Biography

Mark S. Link, M.D., is a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center, and a member of the Division of Cardiology.

Raised in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Dr. Link holds a bachelor's degree in biology from Dordt College in Iowa. He earned his medical degree at Tufts University School of Medicine. He then completed internal medicine residency training at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center in New York City. Following residency, he served as an internist for the United States Air Force at Incirlik Air Force Base in Turkey and Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland. After an Honorable Discharge, he then completed fellowships in cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology at Tufts University/New England Medical Center in Boston.

Prior to joining the UT Southwestern faculty, Dr. Link served as Director of Evaluation of Athletes and Co-Director of the university’s Cardiac Electrophysiology Laboratory, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, and Heart Station at Tufts University. He received Commendation and Meritorious Service Medals from the United States Air Force and was named by Boston magazine as one of the Best Doctors in Boston in eight of the past 10 years.

In 2016 Dr. Link was recruited by UT Southwestern to be the Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology.

Dr. Link’s clinical interests include atrial fibrillation, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, management of syncope, sudden cardiac death, and cardioverter defibrillator implantation. He has been a principal investigator or collaborating author of more than 135 articles and more than 140 abstracts published in numerous peer-reviewed medical journals. He has also contributed 100 chapters and invited reviews to journals and medical textbooks.

Dr. Link has served on the editorial boards of publications including the American Journal of Sports & Medicine, Critical Pathways in Cardiology, EP Lab Digest, Heart Rhythm, Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, Journal of Innovations in Cardiac Rhythm Management, and Journal Watch Cardiology. He currently serves as an Associate Editor of Circulation and Deputy Editor of Journal Watch Cardiology.

Dr. Link has lectured or presented at conferences, grand rounds, or symposia of organizations including the American College of Cardiology, American Heart Association, Heart Rhythm Society, American Society of Medicine and Sports, Heart Failure Society of America, New England Regional Trauma Conference, and North American Trainers Association.

Dr. Link serves on multiple American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology Guidelines Writing Committees, including Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Eligibility and Disqualification Recommendations for Competitive Athletes with Cardiovascular Abnormalities, Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, and Syncope.

Personal Note

During his free time, Dr. Link enjoys walking with his wife, mountain biking with his dogs, visiting his children, gardening, painting, and collecting interesting neckties.

Education

Medical School
Tufts University School of Medicine (1986)
Internship
New York Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia Campus)) (1987), Internal Medicine
Residency
New York Presbyterian Hospital (Columbia Campus)) (1989), Internal Medicine
Fellowship
Tufts Medical Center (1996), Cardiology
Fellowship
Tufts Medical Center (1997), Cardiac Electrophysiology

Research Interest

  • Air Pollution and Arrhythmias
  • Atrial Fibrillation
  • Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
  • Resuscitation
  • Sudden Cardiac Death

Publications

Featured Publications LegendFeatured Publications

Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation: Patient Selection, Periprocedural Anticoagulation, Techniques, and Preventive Measures After Ablation.
Link MS, Haïssaguerre M, Natale A Circulation 2016 Jul 134 4 339-52
Subcutaneous Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator in Patients With Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy: An Initial Experience.
Weinstock J, Bader YH, Maron MS, Rowin EJ, Link MS J Am Heart Assoc 2016 Feb 5 2
Eligibility and Disqualification Recommendations for Competitive Athletes With Cardiovascular Abnormalities: Task Force 3: Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy and Other Cardiomyopathies, and Myocarditis: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology.
Maron BJ, Udelson JE, Bonow RO, Nishimura RA, Ackerman MJ, Estes NA, Cooper LT, Link MS, Maron MS Circulation 2015 Dec 132 22 e273-80
Part 7: Adult Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support: 2015 American Heart Association Guidelines Update for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation and Emergency Cardiovascular Care.
Link MS, Berkow LC, Kudenchuk PJ, Halperin HR, Hess EP, Moitra VK, Neumar RW, O'Neil BJ, Paxton JH, Silvers SM, White RD, Yannopoulos D, Donnino MW Circulation 2015 Nov 132 18 Suppl 2 S444-64
Treatment of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy/Dysplasia: An International Task Force Consensus Statement.
Corrado D, Wichter T, Link MS, Hauer RN, Marchlinski FE, Anastasakis A, Bauce B, Basso C, Brunckhorst C, Tsatsopoulou A, Tandri H, Paul M, Schmied C, Pelliccia A, Duru F, Protonotarios N, Estes NM, McKenna WJ, Thiene G, Marcus FI, Calkins H Circulation 2015 Aug 132 5 441-53
Acute exposure to air pollution triggers atrial fibrillation.
Link MS, Luttmann-Gibson H, Schwartz J, Mittleman MA, Wessler B, Gold DR, Dockery DW, Laden F J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2013 Aug 62 9 816-25
Safety of sports for athletes with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators: results of a prospective, multinational registry.
Lampert R, Olshansky B, Heidbuchel H, Lawless C, Saarel E, Ackerman M, Calkins H, Estes NA, Link MS, Maron BJ, Marcus F, Scheinman M, Wilkoff BL, Zipes DP, Berul CI, Cheng A, Law I, Loomis M, Barth C, Brandt C, Dziura J, Li F, Cannom D Circulation 2013 May 127 20 2021-30
Prevention of sudden cardiac death with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators in children and adolescents with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
Maron BJ, Spirito P, Ackerman MJ, Casey SA, Semsarian C, Estes NA, Shannon KM, Ashley EA, Day SM, Pacileo G, Formisano F, Devoto E, Anastasakis A, Bos JM, Woo A, Autore C, Pass RH, Boriani G, Garberich RF, Almquist AK, Russell MW, Boni L, Berger S, Maron MS, Link MS J. Am. Coll. Cardiol. 2013 Apr 61 14 1527-35
Clinical practice. Evaluation and initial treatment of supraventricular tachycardia.
Link MS N. Engl. J. Med. 2012 Oct 367 15 1438-48
2012 ACCF/AHA/HRS Focused Update of the 2008 Guidelines for Device-Based Therapy of Cardiac Rhythm Abnormalities: a report of the American College of Cardiology Foundation/American Heart Association Task Force on Practice Guidelines.
Tracy CM, Epstein AE, Darbar D, Dimarco JP, Dunbar SB, Estes NA, Ferguson TB, Hammill SC, Karasik PE, Link MS, Marine JE, Schoenfeld MH, Shanker AJ, Silka MJ, Stevenson LW, Stevenson WG, Varosy PD Heart Rhythm 2012 Oct 9 10 1737-53

Books

Featured Books Legend Featured Books

Honors & Awards

  • Distinguished Alumni Award
    Dordt College (2012)
  • Hall of Fame Award
    Lincoln High School (2012)
  • Best Doctors in Boston
    (2006-2015)
  • Finalist - Young Investigator's Award - Commotio Cordis
    47th Annual American College of Cardiology Sessions (1998)
  • Meritorious Service Medal
    U.S. Air Force (1993)

Professional Associations/Affiliations

  • Fellow, American College of Cardiology (1998)
  • Fellow, American Heart Association (2017)
  • Fellow, Heart Rhythm Society (1998)