Youssef Al-Saghir, MD
Director Fleming Island Office FCCI
Interventional Cardiovascular Disease
Colleagues and patients might be surprised to learn that Dr. Al-Saghir entered the field of interventional cardiology after a successful career as an electrical engineer. "I come from a whole family of engineers, and I originally followed that family tradition," he says. "I enjoyed being an engineer, but I had always dreamed of becoming a doctor. Perhaps it was the influence of my family doctor when I was young - I always wanted to be like him. I ended up following my desires and entering medical school. There are actually many similarities, when you think about it - both fields require analytical thinking, and a desire for working with your hands, not just your brain. The human element is the difference, and it's one of the things I enjoy the most about my profession."
Dr. Al-Saghir is a graduate of the Ross University School of Medicine. He has completed a Cardiovascular Disease fellowship and an Interventional Cardiology fellowship at the University of Utah Health Sciences Center.
In his work at the University of Utah, Dr. Al-Saghir trained in neurovascular and carotid interventions, PFO closures, and atrial septal defects. "We also performed some experimental procedures involving left atrial appendage closure as part of the extensive neurovascular program there," says Dr. Al-Saghir. "This is a promising technique which can prevent stroke for people with atrial fibrillation who have a high stroke risk. It's a fairly common problem, and if it pans out, it could be a substitute for anticoagulant medication therapy, which carries its own set of risks."
Interventional Cardiology is not just a fit-it-and-forget-it specialty, says Dr. Al-Saghir. "It's far more comprehensive than that. Interventional Cardiology goes beyond mechanical therapy - it starts with prevention and encompasses pharmacological as well as mechanical therapy. The field has exploded so that we are now able to use interventional cardiac techniques for non-cardiac cases including peripheral vascular disease (PVD), such as the lower extremity peripheral arterial disease (PAD), renal and extra cranial arteries."
As a member of the First Coast Cardiovascular Institute (FCCI) team, Dr. Al-Saghir says he appreciates the "very well organized, well equipped offices, awesome spirit of team work as well as the state of the art cardiac cath lab at our facility."
Medical Education
Ross University School of Medicine
Residency & Fellowship
Internal Medicine Residency - University of Utah
Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship - University of Utah
Interventional Cardiology Fellowship - University of Utah
Licensure & Board Certifications
American Board of Internal Medicine
American Board of Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease
Hospital Appointments
Memorial Hospital Jacksonville
St. Luke's Hospital
Orange Park Medical Center
Baptist Downtown
Baptist South
Brooks Rehab Hospital
Specialty Hospital Jacksonville
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