Robert Lemery

Course Co-Director, Brain & Heart Symposium
Cardiac Electrophysiologist and Medical Historian

Dr. Robert Lemery is an internationally recognized cardiac electrophysiologist whose career bridges advanced ablation science, cardiac autonomic research, and the history of medicine. He joined the Arizona Heart Rhythm Center in 2018, bringing with him decades of academic, clinical, and research leadership from North America and abroad.

Dr. Lemery completed fellowship training in cardiovascular diseases and cardiac electrophysiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, as well as advanced training in Maastricht, Netherlands, and London, England. He is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiology, and clinical cardiac electrophysiology.

Throughout his career, Dr. Lemery has pioneered electrophysiologic programs at leading institutions, including the University of Montreal, Brown University, and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute—where he established major ablation programs and mentored the next generation of electrophysiologists. His international teaching includes work in China, Thailand, Vietnam, and India, reflecting his long-standing commitment to global cardiovascular education.

As both a clinician and researcher, Dr. Lemery has made lasting contributions to pacing, interventional electrophysiology, and the study of cardiac autonomics. His research portfolio spans neuromodulation, cardiac ganglionic stimulation, and the interaction between the nervous and electrical systems of the heart. He led one of the first NIH-registered studies on high-frequency stimulation of autonomic cardiac ganglia with MIBG imaging, and a prospective clinical trial comparing caffeine with placebo in patients undergoing invasive electrophysiology procedures.

Dr. Lemery has published extensively in the field, authoring and co-authoring numerous peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, including the third edition of Fast Facts: Cardiac Arrhythmias. He serves on the Editorial Boards of the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, Heart Rhythm Journal, and JACC: Clinical Electrophysiology and is a frequent reviewer for major cardiology and electrophysiology journals.

Beyond his clinical and research work, Dr. Lemery holds dual master’s degrees in the History of Medicine from Johns Hopkins University (Faculty of Medicine) and McGill University (Faculty of History) with a scholarly focus on the evolution of cardiology, electrophysiology, and global health.

As Co-Director of the Brain & Heart Symposium, Dr. Lemery brings a unique perspective that unites electrophysiology with neuroscience, exploring how autonomic and cortical systems shape rhythm, resilience, and recovery. His vision continues to inspire a global dialogue on the intertwined physiology of the brain and the heart.