Researcher profile

Gabriela Lima de Melo Ghisi

Dr. Gabriela Melo Ghisi is an Affiliate Scientist at the KITE Research Institute, University Health Network (Canada) with a focus on patient education in chronic disease management and global access to cardiac rehabilitation (CR). In collaboration with CR programs around the world, she has led the successful development, implementation, and evaluation of an evidence-based patient education curriculum in 10 countries spanning low-, middle-, and high-income settings. Dr. Ghisi has a keen interest in the mechanisms which lead to greater development and implementation of CR in high- as well as low- and middle-income countries, such as the investigation of: gaps in availability and affordability of CR; contextual factors that facilitate CR diffusion and capacity of health systems to implement CR policies and programs; ways to increase access in under-served groups (ethnic minorities, women, etc.); and delivery of patient education to improve adherence and strengthen self-care within CR. Dr. Ghisi has published +140 manuscripts in peer-reviewed journals, authored clinical practice guidelines, 4 book chapters and developed +20 CR-related scales. She is listed by Expertscape as among the top 25 experts in CR research around the globe and among the top 3 researchers in the world for “Heart rehabilitation, Cardiovascular Disease and Metabolic Equivalent” via SciVal (Scopus) 2019-2024. Since 2020 she serves as an Associate Editor of the Patient Education and Counseling journal. Dr Ghisi is also a member of the executive committee of the International Council of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation (ICCPR), Chair of ICCPR’s International Cardiac Rehabilitation Registry User Sub-Committee and member of ICCPR’s Cardiac Rehabilitation Foundations Certification. In 2022 Dr Ghisi was selected by the World Heart Federation as an Emerging Leader.