Antonio Pacifico, M.D., F.A.C.C.
1950-2005
Founder

Antonio Pacifico, M.D. founded the Texas Arrhythmia Institute in January 1994. A native of Rome, Italy, Dr. Pacifico graduated summa cum laude from the University of Rome School of Medicine. He came to the United States originally to pursue research in immunologic diseases at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas but discovered during his tenure there that he was most interested in cardiovascular diseases. He served as an intern and resident in Internal Medicine under Donald Seldin, M.D. and stayed at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School for fellowship training in Cardiovascular Diseases under James Willerson. He pursued training in Cardiac Electrophysiology under Melvin Scheinman, M.D. at the University of California in San Francisco. Before founding the Texas Arrhythmia Institute he was the Director of Cardiac Electrophysiology at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He was a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, President of the Houston Cardiology Society, a President of the Houston Electrophysiology Society and a member of the North American Society of Pacing and Electrophysiology.

Dr. Pacifico was a leading clinical investigator in cardiac electrophysiology beginning with many of the classic studies of intraoperative cardiac mapping. He authored or contributed to over one hundred manuscripts in the field. His interest and expertise on implantable defibrillators resulted in the publication of a comprehensive textbook on the subject. Dr. Pacifico was certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Diseases, and Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology. Dr. Pacifico died in an aviation accident in November 2005.