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Zain Khalpey, M.D., Ph.D., F.A.C.S.

Research Division
Programs

Biography

Dr. Khalpey is an internationally recognized cardiothoracic surgeon and innovator at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence, precision medicine, and cardiac surgery. Since 2012, he has served the Arizona community with distinction, leading transformative advancements in robotic cardiac surgery, regenerative medicine, and AI-driven patient care.

A graduate of Guy’s, Kings and St. Thomas’ Hospital, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Dr. Khalpey completed his surgical training at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, followed by a super-fellowship in mechanical circulatory support at Columbia University. He earned a Ph.D. in Cardiothoracic Surgery, Bioenergetics, and Cardiac Transplantation from Imperial College London, conducting research across Mayo Clinic, Harvard, and the University of Gdansk.

Dr. Khalpey has received numerous honors, including the Solly Medal for Surgery, the Hunterian Medal and Lifetime Professorship from the Royal College of Surgeons of England, the Distinguished Fulbright Chair in Medical Sciences (2016), and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Grant (2020) for AI work on silent hypoxia in COVID-19.

At HonorHealth, he leads cardiovascular AI strategy and directs the Artificial Heart Program, specializing in robotic coronary bypass, mitral valve repair, robotic-assisted atrial fibrillation ablation, and the use of total artificial hearts and mechanical support devices in advanced heart failure. He is also co-founder of ATARI, where he leads collaborative research translating AI innovations from code to clinic.

Dr. Khalpey’s research includes over 400 peer-reviewed publications (h-index >36) and multiple patents, focusing on predictive analytics in atrial fibrillation, cardiac frailty, sudden cardiac death, and heart failure. He is building federated AI ecosystems using real-world data to inform next-generation clinical tools.

Outside of his groundbreaking work, Dr. Khalpey prioritizes his family, enjoying time with his wife, a physicist, and their four childrren.

Research Interests & Focus

Dr. Zain Khalpey’s research interests and focus include: atrial fibrillation, robotic-assisted ablation, epicardial mapping, and AI-guided interventions. His work emphasizes the use of minimally invasive techniques and intelligent mapping to improve precision and outcomes in complex arrhythmia cases, particularly in patients with persistent atrial fibrillation and structural heart disease.
Additional areas of interest include novel epicardial access strategies, AI-assisted clinical decision-making, predictive modeling for post-operative rhythm disturbances, and real-time data visualization tools for electrophysiology teams. Dr. Khalpey is also committed to advancing AI education through scalable programs designed to equip clinical teams with the skills needed to integrate emerging technologies into practice.
He actively seeks opportunities to participate in institutional and national grant initiatives focused on robotic innovation, AI in healthcare, and educational infrastructure to support data-driven clinical excellence. His work aligns with the HonorHealth Research Institute’s mission to lead transformative, patient-centered research through collaboration, technology, and translational science.