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Department Cardiovascular Medicine
Primary Location Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Type of Doctor Adults Only
Languages English
Surgeon No
Locations
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
Primary Location

Cleveland Clinic Main Campus

Appointment:
216.444.6697
Desk:
216.444.9288
Fax:
216.445.6165

Additional Locations

Specialties & Treatments

Treatment & Services

  • Biventricular Pacemaker
  • Cardiac Amyloid Imaging
  • Cardiac Transplant
  • Cardiology
  • Cardiomyopathy Radiation
  • Cardio-Oncology Center
  • Cardioprotective Treatment In Breast Cancer
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Cardiovascular Medicine Department
  • Endomyocardial Biopsy
  • George M and Linda H Kaufman Center for Heart Failure
  • Heart Biopsy
  • Heart Failure Management
  • Heart Failure Section
  • Heart Transplant
  • Mechanical Assist Devices
  • Mechanical Circulatory Support
  • Pre-Transplant Evaluation
  • Ventricular Assist Device
View all 19 Treatment & Services +

Specialty in Diseases & Conditions

  • Amyloid Sarcoid Heart Disease
  • Amyloidosis
  • Cardiomyopathy
  • Cardiomyopathy Secondary to Chemotherapy
  • Cardiomyopathy Valvular
  • Cardiovascular Effects of Breast Cancer Treatment
  • Cardiovascular Effects of Radiation Therapy
  • Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
  • Dilated Cardiomyopathy
  • Ejection Fraction
  • Ejection Fraction - Abnormal
  • Enlarged Heart
  • Familial Amyloidosis
  • Familial Cardiomyopathy
  • Heart Failure
  • Heart Failure in Women
  • Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
  • Infiltrative Cardiomyopathy
  • Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
  • Myocarditis
  • Nonischemic Cardiomyopathy
  • Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
  • Sarcoid Heart Disease
  • Shortness of Breath
View all 24 Specialties +
Insurance

Insurance

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Biography

About Karen James, MD

Karen James, MD, is a Staff Cardiologist, and a member of the transplantation team in the Sydell and Arnold Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. She is also Director of the Heart Failure Cardio-Oncology clinic.  She is board-certified as a diplomat in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and advanced heart failure and transplant medicine. Dr. James has a special interest in cardiac transplantation, left ventricular assist devices, congestive heart failure and heart failure in patients treated for cancer.

Dr. James completed her undergraduate degree at Susquehanna University in Pennsylvania, graduating summa cum laude. She received her medical degree from Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia. She did her clinical training in internal medicine at Cleveland Clinic, then fellowships in peripheral vascular disease and cardiology. She was appointed to Cleveland Clinic in 1991.

Dr. James is Associate Professor of Medicine in the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University. She is principal investigator or co-investigator in many clinical trials focusing on heart failure therapies, transplant arteriosclerosis and heart failure physiology in LVAD patients, to name but a few of her many research efforts.

She is widely published in leading medical journals such as Circulation, American Heart Journal, American Journal of Cardiology and Transplantation on topics related to her specialty interests. She has written a number of chapters in medical textbooks, among them “Heart Disease arising from Pregnancy” and “Inflammatory Cardiomyopathy."  

She is a reviewer of abstracts for publications that include Circulation Heart Failure, Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation, Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, Journal of Cardiac Failure and Arthritis and Rheumatism. She has presented the results of her research and clinical experience at national and international conferences and symposia and published numerous abstracts on her specialty interests.

Dr. James is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC) and a member of the International Society of Heart Transplantation and of the Clinical Council of the American Heart Association.

Education & Professional Highlights

Education & Professional Highlights

Appointed
1982

Education & Fellowships

Fellowship - Cleveland Clinic
Cardiovascular Diseases
Cleveland, OH
1989

Residency - Cleveland Clinic
Internal Medicine
Cleveland, OH
1985

Medical Education - Hahnemann University Medical College
Philadelphia, PA
1982

Undergraduate - Susquehanna University
Biology
Selinsgrove, PA
1978

Certifications

  • Internal Medicine - Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology
  • Internal Medicine
  • Internal Medicine - Cardiovascular Disease

Specialty Interests

Cardiomyopathy, cardiac tumors, heart failure, heart transplantation, ventricular assist device, myocardial biopsy, cardiac catheterization

Research & Publications

Research & Publications

See publications for Karen James, MD.

(Disclaimer: This search is powered by PubMed, a service of the U.S. National Library of Medicine. PubMed is a third-party website with no affiliation with Cleveland Clinic.)

Industry Relationships

Industry Relationships

Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists may collaborate with the pharmaceutical or medical device industries to help develop medical breakthroughs or provide medical expertise or education. Cleveland Clinic strives to make scientific advances that will benefit patient care and support outside relationships that promise public benefit. In order for the discoveries of Cleveland Clinic physicians' and scientists' laboratories and investigations to benefit the public, these discoveries must be commercialized in partnership with industry. As experts in their fields, Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists are often sought after by industry to consult, provide expertise and education.

To assure professional and commercial integrity in such matters, Cleveland Clinic maintains a program that reviews these collaborations and, when appropriate, puts measures in place to minimize bias that may result from ties to industry. Cleveland Clinic publicly discloses the names of companies when (i) its physicians/scientists receive $5,000 or more per year (or, in rare cases, equity or stock options) for speaking and consulting, (ii) its physicians/scientists serve as a fiduciary, (iii) its physicians/scientists receive or have the right to receive royalties or (iv) its physicians/ scientists hold any equity interest for the physician's/scientist's role as inventor, discoverer, developer, founder or consultant.* In publicly disclosing this information, Cleveland Clinic tries to provide information as accurately as possible about its physicians' and scientists' connections with industry.

As of 4/15/2024, Dr. James has reported the financial relationships with the companies listed below. In general, patients should feel free to contact their doctor about any of the relationships and how the relationships are overseen by Cleveland Clinic. To learn more about Cleveland Clinic's policies on collaborations with industry and innovation management, go to our Integrity in Innovation page.

Public Health Service-Reportable Financial Conflicts of Interest. Cleveland Clinic scientists and physicians engage in basic, translational and clinical research activities, working to solve health problems, enhance patient care and improve quality of life for patients. Interactions with industry are essential to bringing the researchers' discoveries to the public, but can present the potential for conflicts of interest related to their research activities. Click here to view a listing of instances where Cleveland Clinic has identified a Public Health Service (PHS)-Reportable Financial Conflict of Interest and has put measures in place to ensure that, to the extent possible, the design, conduct and reporting of the research is free from bias.

* Cleveland Clinic physicians and scientists subscribe to the guidance presented in the PhRMA Code on Interactions with Healthcare Professionals and the AdvaMed Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals. As such, gifts of substantial value are generally prohibited.

Patient Satisfaction Reviews

158 Patient Satisfaction Reviews

The Patient Satisfaction Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown below from our nationally-recognized Press Ganey Patient Satisfaction Survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question.

Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

The comments are submitted by patients and reflect their views and opinions. The comments are not endorsed by and do not necessarily reflect the views of Cleveland Clinic.

Overall Star Ratings
4.8 out of 5
Explains 4.8
Listens 4.5
Courtesy, Respect & Concern 4.8
Patient Rating of Doctor 4.8

14 Patient Comments

Reviewed on Sep 6, 2024

Dr James worked diligently to ensure my Father's difficult issues were addressed.

Reviewed on Aug 29, 2024

This was just a consult but felt better after discussion with the doctor. No real care provided

Reviewed on Aug 8, 2024

Not a good Doctor

Reviewed on Aug 6, 2024

Dr. James was thorough and entirely professional. Her questions covered all of my concerns.

Reviewed on Jul 2, 2024

Dr . James was very thorough

Reviewed on Jun 3, 2024

The visit was very pleasant. Dr James is very nice and respectful

Reviewed on May 28, 2024

Dr. James was very professional and through. Answered all my questions and gave sound advice.

Reviewed on Apr 30, 2024

Dr. James is awesome!

Reviewed on Mar 19, 2024

Dr. James and staff are very professional and accommodating.

Reviewed on Mar 11, 2024

She took time to answer the questions I asked and explained it well.

Reviewed on Feb 8, 2024

Dr James saw me on very short notice and addressed my concerns about my health

Reviewed on Feb 6, 2024

Dr. James is very compassionate.

Reviewed on Jan 16, 2024

Dr. James is the best.

Reviewed on Nov 7, 2023

Dr James is very thorough

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