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Christopher F. Liu, M.D.

Cardiology

Locations and Appointments

Insurances Accepted

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Personal Statement

Cardiac Electrophysiology therapies for arrhythmia disorders continue to evolve and dramatically improve people's lives.  Every day I am excited to come to work to deliver cutting-edge treatments and make new discoveries that continuously redefine the cutting-edge.  I wholeheartedly appreciate the exceptional team of scientific and healthcare professionals we have at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York-Presbyterian Hospital that enables this ongoing work.  At the same time, the most rewarding part of my job is the opportunity to make human connections and guide each patient through their condition in an understandable way so that she/he can actively participate in our treatment plan. My belief is to treat each patient with precision, clarity, and compassion - the way I would want my family to be treated.

Biographical Info

Christopher F. Liu, MD, FACC, FHRS is currently an Associate Professor of Medicine and the Medical Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology Services for the New York-Presbyterian - Weill Cornell Network, after previously serving as Assistant Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology.  He continues to lead Complex Arrhythmia Ablation and Structural Heart Electrophysiology at Weill Cornell Medicine.

As an innovator in the arrhythmia field, he has pioneered multiple procedures at Weill Cornell Medical Center: pulsed-field ablation (PFA) for atrial fibrillation, novel high-power RF ablation and cryo-balloon ablation for atrial fibrillation, Watchman and Amulet device closure of the left atrial appendage, physiologic conduction system pacemakers, Lariat device closure of the left atrial appendage, and epicardial VT ablation.  He has co-authored numerous manuscripts clarifying mechanisms of arrhythmias and improving outcomes of catheter ablation, and serves as peer reviewer and editor for prestigious journals in cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology.  Dr. Liu regularly gives invited lectures at international Cardiology and Electrophysiology conferences in the US, Europe, and Asia, pertaining to his work in advanced imaging and complex arrhythmia ablation.  He is a Fellow of the Heart Rhythm Society and the American College of Cardiology; he has served on the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee of the American College of Cardiology, and currently serves as Chair of Health Policy and Regulatory Affairs at the Heart Rhythm Society - where he leads interactions between medical experts and the FDA and other regulatory agencies.

Dr. Liu was born in southern China and raised in New York City, where he attended Stuyvesant High School. He received his undergraduate education at Cornell University, then returned to New York City to earn his medical degree from the Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. Dr. Liu completed internship and residency in Internal Medicine at Columbia University Medical Center. He then completed fellowships in Cardiovascular Disease and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology at the University of Pennsylvania, renowned for its work in epicardial ablation. He was recruited to NewYork-Presbyterian/ Weill Cornell Medical Center for his unique skills in catheter ablation of complex arrhythmias and his use of advanced imaging to improve ablation outcomes.

Based on his wide case experience and attention to detail, Dr. Liu has built a reputation for taking on difficult cases and high-risk patients, often achieving successful outcomes in patients who had undergone failed procedures elsewhere, and with an unparalleled safety record - for the high-risk cases as well as the simple cases. Just as importantly, Dr. Liu is known for his clear communication skills and warm bedside manner.

Dr. Liu is committed to advancing our understanding of arrhythmia mechanisms and developing novel approaches to catheter ablation and pacing therapy based on those mechanisms.  He has done work aimed at mapping complex fractionated atrial electrograms (CFAEs) in the human left atrium during atrial fibrillation, and recent manuscripts have described mechanisms of atrial tachycardia in association with left atrial myopathy.  Dr. Liu has developed a personalized approach to ablation of atrial fibrillation – targeting circuits based on detailed observation of each individual’s unique arrhythmia mechanisms (instead of a one-size-fits-all approach).  Dr. Liu has led efforts to integrate advanced imaging technologies such as intracardiac echocardiography into complex ablation procedures and structural heart procedures such as left atrial appendage closure - to make procedures more effective and less risky.  Dr. Liu has led the use of (robotic) remote magnetic navigation here at Weill Cornell to make ablation of ventricular arrhythmias less invasive and safer.  In recent years, Dr. Liu has brought the latest advances in pacing therapy: conduction system pacing (engaging the heart's intrinsic wiring to stimulate the heart in a more physiologic electrical pathway).

Dr. Liu provides expert care in all areas of Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology, including:

-Atrial fibrillation

-Atrial fibrillation with risk of stroke and need to avoid anticoagulation (blood thinners such as Coumadin, Eliquis, Xarelto)

-Atrial flutter (including arrhythmias occurring after previous surgery or ablation)

-Supraventricular tachycardia (SVT): including AV nodal reentrant tachycardia, atrial tachycardia, and arrhythmias associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome

-Ventricular arrhythmias: including ventricular ectopy (PVCs), ventricular tachycardia (VT), ventricular fibrillation, and ICD shocks related to these arrhythmias

-Potentially high risk of malignant arrhythmias and sudden cardiac death: including patients with cardiomyopathy (weak heart muscle), previous myocardial infarction (heart attack), and high-risk congenital or hereditary conditions such as long QT syndrome, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, Brugada syndrome

-Refractory congestive heart failure (consideration for cardiac resynchronization therapy)

-Inadequate heart rate with need for pacing

Dr. Liu performs these procedures on a daily basis using the latest technology:

-Radiofrequency catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation (using the latest complex 3-D mapping systems and intracardiac echocardiography) and atrial flutter- including failed procedures elsewhere

-Cryoballoon ablation of atrial fibrillation

-Novel ablation methods (including pulsed-field ablation)

-Catheter ablation of all types of supraventricular tachycardias (listed above) using radiofrequency and cryo-ablation

-Catheter ablation of all types of ventricular arrhythmias: including PVCs and ventricular tachycardia (with or without ICD shocks)

-Stereotaxis (remote magnetic navigation)-guided ablation (this is a type of robotic approach)

-Epicardial ablation of ventricular arrhythmias (those which cannot be ablated via the conventional approach inside the heart)

-Implantation of pacemakers, defibrillators (ICDs), and cardiac resynchronization devices (CRT), including the latest approaches to physiologic conduction system pacing: engaging the heart’s intrinsic electrical wiring for the most “natural” way of pacing

-Catheter-based left atrial appendage closure (Watchman, Amulet, or Lariat device) for patients with atrial fibrillation who are at risk of stroke and need to avoid anticoagulation (blood thinner medications such as Coumadin, Eliquis, Xarelto).

Honors and Awards

1993 Semifinalist, Westinghouse Science Talent Search

1994 Elizabeth Appleton Scholarship, Cornell University

1995 Howard Hughes Undergraduate Research Scholar

2000 Alpha Omega Alpha, Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

2003 Medical Housestaff Research Award, Columbia University Medical Center 

2009, 2012 Michael J. Wolk Heart Foundation Clinical Scholar, Weill Cornell Medical College

Board Certifications
American Board of Internal Medicine
American Board of Internal Medicine (Cardiovascular Disease)
American Board of Internal Medicine (Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology)
Certification Board of Nuclear Cardiology
National Board of Echocardiography
Clinical Expertise
Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation
Catheter Ablation, Radiofrequency, Cardiac, Using 3 Dimensional Electroanatomic Mapping System
Cryoablation of Arrhythmia Focus
Atrial Fibrillation
Supraventricular Tachycardia
Ventricular Tachycardia
Percutaneous Left Atrial Appendage Closure
Occlusion, Atrial Appendage, Left, Percutaneous, Using Ligation Device
Intraoperative Epicardial or Endocardial Pacing and Mapping
Intracardiac Echocardiography
Intracardiac Catheter Ablation For Ventricular Tachycardia With Imaging Guidance
Cardiac Resynchronization
Implantable Defibrillators
Pacemakers
Palpitations
Cardiac Arrhythmia
Cardiac Electrophysiology
Diagnostic Electrophysiology Study
Syncope
Cardioversion
Languages
English
Chinese (Cantonese)
Chinese (Mandarin)
Spanish
Education 
  • M.D.
    Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons
    2001
Appointments 
  • Associate Attending Physician
    NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
  • Associate Professor of Medicine
    Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University
  • Associate Professor of Medicine in Pediatrics
    Weill Cornell Medical College, Cornell University

Relationships and collaborations with for-profit and not-for profit organizations are of vital importance to our faculty because these exchanges of scientific information foster innovation. As experts in their fields, WCM physicians and scientists are sought after by many organizations to consult and educate. WCM and its faculty make this information available to the public, thus creating a transparent environment.

Consultant: 
BIOTRONIK GmbH & Co.