA

Membership of professional bodies

• Royal Colleges of Physicians of the United Kingdom
• British Heart Rhythm Society
• European Heart Rhythm Association
• Heart Rhythm Society
• British Cardiovascular Society