Shaden Z. Khalaf, M.D., FACC, FASNC
Department of Cardiology, Division of Internal Medicine
About Dr. Shaden Z. Khalaf
Shaden Khalaf, MD, assistant professor, specializes in cardiovascular echocardiography, cardiac computed tomography and cardiac magnetic resonance.
Her research focus and expertise is in noninvasive imaging to detect early atherosclerosis and cardiac pathologies in oncology patients.
Dr. Khalaf received her medical degree from Wright State University, Boonshoft School of Medicine. She completed her residency in Internal Medicine at Cleveland Clinic. She then completed her clinical fellowship in Cardiovascular Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine, Houston and went on to complete her Cardiovascular Imaging Fellowship at Houston Methodist Hospital.
Present Title & Affiliation
Primary Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiology, Division of Internal Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Assistant Professor, Department of Thoracic Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Dual/Joint/Adjunct Appointment
Assistant Professor, Department of Cardiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Assistant Professor, Department of Thoracic Radiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
Education & Training
Degree-Granting Education
| 2012 | Wright State University, Dayton, Ohio, US, MD |
| 2008 | Earlham College, Richmond, Indiana, US, BA in Biochemistry |
Postgraduate Training
| 2018-2020 | Clinical Fellowship, Cardiovascular Imaging, Houston Methodist, Houston, Texas |
| 2015-2018 | Clinical Fellowship, Cardiovascular Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas |
| 2012-2015 | Clinical Residency, Internal Medicine Residency, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio |
Board Certifications
| 2022 | Board of Cardiovascular Computed Tomography |
| 2019 | Board of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance |
| 2018 | Board of Nuclear Cardiology |
| 2018 | ABIM Cardiovascular Medicine Board |
| 2017 | National Board of Echocardiography |
| 2015 | American Board of Internal Medicine |
Experience & Service
Academic Appointments
Assistant Professor, Department of Multimodality CV Imaging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 2020 - 2021
Administrative Appointments/Responsibilities
ACC Leadership Program, ACC - American College of Cardiology, Washington, DC, 2024 - Present
Chair, Planning Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2024 - Present
Co-Chair, Planning Committee, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2022 - Present
Cardiac MRI/Cardiac CT Lead, Department of Cardiology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, 2021 - Present
Institutional Committee Activities
Member, ACC Cardio-Oncology Work Group, 2025 - Present
Representative, Department of Cardiology, Medical Record Review Committee, 2024 - Present
Co-Lead, Engagement Circle Program, 2023 - Present
Member, Junior Faculty Committee, 2023 - Present
Member, Cardiology Grand Rounds, 2022 - 2022
Honors & Awards
| 2025 - 2026 | 2025 Division of Internal Medicine “Stellar” Excellence, MD Anderson Cancer Center |
| 2025 | A leading Women in Medicine 2025 Houston Tx, The Arts of Healing |
| 2023 | American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) Graduate of the Leadership Development Program |
| 2020 - 2022 | American Society of Nuclear Cardiology (ASNC) Leadership Development Program |
| 2019 | Society of Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Regional Travel Award |
| 2016 | Baylor College of Medicine Representative, Heart Failure University |
Professional Memberships
Selected Publications
Peer-Reviewed Articles
- Ali, A, Lu, Y, Khalaf, SZ, Iliescu, C, Koutroumpakis, E, Yusuf, SW, Siddiqui, BA, Subudhi, SK, Deswal, A, Palaskas, NL. Use of positron emission tomography for the diagnosis of immune-checkpoint inhibitor| myocarditis. Journal of Nuclear Cardiology 39, 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 39053574.
- Ali, A, Caldwell, R, Pina, G, Beinart, N, Jensen, G, Yusuf, SW, Koutroumpakis, E, Hamzeh, IR, Khalaf, SZ, Iliescu, C, Deswal, A, Palaskas, NL. Elevated IL-6 and Tumor Necrosis Factor-α in Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Myocarditis. Diseases 12(5), 2024. e-Pub 2024. PMID: 38785743.
- Park JK, Monlezun D, Kim JW, Going J, Khalaf S, Honan K, Ali A, Liu V, Barout A, Boone D, Safavi-Naeini P, Koutroumpakis E, Cilingiroglu M, Marmagkiolis K, Iliescu C, Karimzad K, Madjid M. Seasonal variations of arrhythmias and their impact on mortality in cancer patients with health disparities: A propensity score adjusted machine learning analysis of over 100 million hospitalizations across 3 years. Romanian Journal of Cardiology 34 (2024)(1 (March 2024)):16-23, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Potter AS, Patel A, Khawaja M, Chen C, Zheng H, Kaczmarek J, Gao F, Karimzad K, Song J, Koutroumpakis E, Khalaf S, Iliescu C, Deswal A, Palaskas NL. Outcomes by Class of Anticoagulant Use for Nonvalvular Atrial Fibrillation in Patients With Active Cancer. JACC CardioOncol 4(3):341-350, 2022. e-Pub 2022. PMID: 36213361.
- Khalaf S, Khan N, Al-Mallah M, Kassi M, Shah D. A positive PYP scan: Thinking beyond amyloid. J Nucl Cardiol 28(4):1796-1797, 2021. e-Pub 2021. PMID: 32385833.
- Zhan Y, Debs D, Khan MA, Nguyen DT, Graviss EA, Khalaf S, Little SH, Reardon MJ, Nagueh S, Quiñones MA, Kleiman N, Zoghbi WA, Shah DJ. Natural History of Functional Tricuspid Regurgitation Quantified by Cardiovascular Magnetic Resonance. J Am Coll Cardiol 76(11):1291-1301, 2020. e-Pub 2020. PMID: 32912443.
- Isma'eel HA, Cremer PC, Khalaf S, Almedawar MM, Elhajj IH, Sakr GE, Jaber WA. Artificial neural network modeling enhances risk stratification and can reduce downstream testing for patients with suspected acute coronary syndromes, negative cardiac biomarkers, and normal ECGs. Int J Cardiovasc Imaging 32(4):687-96, 2016. e-Pub 2016. PMID: 26626458.
- Coleman CM, Khalaf S, Mould S, Wazni O, Kanj M, Saliba W, Cantillon D. Novel Oral Anticoagulants for DC Cardioversion Procedures: Utilization and Clinical Outcomes Compared with Warfarin. Pacing Clin Electrophysiol 38(6):731-7, 2015. e-Pub 2015. PMID: 25721150.
- Cremer PC, Khalaf S, Agarwal S, Mayer-Sabik E, Ellis SG, Menon V, Cerqueira MD, Jaber WA. Myocardial perfusion imaging in emergency department patients with negative cardiac biomarkers: yield for detecting ischemia, short-term events, and impact of downstream revascularization on mortality. Circ Cardiovasc Imaging 7(6):912-9, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 25273569.
- Cremer PC, Khalaf S, Lou J, Rodriguez L, Cerqueira MD, Jaber WA. Stress positron emission tomography is safe and can guide coronary revascularization in high-risk patients being considered for transcatheter aortic valve replacement. J Nucl Cardiol 21(5):1001-10, 2014. e-Pub 2014. PMID: 24942611.
- Ekeh AP, Khalaf S, Ilyas S, Kauffman S, Walusimbi M, McCarthy MC. Complications arising from splenic artery embolization: a review of an 11-year experience. Am J Surg 205(3):250-4; discussion 254, 2013. e-Pub 2013. PMID: 23375704.
- Elder BL, Bullock JD, Warwar RE, Khamis HJ, Khalaf SZ. Pan-antimicrobial failure of alexidine as a contact lens disinfectant when heated in Bausch & Lomb plastic containers: implications for the worldwide Fusarium keratitis epidemic of 2004 to 2006. Eye Contact Lens 38(4):222-6, 2012. e-Pub 2012. PMID: 22495680.
Manuals, Teaching Aids, Other Teaching Publications
- Khalaf, SK, Levine, G, Bozkurt, B. Dilated Cardiomyopathy. Cardiology Secretes, 2018.
Other Articles
- Ostos-Mendoza, KC, Saraiba-Rabanales, V, Gutierrez-Gallegos, P, Wang, E, Koutroumpakis, E, Kumar, S, Khalaf, SZ, Ali, HR, Deswal, A, Palaskas, NL Immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis. Journal of Cardiovascular Aging 5(1), 2025.
- Ali, A, Jewani, P, Bourdillon, M, Koutroumpakis, E, Khalaf, SZ, Charitakis, K, Thompson, KA, Marmagkiolis, K, Deswal, A, Iliescu, C Navigating P2Y12 inhibition in the labyrinth of cardio-oncology care. Frontiers in Cardiovascular Medicine 11, 2024. PMID: 38486704.
- Khalaf S, Al-Mallah MH Fluorodeoxyglucose Applications in Cardiac PET: Viability, Inflammation, Infection, and Beyond. Methodist Debakey Cardiovasc J 16(2):122-129, 2020. PMID: 32670472.
- Khalaf S, Hussain M, Awar M, Preti HA, Schwartz MR, Valderrabano M, Nabi F, Shah D Unconventional Path to Healing: Diagnostic Value of CMR in a Patient With Incessant VT. JACC Case Rep 1(4):638-642, 2019. PMID: 34316896.
- Khalaf S, Chamsi-Pasha M, Al-Mallah MH Assessment of myocardial viability by PET. Curr Opin Cardiol 34(5):466-472, 2019. PMID: 31393420.
- Bozkurt B, Khalaf S Heart Failure in Women. Methodist Debakey Cardiovasc J 13(4):216-223, 2017. PMID: 29744014.
Abstracts
- Singh S, Miller C, Song J, Ali a, Cervoni-Curet F, Khalaf SZ, Hamzeh I, Palaskas NL, Deswal A, Becnel M, Koutroumpakis E. Echocardiographic Assessment of the Left and Right Atrium in Systemic AL Amyloidosis With and Without Cardiac Involvement 83(13). e-Pub 2024.
- Bourdilllon M, Ali A, Reardon MJ, Hamzeh I, Palaskas N, Deswal A, Khalaf SZ. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Characterizing a Large Right Atrial Mass, 2024. e-Pub 2024.
- Khalaf SZ. Outcomes of stroke and bleeding by class of anticoagulant use for non-valvular atrial fibrillation in patients with active cancer, 2023. e-Pub 2023.
- Khalaf S, Jizeeri AA, Chamsi-Pasha M, Al-Mallah M. Coronary Artery Calcium Score as a Gate Keeper to Myocardial Perfusion Imaging. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 60, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Khalaf S, Jizeeri AA, Chamsi-Pasha M, Al-Mallah M. Coronary Artery Calcium Score as a Gate-Keeper to Myocardial Perfusion Imaging. Journal of Nuclear Medicine 60, 2019. e-Pub 2019.
- Cremer P, Khalaf S, Sabik EM, Cerqueira M, Menon V, Jaber W. Myocardial Perfusion Imaging in Emergency Department Patients: Are Negative Cardiac Biomarkers Enough for Early Risk Stratification?. ACC 63(12), 2014. e-Pub 2014.
- Khalaf SZ, Ali A, Iliescu C, Bui L, Koutroumpakis E, Kitkungvan D, Deswal A, Patel M. Flow Cardiovascular Outcomes in Cancer Patients: A comparative Study of Revascularization Recommendations. ASNC Annual Scientific Meeting.
- Ali A, Khalaf SZ, Patel M, Ali HJ, Lopez-Mattei J, Bui L, Hamzeh I, Kitkungvan D, Deswal A, Iliescu C. Coronary Flow Dynamics in Cancer Patients: Insights from PET Imaging and Longitudinal Outcomes. ASNC Annual Scientific Meeting.
Book Chapters
- Senapati, A, Khalaf, SZ, Al-Mallah, MH. Contemporary advances in medical imaging, 149-176, 2020.
- Khalaf, SZ, Levine, GN, Bozkurt, B. Dilated cardiomyopathy, 202-208, 2017.
Books (edited and written)
- Senapati A, Khalaf SZ, Al-Mallah MH. Contemporary Advances in Medical Imaging. Machine Learning in Cardiovascular Medicine, 2020.
Selected Presentations & Talks
Local Presentations
- 2025. Challenges in Pericardial Disease Management, Imaging Perspectives. OnlineOnly. Spotify, US.
- 2025. Echocardiogram-Based Screening for Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients with Cancer. Poster. MD Anderson DoIM Research Retreat 2025. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2025. Multi-modality Imaging in Cardio-oncology. Invited. Houston, TX, US.
- 2023. Internal Medicine and Cancer, Survivorship Grand Rounds. Invited. Grand Rounds. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Toxicity. Invited. Cancer Therapy-Related Cardiac Toxicity. Houston, TX, US.
- 2023. Cancer Therapy Related to Cardiac Toxicity. Invited. 2023 Virtual Oncologic Emergency Medicine Conference. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2022. Updates in Cardiac Computed Tomography. Invited. Updates in Cardiac Computed Tomography. Houston, TX, US.
- 2020. Multimodality Imaging in Guiding Clinical Decision Making. Invited. Multimodality Imaging in Guiding Clinical Decision Making. Houston, TX, US.
- 2016. Multimodality approach to extracardiac masses. Invited. Multimodality approach to extracardiac masses. Houston, TX, US.
- 2016. Retinal Venous Occlusion following Acute Coronary Syndrome. Conference. Retinal Venous Occlusion following Acute Coronary Syndrome. Houston, TX, US.
Regional Presentations
- 2024. Role of Cardiac MRI in Amyloidosis. Invited. TCACC 2024. Irving, Texas, US.
- 2023. Immune Check Inhibitor Myocarditis. Invited. Texas ACC. Round Rock, TX, US.
National Presentations
- 2025. Myocardial Carcinoid: Thinking Beyond the Valves. Invited. SCMR 2025 Annual Scientific Sessions. Washington, DC, US.
- 2024. Cardiovascular Outcomes in Cancer Patients: A Comparative Study of Revascularization Recommendations. Poster. ASNC 2024. Austin, TX, US.
- 2024. Coronary Flow Dynamics in Cancer Patients: Insights from PET Imaging and Longitudinal Outcomes. Poster. ASNC 2024. Austin, TX, US.
- 2024. Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Characterizing A Large Right Atrial Mass. Poster. ACC.24. Atlanta, GA, US.
- 2023. Sarcomatoid Renal Cell Carcinoma Presenting with Cardiac Metastasis: Diagnosis and Management of a Rare Cardiac Mass. Conference. Sarcomatoid Renal Cell Carcinoma Presenting with Cardiac Metastasis: Diagnosis and Management of a Rare Cardiac Mass. San Diego, CA, US.
- 2022. Journey to Nuclear Cardiology from the Experts. Invited. Journey to Nuclear Cardiology from the Experts, US.
- 2022. The Diagnostic value of CMR in Patients with Incessant Ventricular Tachycardia. Conference. The Diagnostic value of CMR in Patients with Incessant Ventricular Tachycardia. Bellevue, WA, US.
- 2020. Transcatheter Therapies for Mitral Valve Disease: Where we are and Where are We Headed. Transcatheter Therapies for Mitral Valve Disease: Where we are and Where are We Headed, US.
- 2020. The Mysterious Failing Heart. Conference. The Mysterious Failing Heart. Orlando, FL, US.
- 2019. The Day the Heart Wandered. Conference. The Day the Heart Wandered. New Orleans, LA, US.
- 2014. Sex-Related Differences in the Yield of Myocardial Perfusion Imaging in Patients Referred from the Emergency Department after Serial Negative Troponins. Conference. Sex-Related Differences in the Yield of Myocardial Perfusion Imaging in Patients Referred from the Emergency Department after Serial Negative Troponins. Chicago, IL, US.
- 2014. Twenty-Five Years of Fever and Joint Pain. Conference. Twenty Fiver Years of Fever and Joint Pain. Columbus, OH, US.
- 2014. Early Risk Stratification with Myocardial Perfusion Imaging is Not Necessary in Troponin Negative Patients with Known Coronary Artery Disease who Present with Possible Acute Coronary Syndromes. Conference. Early Risk Stratification with Myocardial Perfusion Imaging is Not Necessary in Troponin Negative Patients with Known Coronary Artery Disease Who Present with Possible Acute Coronary Syndromes. Barcelona, Spain, US.
- 2014. Myocardial Perfusion Imaging in Emergency Department Patients: Are Negative Cardiac Biomarkers Enough for Early Risk Stratification?. Conference. Myocardial Perfusion Imaging in Emergency Department Patients: Are Negative Cardiac Biomarkers Enough for Early Risk Stratification?. Washington, DC, US.
- 2014. Downstream coronary angiography and revascularization after abnormal myocardial perfusion imaging in patients with possible acute coronary syndromes presenting to the emergency department. Conference. Downstream coronary angiography and revascularization after abnormal myocardial perfusion imaging in patients with possible acute coronary syndromes presenting to the emergency department. Washington, DC, US.
- 2013. Regadenoson Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is safe to guide coronary revascularization in high-risk patients being considered for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). Conference. Regadenoson Positron Emission Tomography (PET) is safe to guide coronary revascularization in high-risk patients being considered for Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR). Dallas, TX, US.
International Presentations
- 2025. Podcast: The imaging aspects of diagnosing pericardial diseases in cancer patients. Invited. ICOS, US.
- 2024. Cardiac Imagers of Tomorrow: How Can ASNC Assist You. Invited. Nuclear Cardiology Now: Middle East (Virtual International Conference), US.
- 2024. Group Discussion / Breakout Session. Invited. Nuclear Cardiology Now: Middle East (Virtual International Conference), US.
- 2024. Utility of CV PET despite Non-obstructive anatomical imaging. Invited. Nuclear Cardiology Now: Middle East (Virtual International Conference), US.
Formal Peers
- 2023. Advanced Imaging in Cardio-Oncology. Houston, Texas, US.
- 2023. Use of Cardiac Computed Tomography – ER Pathway. Houston, Texas, US.
Patient Reviews
CV information above last modified June 11, 2025