Elliot Jerud, MD

I am a cardiovascular medicine physician at Lankenau Heart Institute specializing in all aspects of heart health for adults. I also have expertise in several advanced types of imaging used to evaluate, diagnose, and manage heart and vascular disease. I do not perform invasive procedures or surgery, but I work closely with my colleagues who specialize in these areas to make sure patients receive any advanced care they may need.As a broad-based cardiologist, I diagnose and treat most diseases and conditions that can affect the heart and blood vessels (arteries and veins) of the body. Much of my practice is dedicated to caring for people with or at risk for the most common forms of heart disease, which include:Coronary artery diseaseElevated blood lipid and cholesterol levelsHigh blood pressureHeart valve diseaseHeart failurePeople with heart disease often are burdened with significant symptoms or worry. My goal is to lighten the load as much as possible by working to find the treatment that best fits each patient. As much as possible, I also try to focus on preventing these conditions from developing in the first place, by helping patients identify and manage their unique risk factors for cardiovascular disease.One tool I use is an imaging test called cardiac computed tomography (CT). A coronary CT scan is a high-resolution picture of the heart and its blood supply (coronary arteries). It can help identify blockages in the coronary arteries and measure calcium in the lining of those vessels. This information can help determine a person's risk for a heart attack.I also have an interest in optimizing management of heart disease'as well as the risk of developing heart disease'in older patients. Heart disease is more common in older age, as are many other health conditions. It is important to make sure that management of other health conditions keeps in mind the health of a person's heart, and vice versa.I did not start my medical career as a cardiovascular physician. Instead, after graduating from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2007 and completing an internal medicine residency at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania in 2010, I spent 8 years in clinical practice as a hospitalist (an internal medicine physician who helps care for hospitalized patients). Seeing the impact on peoples' lives caused by heart disease, I decided to pursue a fellowship in cardiovascular medicine at Lankenau Medical Center. I completed that training in 2021.