Dr. Josep Brugada

Dr. Josep Brugada is one of the most prominent cardiologists in the world, known globally as the co-discoverer of Brugada Syndrome — a genetic arrhythmia disorder characterised by abnormal ECG patterns and a heightened risk of sudden cardiac death. In 1992, together with his brothers Pedro and Ramon Brugada, he described this condition that now bears the family name and affects hundreds of thousands of patients worldwide. Based at Hospital Clínic Barcelona, one of Spain's leading university hospitals, Dr. Brugada holds the position of Senior Consultant in Cardiology and serves as Full Professor of Medicine at the University of Barcelona. He also directs the Paediatric Arrhythmia Unit at Sant Joan de Déu Hospital in Barcelona. A former President of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) from 2006 to 2008, Dr. Brugada is a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC) and has published extensively on cardiac arrhythmias, ion channelopathies, and sudden cardiac death. His clinical expertise and research legacy make him one of the world's foremost authorities in electrophysiology.

Dr. Josep Brugada completed his medical degree (MD) and subsequently his PhD from a leading Spanish medical faculty. He underwent specialist training in cardiology and cardiac electrophysiology, developing expertise in invasive electrophysiological studies and catheter-based interventions for arrhythmia. Dr. Brugada trained under pioneers of modern electrophysiology and gained international fellowship experience that placed him at the forefront of arrhythmia research and treatment. He holds the rank of Full Professor of Medicine at the University of Barcelona, reflecting his substantial academic credentials and contributions to cardiac science. He was elected President of the European Heart Rhythm Association (2006–2008), a distinguished recognition by peers across Europe. Dr. Brugada's scientific contributions have been acknowledged by the international cardiology community through numerous honorary lectureships and invited presentations at ESC, ACC, AHA, and HRS annual meetings.

Dr. Josep Brugada's clinical expertise is firmly centred on cardiac electrophysiology and the management of complex arrhythmias. He is internationally recognised as the leading authority on Brugada Syndrome, including its diagnosis, risk stratification, and treatment with implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) and catheter ablation. His broader arrhythmia expertise includes supraventricular tachycardias, ventricular tachycardia and fibrillation, atrial fibrillation, Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome, and inherited ion channelopathies including Long QT syndrome and Short QT syndrome. He is skilled in invasive electrophysiological studies, radiofrequency catheter ablation of complex arrhythmias, and implantation and programming of ICDs and cardiac resynchronisation devices. In his role at Sant Joan de Déu Hospital, Dr. Brugada also manages paediatric cardiac arrhythmias, including complex congenital arrhythmia syndromes in children and adolescents. His multidisciplinary approach integrates genetic counselling for hereditary arrhythmia syndromes.

Dr. Josep Brugada's international renown means that patients travel from across Europe, the Americas, the Middle East, and Asia to seek his expertise, particularly for Brugada Syndrome and other inherited arrhythmia conditions. Hospital Clínic Barcelona has a dedicated international patient office and Dr. Brugada's team can communicate in English, Spanish, and Catalan. For patients with a suspected or confirmed inherited arrhythmia syndrome, a comprehensive evaluation at Hospital Clínic includes ECG analysis, electrophysiological study, genetic testing, and pharmacological provocative testing. Dr. Brugada's team also provides genetic counselling and family screening for relatives of patients with Brugada Syndrome. International patients are advised to bring all prior ECG recordings, Holter monitor results, echocardiograms, and any available genetic test reports. Barcelona is a major European hub with excellent flight connections, and Hospital Clínic offers efficient coordination of international patient care.

Dr. Josep Brugada has received numerous prestigious international awards acknowledging his epochal discovery of Brugada Syndrome and his lifelong contributions to cardiac electrophysiology. He served as President of the European Heart Rhythm Association (EHRA) from 2006 to 2008. He is a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology (FESC) and has been awarded honorary fellowships and lectureships by cardiology societies worldwide. The description of Brugada Syndrome in 1992, now one of the most cited cardiac papers of the past three decades, stands as a defining achievement in arrhythmia medicine. Dr. Brugada has also received recognition from the University of Barcelona and Hospital Clínic Barcelona for outstanding contributions to medical science, patient care, and cardiology education.