Andreea Dragulescu

Co-Director, Pulmonary Hypertension Program 

Clinical Lead, Cardiology Outpatient Clinic 

Dr. Andreea Dragulescu obtained her medical degree from the University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” in Timisoara, Romania in 2000. From 2001 she enrolled in the PhD program at the same University where she defended her thesis in 2006. From 2003 to 2008, she received training in the Department of Cardiology at the University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” in Timisoara, Romania. She obtained further training in cardiology at the Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Timone Children’s Hospital, in Marseille, France between 2005 and 2008 and in Great Ormond Street Hospital in London UK in 2008.  

Dragulescu has been a part of Echocardiography Laboratory at The Hospital for Sick Children since her fellowship in 2009 and then as Staff Cardiologist since 2013. Dragulescu is an Associate Professor in Paediatrics at the University of Toronto. 

Research

Dragulescu has successfully managed many projects, collaborated with other researchers and published numerous peer-reviewed manuscripts from each project, many of which were published in the Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. Her research is centered on introducing and validating new echocardiographic techniques in paediatric cardiology, with a focus on techniques to assess ventricular function and complex anatomy using three-dimensional imaging. Her publications are internationally recognized and this is reflected in multiple speaker invitations to different national and international echocardiography meetings and teaching courses. 

Education and experience

• 2018–present: Section Head, Cardiac Ambulatory Clinic, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada 
• 2018–present: Associate Professor, Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 
• 2013–present: Staff, Division of Cardiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  
• 2013–2018: Assistant Professor, Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  
• 2010–2011: Fellow, Hosinec Research Fellowship, Division of Cardiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Supervisor: Dr. Luc Mertens.  
• 2009–2010: Fellow, Division of Cardiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Supervisor: Dr. Luc Mertens.  
• 2008–2009: Specialist Registrar, Cardiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK. Supervisor: Dr. Ian Sullivan.  
• 2005–2008: Fellow, Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Timone Children’s Hospital, Marseille, France, Supervisor: Dr. Alain Fraisse.  
• 2003–2005: Resident, Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”. Timisoara, Romania. Supervisors: Prof. St.I. Dragulescu 
• 2002–2003: Resident, Infectious Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes”, Timisoara, Romania. Supervisors: Prof. D. Lupu 
• 2001–2001: Internship, Pediatrics and Neonatology, University Hospitals, Timisoara, Romania. Supervisors: Prof. M. Serban, Dr. G. Olariu 
• 2000–2006: PhD, Contributions regarding the efficiency of expert systems for the diagnostic and prognostic of B and C viral hepatitis, Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, Romania. Supervisors: Prof. Mihai Dragomirescu 
• 2005–2006: Pediatric Cardiology National Diploma, Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Cardiology, Université de la Mediterranée, Marseille, France. Supervisors: Prof. Alain Fraisse 
• 1999–2000: MD thesis, Beta-blockers withdrawal syndrome, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, Romania. Supervisors: Prof. Radu Cristodorescu 
• 1998–1999: Medical Studies, Faculte de Medicine, Université Louis Pasteur, Strasbourg, France. (Erasmus exchange student) 
• 1994–2000: MD, Medical Studies, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, Romania. 

Achievements

• 2018–present: Fellow of the American Society of Echocardiography (FASE)
• 2014: Best paper award certificate: 3D echo and invasive pressure synchronization – generating real time, multi cycle pressure volume loops. International Congress on Cardiovascular Technologies, Rome, Italy.  Mroczek D, Lee KJ, Sandoval P, Houle H, Dragulescu A, Benson L, Chaturvedi R.   
• 2005–2006: Charcot excellence scholarship for research in medical field, French Ministry of Foreign Affairs. France, Pediatric Cardiology. Total Amount: $17,200.00 EUR 

External funding

• 2016–2017: Collaborator. Development of structured reporting system for pediatric echocardiography. Industry-sponsored project by TomTec Imaging Systems, Germany. Principal Investigator: Mertens L. Co-Investigators: Golding F, Dragulescu A.  Total budget: $205,970 CAD. (Operating) 
• 2015–present: Co-Investigator. Validation of the Residual Lesion Score for Congenital Heart Surgery. Pediatric Heart Network Studies. Principal Investigator (site): Schwartz S. Co-Investigators: Dragulescu A, Mertens L, Honjo O. $7,518,965 USD. 
• 2015–present: Co-Investigator. A multicenter PHN study: Long-term Outcomes of Children with Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome and the Impact of Norwood Shunt Type (SVR III). Pediatric Heart Network Studies. Principal Investigator (site): Schwartz S. Co-Investigator: Dragulescu A. Collaborators: Seed M, Sananes R. $7,518,965 USD 
• 2014–present: Collaborator. Ventricular function in children with aortic stenosis. Labatt Family Heart Center Innovation Grant. Principal Investigator: Mertens L. Collaborators: Dragulescu A, Friedberg M, Golding F, Nield L, Manlhiot C, Van Arsdell G. Labatt Family Heart Center Innovation Grant: $23,050.00 CAD.  
• 2014–present: Site Principal Investigator. Pediatric Echo Z-score & ECG Database Project. Pediatric Heart Network Studies. Principal Investigator (site): Dragulescu A. $7,518,965 USD 
• 2014–2016: Collaborator. Factors determining myocardial performance after aortic valve surgery in children-influence of perioperative coronary flow patterns on myocardial function and myocardial response to exercise echocardiography. Labatt Family Heart Centre Innovation Funds. Principal Investigator: Nield LE. Collaborators:  Mertens L, Dragulescu A, Cifra B, Manlhiot C, Van Arsdell G, McCrindle B. $23,050.00 CAD.  

1. Senior Responsible Author. Grattan M, Mertens L, Grosse-Wortmann L, Friedberg MK, Cifra B, Dragulescu A. Ventricular Torsion in Young Patients With Single-Ventricle Anatomy. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. 2018: 31 (12): pp 1288-1296 
2. Senior Responsible Author. Yim D, Mertens L, Morgan CT, Friedberg MK, Grosse-Wortmann L, Dragulescu A. Impact of surgical pulmonary valve replacement on ventricular mechanics in children with repaired tetralogy of Fallot. International Journal of Cardiovascular Imaging. 2017: 33 (5): pp 711-720. 
3. Senior Responsible Author. Cifra B, Mertens L, Mirkhani M, Slorach C, Hui W, Manlhiot C, Friedberg MK, Dragulescu A. Systolic and Diastolic Myocardial Response to Exercise in a Healthy Pediatric Cohort. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. 2016: 29 (7): pp 648-654. 
4. Principal Author. Dragulescu A, Friedberg MK, Grosse-Wortmann L, Redington A, Mertens L. Effect of chronic right ventricular volume overload on ventricular interaction in patients after tetralogy of Fallot repair. Journal of the American Society of Echocardiography. 2014: 27 (8): pp 896-902. 
5. Principal Author. Dragulescu A, Friedberg MK, Mertens L. Interpretation of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction in children with cardiomyopathy by echocardiography: problems and limitations. Circulation: Cardiovascular Imaging. 2013: 6 (2): pp 254-261.  

Relevant pages