Dr. Emelia Benjamin is a distinguished cardiovascular epidemiologist and internationally recognized authority in atrial fibrillation research. She serves as the Robert Dawson Evans Distinguished Professor of Medicine and Professor of Epidemiology at Boston University Chobanian and Avedisian School of Medicine while also practicing as a board-certified cardiologist at Boston Medical Center. Her academic foundation includes an AB from Harvard, an MD from Case Western Reserve University, and an ScM in Epidemiology from Harvard School of Public Health, establishing a robust interdisciplinary background. Her career trajectory includes conducting research at the Framingham Heart Study since 1988, where she currently serves as a Member of the Executive Committee and Co-Director of the Medical Endpoints Committee. She also holds significant leadership positions as the Associate Provost for Faculty Development for Boston University Medical Campus and Vice Chair for Faculty Development and Diversity in the BU Department of Medicine.
Dr. Benjamin has authored over 800 peer-reviewed publications that have garnered more than 330,000 citations, establishing her as one of the most cited investigators in clinical cardiology with an h-index of 200. Her research primarily focuses on the genetics, epidemiology, and prognosis of cardiovascular conditions including atrial fibrillation, vascular function, and systemic inflammation. As an internationally recognized expert on the epidemiology of atrial fibrillation, she co-chaired the NIH NHLBI Atrial Fibrillation Working Group, which shaped the national research agenda and resulted in six influential publications. Her sustained NIH funding since 1998 includes multiple R01 grants with her current work spanning atrial fibrillation, mobile health, inflammation, and chronic pain research, demonstrating remarkable breadth and longevity in scientific contributions.
Beyond her research achievements, Dr. Benjamin has profoundly impacted academic medicine through her leadership in faculty development, having founded and co-led seven longitudinal faculty development programs at Boston University Medical Campus serving early-career, mid-career, underrepresented minority, women, and clinical leader faculty. Her dedication to mentorship earned her the American Heart Association's 2022 Distinguished Scientist Award and the upcoming 2025 Eugene Braunwald Academic Mentorship Award, recognizing her formal mentorship of more than 60 faculty members and trainees who have secured independent research funding. As Training Director for the Boston University American Heart Association Strategically Focused Research Network on Cardio-Oncology, she continues to shape the next generation of cardiovascular researchers. Dr. Benjamin's ongoing work in cardio-oncology, atrial fibrillation genetics, and faculty development ensures her continued influence in both cardiovascular science and academic medicine for years to come.
