Christopher R. Ellis, MD, FACC, FHRS completed medical school at University of Rochester, NY in 2000. He completed Medicine-Pediatrics residency and Cardiovascular Medicine Fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in 2008. Dr. Ellis then worked under Dr. Fred Morady at University of Michigan completing Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology Fellowship before re-joining Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute in July 2009. He is currently Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of the LAA Closure Program.

While maintaining full time Clinician Educator appointment and growing a large tertiary referral network in the Southeastern United States, Dr. Ellis began focused academic work in cardiac rhythm devices (CRM) with attention to transvenous lead management including laser lead extraction techniques, prevention of CIED (pacemaker or defibrillator) infections, ICD lead failure mechanisms and transcatheter pacing. His contributions to science in these disciplines include identification of Riata ICD failure mechanisms leading to class I FDA recall, novel approaches to high risk laser lead extraction cases using a hybrid approach, reduction in CRM or CIED device infections through the use of anti-microbial envelopes (forming the basis for the WRAP-IT study), and contribution to advancement of MICRA transcatheter pacing. Additionally, his recently completed randomized prospective evaluation of Ultra-conservative ICD programming has been incorporated into the AHA Scientific Statement on the management of arrhythmias in the LVAD population.

His academic focus within Atrial Fibrillation (AF) has turned to the role of the Left Atrial Appendage (LAA) in AF related stroke, and treatment options to reduce dependence on oral anti-coagulation for stroke risk reduction. With a broad experience performing over > 700 LAAC cases, Dr. Ellis has helped advance LAA therapy as the top implanter for the Amulet IDE trial, executive committee guidance and top enroller for LARIAT and the AMAZE trial, and as principle investigator for numerous physician initiated prospective clinical trials (see below). He published the first series of Watchman LAAC following incomplete surgical LAA ligation in 2018, and the first independent evaluation of the angiographic efficacy of the Atriclip system placed by thoracoscopic approach setting the basis for the prospective Atriclip stroke trial. The recently published Sub-X Maze series combining LARIAT LAA ligation with LAPWI by epicardial pericardial window ablation was recently published in JACC EP setting the stage for a formal pivotal RCT versus catheter ablation alone.