Bruce Wilkoff, MD
Primary Location
Cleveland Clinic Main Campus
- Appointment:
- 216.444.6697
- Desk:
- 216.444.4975
- Fax:
- 216.445.6161
Treatment & Services
- Biventricular Pacemaker
- Cardiac Electrophysiology
- Cardiac Electrophysiology & Pacing Section
- Cardiovascular Medicine
- Cardiovascular Medicine Department
- Cardioversion
- Clinical Trials
- Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator
- Lead Extraction (ICD, Pacemaker)
- Lifevest
- Pacemaker Implant
Specialty in Diseases & Conditions
- Abnormal Heart Beats - Women
- Abnormal Heart Rhythms
- Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Flutter
- Bradyarrhythmias
- Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Infection
- Heart Palpitations
- Long QT Syndrome (LQTS)
- Sudden Cardiac Death (Sudden Cardiac Arrest)
- Supraventricular Tachycardia
- Syncope
- Ventricular Fibrillation
- Ventricular Tachycardia
- Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome (WPW)
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 PlansAbout Bruce Wilkoff, MD
Bruce Wilkoff, MD, is the Director of Cardiac Pacing and Tachyarrhythmia Devices and a staff cardiologist in the Robert and Suzanne Tomsich Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Section of Cardiac Pacemakers and Electrophysiology at Cleveland Clinic. He is Professor of Medicine at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University. Dr. Wilkoff is board-certified in internal medicine, cardiovascular disease and a Certified Cardiac Device Specialist. Since 1988, he has served on the examination writing committee for Special Competency in Cardiac Pacing and Defibrillation.
In addition to office visits, Dr. Wilkoff also offers scheduled follow up virtual visits to select patients, through the Cleveland Clinic Express Care ® Online app. This platform allows patients to see their physician live, using their smartphone, tablet or computer.
Specialty/Clinical interests: Abnormal Heart Rhythms, bradyarrhythmias, sudden cardiac death, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, biventricular pacemaker, lead extraction, implantable cardioverter defibrillator, pacemaker implant, cardiac implantable electronic device infection
Number of Procedures Performed: Dr. Wilkoff has performed more than 10,000 pacemaker and defibrillator procedures and more than 3,000 transvenous lead extractions throughout his career.
Success Rates: Cleveland Clinic has been ranked the #1 hospital for cardiology and heart surgery by U.S. News & World Report since 1994. Success rates for specific procedures are available at http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/about-heart-vascular-institute/treatment-outcomes.aspx
Education and Training: Dr. Wilkoff earned a Bachelor of Science degree in biomedical engineering at Northwestern University. He received his medical degree from the Ohio State University College of Medicine in Columbus. He completed his clinical training in internal medicine at Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals of Cleveland, followed by a fellowship in cardiology from University Hospitals and a fellowship in research from the Ohio State University Hospital and School of Veterinary Medicine. Dr. Wilkoff was appointed to Cleveland Clinic in 1986 as a clinical associate, in 1987 as full staff in the Robert and Suzanne Tomsich Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, and in 2005 as Professor of Medicine in the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University.
Dr. Wilkoff is recognized as an international expert in the design of new technologies to improve the performance of pacemakers and defibrillators. He is involved in numerous multi-center clinical trials to study medical applications for pacemakers and defibrillators. Dr. Wilkoff holds nine U.S. patents, including a special algorithm for defibrillator tachycardia detection and an efficient controller for pacemaker rate responsiveness.
Publications and Speaking: Dr. Wilkoff has authored or co-authored more than 375 articles published in scientific journals. He serves as a reviewer for many leading professional journals including American Heart Journal, American Journal of Cardiology, and Circulation, and he serves on many editorial boards including Circulation Arrhythmias and Electrophysiology, Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology, Heart Rhythm, and Journal of Interventional Cardiac Electrophysiology. He is associate editor of Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology.
Dr. Wilkoff is co-editor of "Clinical Cardiac Pacing, Defibrillation and Resynchronization Therapy", which is the most comprehensive and authoritative text in the field of implantable cardiac rhythm devices. The fifth edition of this book was published in 2017. Dr. Wilkoff is a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, Heart Rhythm Society and the American Heart Association. He has held leadership positions on committees and councils in each of these organizations and recently served as the President and member of the Board of Trustees and Executive Committees of the Heart Rhythm Society.
About Dr. Wilkoff: “I want patients to be confident that when they come to the Cleveland Clinic their problems can be solved.”
Leisure Activities: Using his computer, listening to music, ballroom dancing, and spending time with his wife, children and 4 grandchildren.
Education & Professional Highlights
Appointed
1986
Education & Fellowships
Fellowship - The Ohio State University Hospitals
Cardiac Electrophysiology
Columbus,
OH USA
1986
Fellowship - University Hospitals of Cleveland
Cardiology
Cleveland,
OH USA
1984
Fellowship - Case Western Reserve University
Cardiovascular Medicine
Cleveland,
OH USA
1984
Residency - University Hospitals of Cleveland
Internal Medicine
Cleveland,
OH USA
1982
Residency - Case Western Reserve
Internal Medicine
Cleveland, Ohio,
1982
Internship - Case Western Reserve
Internal Medicine
Cleveland, Ohio,
1980
Medical Education - The Ohio State University College of Medicine and Public Health
Columbus,
OH USA
1979
Fellowship - Ohio State University College of Medicine
cardiovascular electrophysiology
Columbus,
OH USA
Professional Highlights
- Editorial Board: Journal of Cardiovascular Electrophysiology; Journal of Interventional Electrophysiology. Associate Editor: Pacing and Clinical Electrophysiology (PACE)
- International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners (formerly NASPExAM), Examination Writing Committee, 1988-present
- Heart Rhythm Society - National Committees: Board of Trustees, 2004-2007; Chairman Health Policy Committee Chairman, 2006-2008.
- Co-Editor of the major Textbook on Implantable Electronic Device Therapy, currently in the 3rd Edition: Ellenbogen KA, Kay GN, Lau CP, Wilkoff BL. Clinical Cardiac Pacing, Defibrillation, and Resynchronization Therapy. 3rd ed. Philadelphia: Saunders Elsevier, 2007.
Certifications
- Internal Medicine
- Internal Medicine - Cardiovascular Disease
Specialty Interests
Abnormal Heart Rhythms, bradyarrhythmias, sudden cardiac death, supraventricular tachycardia, ventricular tachycardia, biventricular pacemaker, lead extraction, implantable cardioverter defibrillator, pacemaker implant, cardiac implantable electronic device infection Abnormal Heart Rhythms, Bradyarrhythmias, Sudden Cardiac Death, Supraventricular Tachycardia, Ventricular Tachycardia, Biventricular Pacemaker, Lead Extraction, Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator, Pacemaker Implant, Cardiac Implantable Electronic Device Infection
Awards & Honors
- 2004-Present, Cleveland Magazine "Top Doc"
- 2014America’s Top Doctors (Castle Connolly)
Innovations & Patents
- Awarded on February 3, 2004 -- Patent No. 6,687,544. System and method for determining safety alert conditions for implantable medical devices.
- Awarded on December 4, 2001 -- Patent No. 6,327,501 B1. System and method for determining safety alert conditions for implantable medical devices.
- Awarded on February 20, 2001 -- Patent No. 6,192,273. Non-programmable automated heart rhythm classifier.
- Awarded on March 16, 1999 -- Patent No. 5,882,352. Automatic Adjustment of Detection Rate Threshold in an Implantable Antitachycardia Therapy Device.
- Awarded on August 15, 1995 -- Patent No. 5,441,524. Energy Efficient Multiple Sensor Cardiac Pacemaker.
Memberships
- Fellow,American College of Cardiology
- Fellow,American Heart Association
- Fellow,Heart Rhythm Society
- HeartFailure Society of America
- Asian Pacific Heart Rhythm Society
- European Heart Rhythm Association
Research & Publications
See publications for Bruce Wilkoff, 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
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 2/22/2023, Dr. Wilkoff 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. Wilkoff 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:
- Philips
- Medtronic plc
- Cook Medical
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.
177 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 | |
|---|---|---|
| Explains | 4.8 | |
| Listens | 4.8 | |
| Courtesy, Respect & Concern | 4.9 | |
| Patient Rating of Doctor | 4.8 |
26 Patient Comments
© 2023 The Cleveland Clinic Foundation. All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be altered, reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, by any means, whether electronic, mechanical, by photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the Cleveland Clinic.
Reviewed on Apr 25, 2023
Dr.wilkoff is the best we like him very much. And the big one is I TRUST HIM.
Reviewed on Apr 4, 2023
Dr. Was very knowledgeable. Learn more about my heart condition in 20 minutes than I did the previous six years with my local cardiologist.
Reviewed on Mar 21, 2023
Dr. Wilkoff was terrific and absolutely wonderful.
Reviewed on Mar 7, 2023
Care by CCF doctor's, NP's, nurses etc is always top notch
Reviewed on Mar 7, 2023
Dr. Wilkoff was a bit curt at first but then warmed up and gave me good explanation and rationale for his recommendations
Reviewed on Feb 14, 2023
One of the two best doctors I have experienced at the Clinic.
Reviewed on Feb 14, 2023
Outstanding experiences so pleased with Dr Wilkoff's Surgical technique and success. Wonderful following in monitoring my pacemaker and following by staff nurses and technicians.
Reviewed on Feb 14, 2023
Have recommended Dr Wilkoff and Cleveland Heart Clinic to others.
Reviewed on Jan 30, 2023
I appreciate Dr. Wilkoff seeing me on a short notice. It was great help.
Reviewed on Jan 24, 2023
Only reason a poor rating was given to staff working together to care for you was due to the care I received in the post recovery unit and care afterwards on the step down unit.The care I received by my OR team and Dr. Bruce Wilkoff was excellent they put me at ease prior to my procedure.
Reviewed on Jan 10, 2023
I appreciated Dr. Wilkoff's prior preparation for my appointment, his receptiveness to my medical questions, his efficiency and expertise, and his medical recommendations going forward. I trust him completely with my cardiological care.
Reviewed on Jan 3, 2023
Great experience. Thankful we were able to have a virtual visit, rather than drive to the clinic from out if state. DR wilkoff is very thorough and addressed all our concerns.
Reviewed on Nov 15, 2022
I know Dr Wilkoff wanted to help me I also understand that with my situation any intervention was too risky
Reviewed on Nov 8, 2022
Dr Wilkoff is a great human being and down to earth excellent physician
Reviewed on Nov 1, 2022
Lew, the tech was awesome. Friendly and explained what he was doing. Dr wilkoff, was as always, awesome. He is calm, explains things in english not doctorese so I knew what he was talking about and understood his answer.
Reviewed on Oct 28, 2022
Dr. Wilkoff took the extra time to explain my condition and how the heart malfunctions during Afib. He spent over an hour with us reviewing my history and answering questions. Dr. Wilkoff then spent time reviewing all the treatment options he felt were the best for my care. He is an excellent physician and a very compassionate caregiver.
Reviewed on Sep 20, 2022
My doctor was extremely helpful and informative and listened to what my concerns were
Reviewed on Sep 2, 2022
Dr. Wilcoff is exceptional and I am grateful to be his patient.
Reviewed on Aug 15, 2022
Very impressed with patient care and Skill level of Dr. Wilkoff and his Surgical team. You should have been there. Before I was sedated, Dr. Wilkoff asked me how I was doing. My response was "let's Rock and Roll. He seemed to smile. As I was falling asleep I could hear his voice saying to the team "Here is what we are going to do. It reminded me of a symphony when then Coductor looks over his Ochestra and raises his hands. Everone is focused, instruments poised and ready. Just absolutely anazing
Reviewed on Aug 5, 2022
Dr. Wilkoff was vey reassuring in his approach. He explained my past history and how that affected my current problems.
Reviewed on Jul 22, 2022
Dr. Wilkoff is great and explains everything very well. A+ in my book
Reviewed on Jul 22, 2022
The entire experience was amazing. We flew in from Arkansas because we wanted a second opinion and my wife saw online that Cleveland Clinic was the best. Then I ended up with the best Doctor also. Our prayers were answered. The technician that did my pacemaker work up was the best I have ever had. Very professional and knowledgeable. The doctors nurse was as good as any other heart doctor I have had. Very thorough and informative. And it is obvious why Dr Willcoff is the best. I immediately decided to move all my heart exams and monitoring to him and his team at Cleveland Clinic. Coming to Cleveland Clinic was the best decision I could make. Thank you!
Reviewed on Jul 12, 2022
I have been under Dr Wilkoff's care since 2000. I believe I would not be here today if not for his knowledge and ability. He has always been courteous and insightful Explaining situation and answering any questions
Reviewed on Jun 21, 2022
It was very helpful to talk with Dr. Wilkoff to discuss my condition and options before making a permanent decision..
Reviewed on Jun 21, 2022
It's unfortunate our relatives who live out of state don't have the excellent cardiac care I am receiving from Dr. Wilkoff.
Reviewed on May 31, 2022
Dr. Wilkoff is excellent!!!!