Rafic Berbarie, M.D.

Internal Medicine - Cardiology
Cardiac risk factor management
Echocardiographic evaluation of valvular heart disease

New Patient Appointment Accepting Virtual Visits or 214-645-8000

Biography

Rafic Berbarie, M.D., is an Associate Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Cardiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center. His interests include echocardiography, medical teaching, and all areas of general cardiology, including coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, cardiac symptom evaluation, cardiac risk factor management, and arrhythmias.

Dr. Berbarie earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston. He completed his residency at Baylor University Medical Center, where he also received advanced training through a fellowship in cardiology.

Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in cardiovascular disease, he joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2021.

Dr. Berbarie has published numerous academic articles on a variety of cardiology topics in peer- reviewed journals.

He has received many honors for his teaching, including the 2017 Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award from the John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine at the University of Texas Medical Branch. He has also been included on Houstonia Magazine’s Best Doctors List.

Education & Training

Medical School - University of Texas Medical Branch at Galveston (1997-2001)
Residency - Baylor University Medical Center (2001-2004), Internal Medicine
Fellowship - Baylor University Medical Center (2004-2007), Cardiology

Honors & Awards

Excellence in Clinical Teaching Award 2017, John P. McGovern Academy of Oslerian Medicine, University of Texas Medical Branch
Excellence in Residency Education, Outstanding Subspecialty Faculty 2015-2017, University of Texas Medical Branch Internal Medicine Residents
Best Doctors List 2014, Houstonia Magazine
First Place, Clinical Vignette Poster Presentation Contest 2004, Northeast Texas Regional, American College of Physicians Associates Conference
Outstanding Internal Medicine Senior Resident 2004, Baylor University Medical Center
Second Place, Poster Presentation Award 1999, National Student Research Forum
Student Leader of the Year 1997, University of Texas at Dallas

Books & Publications

Publications
- Percutaneous Mitral Valve Repair in Cardiac Amyloidosis and Severe Mitral Regurgitation.
  Thakker RA, Elbadawi A, Albaeni A, Hasan SM, Suthar KH, Modi SA, Berbarie RF, Khalife W, Chatila KF, Current problems in cardiology 2021 May 100881
- Coronary Embolism Presenting as NSTEMI in a Patient with Splenectomy.
  Al-Taweel O, Sami F, Pinsky S, Wineinger T, Berbarie RF, Kansas journal of medicine 2021 14 111-113
- Stress echocardiography using real-time three-dimensional imaging.
  Berbarie RF, Dib E, Ahmad M, Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) 2018 08 35 8 1196-1203
- Utility of real-time three-dimensional echocardiography in improved assessment of a mitral valve papillary fibroelastoma.
  Suresh R, Boor PJ, Al-Dossari GA, Abu-Sharifeh T, Venkatachalam S, Berbarie RF, Clinical case reports 2017 07 5 7 1193-1195
- Late diagnosis of Wellens syndrome in a patient presenting with an atypical acute coronary syndrome.
  Venkatesan R, Methachittiphan N, Berbarie RF, Aaron E, Jaffery Z, Rangasetty U, The American journal of emergency medicine 2016 Feb 34 2 338.e3-5
- High-intensity cardiac rehabilitation training of a firefighter after placement of an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator.
  Adams J, DeJong S, Arnett JK, Kennedy K, Franklin JO, Berbarie RF, Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center) 2014 Jul 27 3 226-8
- Comparison of force exerted on the sternum during a sneeze versus during low-, moderate-, and high-intensity bench press resistance exercise with and without the valsalva maneuver in healthy volunteers.
  Adams J, Schmid J, Parker RD, Coast JR, Cheng D, Killian AD, McCray S, Strauss D, McLeroy Dejong S, Berbarie R, The American journal of cardiology 2014 Mar 113 6 1045-8
- High-intensity, occupation-specific training in a series of firefighters during phase II cardiac rehabilitation.
  Adams J, Cheng D, Berbarie RF, Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center) 2013 Apr 26 2 106-8
- High-intensity cardiac rehabilitation training of a police officer for his return to work and sports after coronary artery bypass grafting.
  Adams J, Berbarie RF, Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center) 2013 Jan 26 1 39-41
- High-intensity track and field training in a cardiac rehabilitation program.
  Kennedy K, Adams J, Cheng D, Berbarie RF, Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center) 2012 Jan 25 1 34-6
- Embolization of a stent from an arteriovenous graft into the right ventricle in a patient on chronic hemodialysis.
  Fazel P, Schussler JM, Berbarie RF, Hamman BL, Fenves AZ, Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center) 2011 Apr 24 2 94-5
- Computed tomography coronary angiographic demonstration of a single coronary artery with the right coronary artery arising as a continuation from the left circumflex coronary artery.
  Berbarie RF, Anderson AS, Schussler JM, Catheterization and cardiovascular interventions : official journal of the Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions 2007 Jun 69 7 940-1
- Measurement of right ventricular volumes before and after atrial septal defect closure using multislice computed tomography.
  Berbarie RF, Anwar A, Dockery WD, Grayburn PA, Hamman BL, Vallabhan RC, Schussler JM, The American journal of cardiology 2007 May 99 10 1458-61
- Use of multislice computed tomographic coronary angiography for the diagnosis of anomalous coronary arteries.
  Berbarie RF, Dockery WD, Johnson KB, Rosenthal RL, Stoler RC, Schussler JM, The American journal of cardiology 2006 Aug 98 3 402-6
- Dramatic RV volume reduction following atrial septal defect closure demonstrated by multi-slice CT volume rendering.
  Berbarie RF, Anwar A, Dockery WD, Grayburn PA, Vallabhan RC, Schussler JM, Clinical cardiology 2006 Aug 29 8 372
- Frequency of atrial fibrillation in patients having mitral valve repair or replacement for pure mitral regurgitation secondary to mitral valve prolapse.
  Berbarie RF, Roberts WC, The American journal of cardiology 2006 Apr 97 7 1039-44
- Preoperative exclusion of significant coronary artery disease by 64-slice CT coronary angiography in a patient with a left atrial myxoma.
  Berbarie RF, Aslam MK, Kuiper JJ, Matter GJ, Martin AW, Roberts WC, Schussler JM, Proceedings (Baylor University. Medical Center) 2006 Apr 19 2 121
- Quiz page. Secondary hypertension with contralateral pheochromocytoma and aldosteronoma.
  Berbarie RF, Emmett M, Breslau NA, American journal of kidney diseases : the official journal of the National Kidney Foundation 2005 Jul 46 1 A51, e1-3
- Transesophageal echocardiographic visualization of a rupturing thoracic aortic aneurysm in progress.
  Berbarie RF, Schussler JM, Hamman BL, Echocardiography (Mount Kisco, N.Y.) 2005 Mar 22 3 277-8
- Monitoring brain PO2, PCO2, and pH during graded levels of hypoxemia in rabbits.
  Martinez-Tica JF, Berbarie R, Davenport P, Zornow MH, Journal of neurosurgical anesthesiology 1999 Oct 11 4 260-3

Clinical Focus

Cardiac risk factor management
Echocardiographic evaluation of valvular heart disease
Noninvasive cardiac evaluation of chest pain