Dr. Saibal Kar is a distinguished interventional cardiologist renowned for his expertise in structural heart disease interventions and cardiovascular device innovation. He currently serves as Director of Structural Heart Disease Interventions and Clinical Research at Los Robles Health System while maintaining an affiliation with Bakersfield Heart Hospital. Dr. Kar holds the position of Clinical Professor of Medicine at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, where he contributes significantly to medical education and training. His academic journey began at Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College in Kolkata, India, followed by comprehensive training that included residency and cardiology fellowship at the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh, India, and specialized interventional cardiology training at Epworth Hospital in Melbourne, Australia. After further refining his expertise through additional residency and fellowship training at Cedars-Sinai in the United States, Dr. Kar has established himself as a leading figure in cardiovascular medicine with over two decades of clinical practice.
Dr. Kar's pioneering research has significantly advanced the field of structural heart interventions, particularly in coronary restenosis management and device development for complex cardiac conditions. His work in transcatheter mitral valve repair has positioned him as an internationally recognized expert in this specialized area, with numerous clinical trials bearing his leadership as principal investigator. Dr. Kar has played a crucial role in developing novel drug-eluting stents that are now routinely used in clinical practice, improving outcomes for countless patients with coronary artery disease. His extensive research portfolio includes over 150 peer-reviewed publications and textbook contributions that have shaped contemporary approaches to structural heart disease. Dr. Kar's leadership in pivotal clinical trials for left atrial appendage occlusion devices has been instrumental in establishing new standards for stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation patients, demonstrating his ability to translate research into meaningful clinical applications that benefit patient care worldwide.
Beyond his clinical and research accomplishments, Dr. Kar has profoundly influenced the global cardiovascular community through his role as a dedicated educator and mentor to cardiologists worldwide. He has delivered over 200 lectures at international conferences and has trained numerous physicians in advanced structural heart interventions, including transcatheter mitral valve repair and left atrial appendage occlusion techniques. As a principal investigator for innovative clinical trials, Dr. Kar continues to push the boundaries of cardiovascular medicine, currently investigating novel approaches to prevent cardioembolic stroke through device-based therapies. His ongoing work at Los Robles Regional Medical Center, where he helped establish the structural heart program in 2019, demonstrates his commitment to advancing cardiac care through both clinical excellence and research innovation. Dr. Kar's vision for the future of interventional cardiology centers on further developing minimally invasive techniques that improve patient outcomes while reducing procedure-related risks, ensuring his continued impact on the evolution of cardiovascular medicine for years to come.
