Rafic Berbarie, M.D.

Rafic Berbarie, M.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and a member of the Division of Cardiology. His interests include echocardiography, medical teaching, and all areas of general cardiology, including coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, cardiac symptom evaluation, cardiac risk factor management, and arrhythmias.

Originally from Miami, Dr. Berbarie received a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Texas at Dallas and earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He completed internal medicine residency training at Baylor University Medical Center, where he also received advanced training through a fellowship in cardiology and served as Chief Fellow.

Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in cardiovascular disease, Dr. Berbarie joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2021.

Dr. Berbarie has published numerous academic articles on a variety of cardiology topics in peer-reviewed journals.

Medical School

University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (2001)

Residency

Baylor University Medical Center (2004), Internal Medicine

Fellowship

Baylor University Medical Center (2007), Cardiology

• COVID-19 and cardiovascular risk
• Heart Disease
• Heart Failure

Featured Publications

Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair in Cardiac Amyloidosis and Severe Mitral Regurgitation.

Thakker RA, Elbadawi A, Albaeni A, Hasan SM, Suthar KH, Modi SA, Berbarie RF, Khalife W, Chatila KF, Curr Probl Cardiol 2021 May 100881

Coronary Embolism Presenting as NSTEMI in a Patient with Splenectomy.

Al-Taweel O, Sami F, Pinsky S, Wineinger T, Berbarie RF, Kans J Med 2021 14 111-113

Stress echocardiography using real-time three-dimensional imaging.

Berbarie RF, Dib E, Ahmad M, Echocardiography 2018 08 35 8 1196-1203

Utility of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography in improved assessment of a mitral valve papillary fibroelastoma.

Suresh R, Boor PJ, Al-Dossari GA, Abu-Sharifeh T, Venkatachalam S, Berbarie RF, Clin Case Rep 2017 07 5 7 1193-1195

Late diagnosis of Wellens syndrome in a patient presenting with an atypical acute coronary syndrome.

Venkatesan R, Methachittiphan N, Berbarie RF, Aaron E, Jaffery Z, Rangasetty U, Am J Emerg Med 2016 Feb 34 2 338.e3-5

High-intensity cardiac rehabilitation training of a firefighter after placement of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.

Adams J, DeJong S, Arnett JK, Kennedy K, Franklin JO, Berbarie RF, Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) 2014 Jul 27 3 226-8

Comparison of force exerted on the sternum during a sneeze versus during low-, moderate-, and high-intensity bench press resistance exercise with and without the valsalva maneuver in healthy volunteers.

Adams J, Schmid J, Parker RD, Coast JR, Cheng D, Killian AD, McCray S, Strauss D, McLeroy Dejong S, Berbarie R, Am J Cardiol 2014 Mar 113 6 1045-8

High-intensity, occupation-specific training in a series of firefighters during phase II cardiac rehabilitation.

Adams J, Cheng D, Berbarie RF, Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) 2013 Apr 26 2 106-8

High-intensity cardiac rehabilitation training of a police officer for his return to work and sports after coronary artery bypass grafting.

Adams J, Berbarie RF, Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) 2013 Jan 26 1 39-41

High-intensity track and field training in a cardiac rehabilitation program.

Kennedy K, Adams J, Cheng D, Berbarie RF, Proc (Bayl Univ Med Cent) 2012 Jan 25 1 34-6

• John M. (Jack) Wallace, MD UTMB Professorship in Cardiology
  (2021-2023)
• Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award
  The University of Texas Medical Branch (2017)
• Best Doctors
  Houstonia Magazine (2014)