Prof. Peter Kistler

Prof. Peter Kistler

Cardiologist & Electrophysiologist

Prof Peter Kistler

Professor Peter Kistler is a cardiologist and electrophysiologist with an expertise in the treatment of heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias). Treatments vary considerably and may include lifestyle changes, medication, electrophysiology study and catheter ablation and device implantation.

Peter completed a PhD in heart rhythm disorders then post-doctoral studies at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London. He is the Head of electrophysiology at the Alfred Hospital and Head of Clinical Electrophysiology research at the Baker IDI Heart and Diabetes Institute in Melbourne. Peter is a Professor both in the department of Medicine at the University of Melbourne and at Monash University. He has supervised 15 medical PhDs to completion. He has been supported by the NHMRC and National Heart Foundation through fellowships and project grant support.

In recent times Peter’s research has drawn international attention being featured in print and electronic news media across the world in defining the role of alcohol and coffee in heart rhythm disorders as well as ablation in improving heart function.

He is an invited speaker at the American Heart Association, Heart Rhythm Society in the USA and Asia-Pacific Heart Rhythm Society. He is a member of the scientific program committee for the World Congress of Cardiology Scientific Sessions in 2014 and the Australian representative on the membership committee for the Asia-Pacific Heart Rhythm Society. He has 195 publications in the world’s leading medical journals and has made a substantial contribution to the field of atrial arrhythmias. He was a member of the writing committee for the Heart Foundation Guidelines on the management of Heart Failure 2018.

He is on the Editorial Boards for Heart, Journal of the American College of Cardiology: EP and the Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology.

Peter has performed 1000’s of ablation procedures over more than 15 years and is responsible for training cardiologists from around the world in ablation techniques. Part of Peter’s work involves

improving catheter-based approaches for treating atrial fibrillation. A procedure which involves making a series of burns within the heart in an attempt to control abnormal heart beats.