Emergency icon Important Updates
Close
Important Updates

Coming to a Cleveland Clinic location?

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

Cleveland Clinic Main Campus

Appointment:
216.444.6697
Desk:
216.445.5250
Fax:
216.445.6155
Specialties & Treatments

Treatment & Services

  • Cardio-Oncology Center
  • Cardiovascular Disease Risk Prevention
  • Cardiovascular Imaging
  • Cardiovascular Imaging Section
  • Cardiovascular Medicine
  • Cardiovascular Medicine Department
  • General Cardiology
  • Heart Imaging
  • Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center
  • Noninvasive Diagnostic Testing
  • Pericardial Diseases Center
  • Stress Testing
View all 12 Treatment & Services +

Specialty in Diseases & Conditions

  • Amyloidosis
  • Aneurysms
  • Angina
  • Aorta Disease
  • Aortic Aneurysms
  • Aortic Occlusion (Blockage)
  • Aortic Regurgitation
  • Aortic Stenosis
  • Atherosclerosis
  • Atrial Septal Defects
  • Cardiovascular Disease
  • Congenital Valve Disease
  • Coronary Artery Disease
  • Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome
  • Endocarditis
  • Heart Attack
  • Heart Disease
  • Heart Murmur
  • Heart Related Illnesses
  • Heart Valve Disease
  • Heart Valve Infections
  • High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)
  • High Cholesterol
  • Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
  • Ischemic Cardiomyopathy
  • Marfan Syndrome
  • Mitral Valve Prolapse
  • Mitral Valve Regurgitation
  • Mitral Valve Stenosis
  • Myxomas
  • Pericardial Cyst
  • Pericardial Disease
  • Pericardial Effusion
  • Pericarditis
  • Pulmonary Valve Disease
  • Pulmonary Valve Stenosis
  • Radiation Heart Disease
  • Restrictive Cardiomyopathy
  • Rheumatic Heart Disease
  • Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
  • Tricuspid Valve Disease
View all 41 Specialties +
Insurance

Insurance

Is Cleveland Clinic Part of Your Insurance?

Review a list of accepted insurance plans for our Northeast Ohio locations or learn more about purchasing a contracted managed care plan.

View All Plans
Biography

About Milind Desai, MD, MBA

Milind Desai, MD MBA, is the Vice-Chair of Education and CME at the Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute at Cleveland Clinic and Director of Clinical Operations of the Tomsich Department of Cardiovascular Medicine. He has a joint appointment in the Diagnostic (Imaging) Institute and is the co-director of Cardiovascular Imaging Laboratories (Cardiac CT and MRI). He is a Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine and holds the Haslam Family Endowed Chair in Cardiovascular Medicine. His is also a Visiting Honorary Professor at University of Oxford, United Kingdom.

Dr. Desai is the Director of Center for Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, the Medical Director of the Center for Aortic Diseases, and an integral part of the Center for Valvular Heart Disease. He is an expert in multimodality cardiovascular imaging, having achieved the highest level of proficiency in all imaging modalities, including cardiac MRI, cardiac CT, echocardiography and nuclear cardiology. In addition, he serves on the multiple Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute councils, including Executive Council and Research Councils. In addition, he serves on the Cleveland Clinic Research Compliance Committee and is very active with the Philanthropy Institute.

Specialty/Clinical interests: heart valve disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, aortic disorders, complex coronary artery disease, pericardial disease, radiation heart disease. Dr. Desai has special interest in multimodality cardiovascular imaging, including echocardiogram, computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Number of Procedures Performed: In addition to seeing patients, each year, Dr. Desai reads approximately 2,000 echocardiograms, 1,000 cardiac CTs, and 300 cardiac MRIs.

Education and Training: A native of India, Dr. Desai received his medical degree from NHL Medical College, Ahmedabad, India. Throughout his academic training, Dr. Desai was honored for his academic excellence. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Southern Illinois University School of Medicine, Springfield. He continued his clinical training with a fellowship in nuclear cardiology from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, a fellowship in general cardiology at Allegheny General Hospital in Pittsburgh, PA, a fellowship in general cardiology and cardiovascular imaging at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, and a fellowship in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, MD. In 2020, he also completed a Physician Executive MBA at University of Tennessee.

Dr. Desai previously served as a Staff Nuclear Cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital with an academic appointment as a Clinical Instructor at Harvard Medical School, Cambridge, MA, and a Visiting Assistant Professor at Johns Hopkins University.

Research, Publications and Speaking: Dr. Desai’s research interests include leading multiple randomized controlled trials and testing novel gene therapy in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), large outcomes studies in valvular heart disease, HCM, radiation heart disease, coronary artery disease and aortic disorders. He is also an active researcher in noninvasive imaging using advanced echocardiography, CT and MRI; stress testing in patients with valvular heart disease; outcomes assessment using multimodality imaging in various cardiomyopathies. He is now active in leveraging the use of artificial intelligence and imaging in predicting outcomes in various cardiac diseases.

Dr. Desai has authored or co-authored numerous articles and book chapters on his specialty interests in publications such as Journal of American Medical Association, Lancet, Circulation, Journal of the American College of Cardiology (JACC), European Heart Journal, Heart, JACC Imaging, Circulation Imaging, and JAMA Cardiology.

He serves as a reviewer for multiple journals, including Nature Medicine; New England Journal of Medicine, Lancet, Circulation; Journal of the American College of Cardiology; European Heart Journal, JACC Imaging; Circulation Imaging; Heart, American Journal of Cardiology; American Heart Journal; and Journal of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography. Dr. Desai has served as a guest editor for Circulation, JACC, Journal of American Society of Echocardiography and is on the editorial board of JACC Imaging, Circulation Imaging and European Heart Journal CV Imaging.

Dr. Desai is the past president of the Certification Board of Cardiac CT and is on the board of directors for Intersocietal Accreditation Council. He also serves on multiple committees for ACC, ASE, AHA, HCMS and SCCT. Dr. Desai has helped write the international guidelines for transcatheter aortic valve replacement, multimodality imaging in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, ARVC, appropriateness criteria for cardiac CT, pacemaker/ICD. He has lectured nationally and internationally on various topics related to his specialty interests.

About Dr. Desai: “I enjoy cardiovascular medicine, as I find it the most interesting and challenging in all of medicine. It is also the most gratifying to see a very complex patient, who has been turned down by other centers, who comes to me for an opinion. We fix them, and they feel like a million bucks in follow-up. For someone like me who has come from a modest background, not only is this gratifying, but incredibly humbling.”

Leisure time activities: Spending time and travelling with family, exercising, and watching sports. “I spend a lot of time focusing on the Cleveland Browns”.

Education & Professional Highlights

Education & Professional Highlights

Appointed
2005

Education & Fellowships

Graduate School - University of Tennessee Haslam College of Business
Enrollment only
Knoxville, TN
2020

Fellowship - Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
Cardiovascular Disease
Baltimore, MD
2004

Fellowship - Allegheny General Hospital-Suburban Campus
Cardiovascular Disease
Pittsburgh, PA
2003

Fellowship - Brigham & Women's Hospital
Nuclear Cardiology
Boston, MA
2001

Residency - Southern Illinois University School of Medicine
Internal Medicine
Springfield, IL
1997

Medical Education - N.H.L. Municipal Medical College, Gujarat University
MD
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
1994

Additional Training


Professional Highlights


Certifications

  • Cardiovascular Computed Tomography
  • Internal Medicine - Cardiovascular Disease

Specialty Interests

Heart valve disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, aortic disorders, complex coronary artery disease, pericardial disease, pericarditis, radiation heart disease. Dr. Desai has special interest in multimodality cardiovascular imaging, including echocardiogram, computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

Awards & Honors

  • FACC

Innovations & Patents


Memberships

  • American College of Cardiology (ACC)
  • American Heart Association (AHA)
  • Society of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance
  • Society of Cardiac Computed Tomography
  • American Society of Echocardiography
  • American Society of Nuclear Cardiology
  • European Society of Cardiology (ESC).

    Dr. Desai has been nominated as a fellow by the ACC, AHA and ESC

Research & Publications

Research & Publications

See publications for Milind Desai, MD, MBA.

(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 9/18/2024, Dr. Desai 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.

Consulting and/or Speaking. Dr. Desai receives fees of $5,000 or more per year (or, in rare cases, equity or stock options) as a paid consultant, speaker or as a member of an advisory committee for the following companies:

  • Bristol-Myers Squibb
  • Tenaya Therapeutics, Inc.
  • LianBio

Donation of Financial Interest. Dr. Desai has consulted for, received compensation for serving as a fiduciary from, or received royalties from the following companies but instructed them to donate all compensation to not-for-profit causes or to the Cleveland Clinic to support research and education:

  • Caristo Diagnostics
  • Cytokinetics, Inc.

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

218 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 4.2
Courtesy, Respect & Concern 4.9
Patient Rating of Doctor 4.9

48 Patient Comments

Reviewed on Sep 18, 2024

Dr Desai was forthright and funny, as well as being an expert cardiologist

Reviewed on Sep 16, 2024

Dr. Desai, as always, is very thorough and detailed in his medical evaluation and assessment.

Reviewed on Sep 16, 2024

Dr. Desai as always, was very thorough and detailed in his medical assessment. Dr. Desai offered guidance and advice as well as encouragement.

Reviewed on Sep 9, 2024

High marks all around to Dr. Desai and his team for my experience at the Cleveland Clinic.

Reviewed on Aug 19, 2024

The Cleveland Clinic staff is professional, courteous and friendly. The appointments are prompt. Dr. Desai is a exceptional individual and MD.

Reviewed on Aug 19, 2024

I'm very thankful for Dr. Desai, staff and Cleveland Clinic

Reviewed on Aug 15, 2024

Doctor was very efficient and extremely nice, we had a great experience and would recommend Cleveland Clinic to others.

Reviewed on Aug 12, 2024

Doctor is excellent.

Reviewed on Aug 12, 2024

I felt very confident with this doctor.

Reviewed on Jul 26, 2024

Dr Desai and CC are the best

Reviewed on Jul 10, 2024

Dr. Desai did an excellent job. He Is very knowledgeable.

Reviewed on Jul 8, 2024

Dr. Desai has taken excellent care of me and my husband!

Reviewed on Jul 8, 2024

Dr. Desai was very through, friendly and concerned for my immediate and long term health

Reviewed on Jun 24, 2024

Dr Desai has always kept us informed about the here and now as well as what may be coming in near future.He listens to your concerns.Never feel rushed.

Reviewed on Jun 20, 2024

Dr. Desai exemplified integrity, intelligence, humility, honesty and commitment to service. I am 64 and this has been by far the best experience of my life with a health professional.

Reviewed on Jun 10, 2024

I am overwhelming grateful that one of the best doctors in the world regarding my condition is so earnest and caring. I am beyond thankful.

Reviewed on Jun 3, 2024

Great experience. Doctor was friendly and communicated well. All appointments were ready for me earlier than scheduled.

Reviewed on May 20, 2024

I trust Dr. Desai to help me manage my condition, he is an enormous asset to the Cleveland Clinic and the broader global heath-care community.

Reviewed on Apr 29, 2024

Dr. Desai explains things/options very well.

Reviewed on Apr 29, 2024

Again, the staff works together so I can see my doctors and get the scheduled tests done all in one day.

Reviewed on Apr 15, 2024

Appreciated working with Dr. Desai in preparing for surgery. His PA was always very responsive and Dr. Desai explained options in a way I could appreciate. Dr. Desai and Dr. Roseli make a great Team.

Reviewed on Apr 15, 2024

Dr Desai is an excellent cardiologist. Top notch HoCM specialist

Reviewed on Apr 15, 2024

Dr. Desai is the BEST! His professionalism and dose of kindness says it all. So thankful he's my cardiologist in Cleveland.

Reviewed on Apr 15, 2024

I am extremely grateful to have Dr. Desai for a doctor. He manages my complex condition. I feel that he truly cares for me as a person.

Reviewed on Apr 1, 2024

Dr DeSai is the most excellent doctor I have met in all of my 69 years. He spent quality time with myself and my son explaining my upcoming surgery process to me.

Reviewed on Apr 1, 2024

The women who do the scheduling for Dr. Desai are absolutely wonderful and very knowledgeable, helpful and courteous.

Reviewed on Apr 1, 2024

Dr. Desai's expertise and honesty are some of the reasons I travel9 hours for a yearly assessment.

Reviewed on Mar 18, 2024

Dr Desai is outstanding- been with him for over five years

Reviewed on Mar 11, 2024

Dr. Desai is excellent!

Reviewed on Mar 11, 2024

Dr. Desai is the quintessential physician! He takes the necessary time to interact and discusses problems and recommendations for treatment. He's the best!

Reviewed on Feb 26, 2024

Dr. Desai is fantastic.

Reviewed on Feb 16, 2024

I literally love Dr. Desai. I cannot imagine having another provider. My mom also participates in a clinical trial for Dr. Desai

Reviewed on Feb 15, 2024

Excellent clinic responsiveness and understanding with timing. I travel from out of state and they make it easy. Erica In Dr Desai office is great

Reviewed on Jan 18, 2024

Dr Desai and his staff were awesome, they accomidated me with total professionalism every step from the first call to the appointment.

Reviewed on Jan 18, 2024

I was amazed of how thorough the questions were. They made it seem like they knew me for a long time. I highly recommend Dr Desai and his staff.

Reviewed on Jan 18, 2024

As big as the cleveland clinic is, they made my experience from start to finish very accommodating. Highly recommend Dr. Desai

Reviewed on Dec 20, 2023

Dr Desai was knowledgeable and able to answer any questions we had we feel very comfortable and confident with his treatment plan and care

Reviewed on Dec 8, 2023

It is obvious Dr. Desai puts the patient first over any treatment.

Reviewed on Dec 4, 2023

Dr. Desai is the best. He clearly has top-notch experience and skills and spent quality time with me to set up a comprehensive and reasonable plan for approaching my 4 cm thoracic aortic aneurysm. He treated my aneurysm as an important case to be approached and me as a unique person to be respected. I am so appreciative.

Reviewed on Dec 4, 2023

Dr. S IS REMARKABLY CALM AND CONFIDENT.

Reviewed on Dec 4, 2023

Dr. Desai is amazing!

Reviewed on Dec 4, 2023

Dr Desai is very knowledgeable and shows great concern for his patients. I totally trust his judgment

Reviewed on Nov 29, 2023

Dr. Desai was very direct and clear in our discussions. He is very professional with integrity. I had a lot to absorb during the visit so I had several follow up questions after I had a chance to review test reports on line. Those questions were answered thoroughly and promptly after the visit. I also like the fact the he consulted with other colleges in some aspects of my situation. This was reassuring that what he was telling me was accurate.

Reviewed on Nov 27, 2023

Dr Desai is a superb human being and an even better Physician . He is a role model and I hope his students , residents, fellows learn from him . He is just not only very knowledgable , but he is pleasant, human , caring , compassionate . I like him very much as a human and as a Physician.

Reviewed on Nov 20, 2023

I feel very well cared for by Dr Desai. He shows great concern, like an old friend. Plus you feel like you are in the best hands with him at the helm of your treatment.

Reviewed on Nov 20, 2023

Dr Desai is the best

Reviewed on Nov 6, 2023

The very best. Involved my husband (an MD) in discussion of treatment. Dr Desai took the time to make sure we understood the treatment best for my diagnosis

Reviewed on Oct 30, 2023

World class physician - one of the best in the country for my condition.

Back to Top