Emily J. Tsai, MD

Overview
Emily J. Tsai, MD, FACC, FAHA, is a Florence Irving Associate Professor of Medicine in the Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology. She is an attending physician in the Center for Advanced Cardiac Care at New York-Presbyterian Hospital at the Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Board-certified in Cardiovascular Medicine and Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology, Dr. Tsai specializes in caring for heart failure patients who require, or have received, a ventricular assist device or heart transplant.
Dr. Tsai is a magna cum laude graduate in engineering sciences of Harvard College. She received her MD cum laude from Harvard Medical School in the Harvard-MIT Division of Health Sciences and Technology. She completed internal medicine residency training at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and cardiology fellowship at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. While at Hopkins, Dr. Tsai focused her clinical training in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology. Supported by a Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award, Dr. Tsai also completed post-doctoral basic cardiovascular research training at Johns Hopkins University in the laboratory of David A. Kass, MD, FAHA. After her post-doctoral fellowship, Dr. Tsai was recruited to Temple University School of Medicine as an assistant professor of medicine and physiology and a principal investigator in its Cardiovascular Research Center. In 2015, Dr. Tsai joined the faculty of Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons and established her laboratory in integrative cardiac pathophysiology.
Areas of Expertise / Conditions Treated
- Cardiology
- Cardiomyopathy
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Heart Failure
- Heart Transplant Management
- Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVAD)
- Mechanical Circulatory Support
- Pulmonary Hypertension
Academic Appointments
- Florence Irving Associate Professor of Medicine
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Languages
- Mandarin
Gender
- Female
Schedule an Appointment
Connect Patient Portal
For existing patients, login to make an appointment, view documentation or contact your care provider.
Location(s)
Insurance Accepted
Aetna
- Aetna Signature Administrators
- EPO
- HMO
- Medicare Managed Care
- NYP Employee Plan
- NY Signature
- POS
- PPO
- Student Health
Affinity Health Plan
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
AgeWell
- Medicare Managed Care
- Special Needs
Amida Care
- Special Needs
Capital District Physician Health Plan
- Capital District Physician Health Plan
Cigna
- EPO
- Great West (National)
- HMO
- POS
- PPO
Emblem/GHI
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Empire Blue Cross/Blue Shield
- EPO
- Medicare Managed Care
- PPO
Fidelis Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Health First
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Leaf (Exchange)
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Health Insurance Plan of NY (HIP)
- ConnectiCare
- EPO
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
- Select Care (Exchange)
- Vytra
Health Plus - Amerigroup
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- Medicaid Managed Care
Local 1199
- Local 1199
MagnaCare (National)
- MagnaCare
Medicare
- Traditional Medicare
Multiplan
- Multiplan
MVP Health Care
- Child/Family Health Plus
- Essential Plan
- HMO
- Medicaid Managed Care
Oxford Health Plans
- Freedom
- Liberty
United Health Care
- Columbia Employee POS
- Compass (Exchange)
- HMO
- Medicaid (Community Plan)
- Medicare Managed Care
- POS
- PPO
VNSNY CHOICE SelectHealth
- Medicare Managed Care
- Select Health
- Special Needs
WellCare
- Medicaid Managed Care
- Medicare Managed Care
Credentials & Experience
Education & Training
- MD, 2002 Harvard Medical School
- Internship: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- Residency: Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
- Fellowship: Johns Hopkins Hospital
Board Certifications
- Cardiovascular Disease
- Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology
- Internal Medicine
Honors & Awards
1992 Robert C. Byrd Scholarship
1992 Presidential Scholar Finalist
1996 Thomas T. Hoopes Prize, Harvard College
1996 Magna Cum Laude, Harvard College
1999 Inductee, The Aesculapian Club, Harvard Medical School
1999 Howard Hughes Medical Institute-National Institutes of Health Research Scholar
2000 Howard Hughes Medical Institute-National Institutes of Health Advanced Scholar
2001 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Continued Fellowship for Medical Studies
2001 Wellsford & Mildred Clark Medical Memorial Scholarship
2002 Cum Laude, Harvard Medical School
2007 Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award
2008 Finalist, Northwestern Cardiovascular Young Investigators’ Forum
2010 Faculty Development Research Award, Department of Medicine, Temple University
2012 Jay N. Cohn New Investigator Award in Basic Science, Heart Failure Society of America
2015 Provost's Grant for Junior Faculty Who Contribute to the Diversity Goals of the University, Columbia University
2016 M. Irene Ferrer Scholar Award, Columbia University College of P&S Department of Medicine and The Foundation for Gender-Specific Medicine
2017 Presidential Career Development Award, American College of Cardiology
2018 Lewis Katz Cardiovascular Research Prize
Research
Dr. Tsai is a physician-scientist who focuses on the molecular mechanisms of heart failure, specifically the dysregulation of nitric oxide signaling within heart cells and the pathobiology of right ventricular dysfunction. She gained early scientific training in diverse fields ranging from neurophysiology to virology and immunology and subsequently pursued post-graduate scientific training in molecular cardiology. Accordingly, Dr. Tsai uses multidisciplinary and integrative approaches to investigating the molecular pathophysiology of heart failure. A translational investigator, Dr. Tsai also analyzes biological samples of heart failure patients to direct mechanistic studies in in vivo animal models as well as in vitro cell culture systems. The ultimate goal of the Tsai laboratory is to discover novel approaches for the treatment of chronic heart failure, in particular medically treated chronic heart failure (Stage C) and with an emphasis on preventing and reversing right ventricular failure. The Tsai lab is also interested in gender differences in the molecular signaling of heart failure.
Dr. Tsai has received national recognition for her research accomplishments. Her research awards include the 2017 American College of Cardiology Presidential Career Development Award, the 2017 Lewis Katz Cardiovascular Research Prize, the inaugural 2016 M. Irene Ferrer Scholar Award, the 2015 Columbia University Provost's Grant for Junior Faculty Who Contribute to the Diversity Goals of the University, and the 2012 Jay N. Cohn New Investigator Award in Basic Science from the Heart Failure Society of America. Dr. Tsai has received numerous research grants including an NHLBI R01, an NHLBI K08 Career Development Award, an NHLBI R03, and the AHA National Scientist Development Grant.
Dr. Tsai reviews grants for the American Heart Association and is an author of the 2013 ACCF/AHA Guideline for the Management of Heart Failure.
For a complete list of publications, please visit PubMed.gov