Chief of Cardiology
Director of Interventional Cardiology
Scripps Clinic
La Jolla, CA

Dr. Paul Teirstein is the Chief of Cardiology and Director of Interventional Cardiology for Scripps Clinic and Director of the Scripps Prebys Cardiovascular Institute for Scripps Health. He received training at The Mount Sinai School of Medicine, The Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Stanford University, the Mid-America Heart Institute and the National Institutes of Health, Dr. Teirstein joined Scripps in 1987 and is the founder and director of the interventional cardiology training program at Scripps Clinic.

With a primary focus on complex coronary interventions and new technology development, Dr. Teirstein has played an active role in the initial development and clinical investigation of coronary stent procedures, rotational atherectomy, coronary angioscopy, Impella cardiac support and the utilization of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). Dr. Teirstein pioneered the first effective treatment for restenosis (low dose radiation therapy) and was one of the early investigators of drug eluting and bioabsorbable stents. Recent areas of investigation include new technology for minimally invasive transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

The author of numerous publications, Dr. Teirstein has lectured throughout the world on state-of-the-art interventional cardiology techniques. He is an internationally recognized leader in cardiology and has received countless awards for both research and clinical excellence. Dr. Teirstein currently performs in 1000 coronary and structural interventional procedures per year and maintains an active clinical research and teaching unit at Scripps Clinic where he strives to offer patients the most advanced cardiovascular care available worldwide.

He is also a member of multiple professional societies including the American Heart Association, the Society of Cardiac Angiography and Interventions and is a fellow of the American College of Cardiology. In 2014 Dr. Teirstein founded the National Board of Physicians and Surgeons (NBPAS), a not-for-profit organization providing an alternative pathway for physician certification that ensures compliance with national standards and promotes lifelong learning (NBPAS.org).