James H. O'Keefe Jr., MD

James H O'Keefe MD, is Professor of Medicine at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and Director of the Duboc Cardio Health & Wellness Center and Haverty CardioMetabolic Center at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute.
Dr. O’Keefe has contributed 470 articles to peer-reviewed journals, and his articles have been cited over 40,000 times in the medical literature. He recently published an article proposing SGLT inhibitors as the first effective drug to slow aging and improve lifespan and healthspan. He also has published recent landmark studies on omega-3 and its effects on cardiovascular health and longevity.
He is author of The Complete Guide to ECGs, which is used by cardiovascular fellowship training programs as the preferred teaching text for the teaching ECGs. USA Today has listed Dr. O’Keefe among America’s Most Influential Doctors. Dr O’Keefe has done 3 TEDx talks, which have been viewed over 5 million times.

BOOK CHAPTERS & MONOGRAPHS:
1. O’Keefe JH Jr, Vlietstra RE, Holmes DR: The transseptal approach for left heart catheterization. In: Holmes DR, Vlietstra RE, ed. The Practice of Interventional Cardiology. Philadelphia: FA Davis Publishing. 1988.
2. O'Keefe, JH Jr: Receptors and atherosclerosis. In: Gotto AM, ed. Atherosclerosis: A Decade in Perspective. New York: Medical Information Services. 1991.
3. O'Keefe, JH Jr: Primary angioplasty for acute myocardial infarction. In: Maresta A, ed. Advances in cardiology and cardiac surgery. Italy: Edizioni CELI del. 1991.
4. O’Keefe JH Jr, Hartzler GO: Summary of previous restenosis trials. In: Schwartz RS. ed. Coronary Restenosis. Blackwell Scientific Publications. 1992.
5. O’Keefe JH Jr, Hammill SC, Zolnick, MR, Steinhaus, DM, Vatterott, PJ: Electrocardiography Study Guide, Mayo Clinic Cardiology Review. Futura Publishing Company, Inc. 1994.
6. O’Keefe JH Jr, Ballantyne, CM, Kaplan, NM, Freed, MS: Cardiovascular Risk Reduction.  In: Safian RD, Freed, MS.  The Manual of Interventional Cardiology.  Physician’s Press. 2001
7. Bybee, KA, Das, S, O'Keefe, JH Jr: The Rationale and Indications for Angiotensin Receptor Blockers in Heart Failure.  Heart Failure Clinics, Volume 2, Number 1.Jan 2006. 
8. O'Keefe, JH Jr: Aggressive LDL reduction (of 50% or more) to physiologically normal is required to optimize cardiovascular prognosis. Merck Monograph. Jan 2006 (for Cardiologists).
9. O’Keefe JH Jr, Pepine, CJ: New Frontiers in CVD risk management supporting early aggressive therapy.  Vascular Biology Working Group CME Monograph. Feb2006. Volume 7, Number 2.
10. Park SY:  Breathe Better, Sleep Better: How Sleep Position Effects Your Health and Your Life.  Reviewed book.  Nov 2007.
11. Bell DHS:  Diet for Life.  Forward chapter and reviewed book.  Dec 2007.

BOOKS:
1. O’Keefe JH Jr, Hammill SC, Zolnick, MR, Steinhaus, DM, Vatterott, PJ: ECG Board Review and Study Guide.  Futura Publishing Company, Inc. copyright 1994.
2. O’Keefe JH Jr, Hammill SC, Freed, M: The Complete Guide to ECGs: A comprehensive study guide to improve ECG interpretation skills.  Physicians Press, Birmingham MI. 1997.
3. O’Keefe JH Jr, Hammill SC, Freed M, Pogwizd SM: The ECG Criteria and ACLS Handbook.  Physicians Press, Birmingham MI. 1998.
4. O’Keefe JH Jr, Hammill SC, Freed M, Pogwizd SM: The Complete Guide to ECGs: A Comprehensive Study Guide to Improve ECG Interpretation Skills 2nd Edition.  Physicians’ Press, Birmingham, MI. 2002.
5. O'Keefe JH Jr, Hammill SC, Freed M, Pogwizd SM: The ECG Criteria Book. Physicians’ Press, Birmingham, MI. 2002.
6. Califf RM, Kaplan NM, Ballantyne CM, Fuster V, Chatterjee K, Caplan LR, GoldszmidtAJ, Hammill SC, O'Keefe JH Jr, Freed MS: Common Pitfalls in Cardiology.  Physicians’ Press, Birmingham, MI. 2002.
7. Ballantyne CM, O'Keefe JH Jr, Gotto AM: Dyslipidemia Essentials.  Physician’s Press, Birmingham, MI. 2003.
8. O'Keefe JH Jr, Bell DS, Wyne K, Haffner SM: Diabetes Essentials, Physician’s Press, 150 Pages, Birmingham, MI. 2004 Apr.  
9. O'Keefe JH Jr, O’Keefe J: The Forever Young Diet and Lifestyle. Andrews McMeelUniversal, Kansas City, MO, Nov 2005.
10. O'Keefe JH Jr, Bell DS, Wyne K, Haffner SM: Diabetes Essentials, 3rd Edition, Physician’s Press, Birmingham, MI, 2008 Oct.
11. O'Keefe JH Jr, Hammill SC, Freed M, Pogwizd SM: The ECG Criteria Book. Physicians’ Press, Birmingham, MI, 2008 Oct.
12. Ballantyne CM, O’Keefe JH Jr, Gotto AM Jr: Dyslipidemia Essentials 2008, 3rdEdition.  Physicians’ Press, Royal Oak, MI. 2008 Dec.
13. O’Keefe JH Jr, Hammill SC, Freed, M: The Complete Guide to ECGs: A comprehensive study guide to improve ECG interpretation skills.  Physicians Press, Birmingham MI. 2010.  Versions in Italian, French, Chinese
14. O'Keefe JH Jr, Hammill SC, Freed M, Pogwizd SM: The ECG Criteria Book-2ndEdition-pocket version. Physicians’ Press, Birmingham, MI. 2010 Sept.  
15. O'Keefe JH Jr, O’Keefe J: Let Me Tell You a Story. Andrews McMeel Universal, Kansas City, MO. 2013 Jan.
16. Lavie CJ, Milani RV, O’Keefe JH.Primary and Secondary Preventive Strategies. SCAI Interventional Cardiology Review Book, 2nd Edition. M Kern Editor.  Chapter: pp 356-364. 2013.
17. O'Keefe JH Jr, Hammill SC, Freed M: The ECG Criteria Book-4th Edition. JB Learning, Burlington, MA. 2016 Aug. 
18. Morledge MD, Kachur S, Lavie CJ, Parto P, O’Keefe JH, Milani RV.  Exercise and Cardiovascular Disease: Emphasis on Efficacy, Dosing, and Adverse Effects and Toxicity – Chapter 10.  Editors Watson RR and Zabadi S.  Lifestyle in Heart Health and Disease, UK: Academic Press. 2018, pp 137-151.

GENERAL LITERATURE PUBLICATIONS:
1. O’Keefe JH Jr, Editor in Chief. “For The Heart” Publication from Cardiovascular Consultants. Circulation 200,000. Published three times per year 1996 to present.  Eighteen-time winner of Healthcare Advertising Awards National Competition.  Newsletters can be found at: www.cardiowellnesscenter.org
2. O’Keefe JH Jr, Regular Contributor. “50 and Better” Magazine.
3. Brody, JE, O'Keefe, JH Jr: NY Times-Personal Health Section: Ancient Tool of Survival is Deadly for the Heart, May 21, 2002.
4. O’Keefe JH Jr, Abuissa, H: ACE inhibitors or ARBs for prevention of type 2 diabetes: a meta-analysis of randomized clinical trials. Medscape online Apr 21, 2005.  URL: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/052893.
5. O’Keefe JH Jr, Abuissa, H: ASCOT-BPLA: Calcium blocker/ACE inhibitor regimen superior to beta-blocker/diuretic regimen. Medscape online Apr 21, 2005. URL: http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/052896.
6. O’Keefe JH Jr, Bybee KA, Lavie CJ:  Alcohol and cardiovascular health.  Medscape’s Monthly Top Cardiology Article. Sept 2007.  URL:  http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/562474?sssdmh=dm1.306613&src=top10
7. Lee JH, O’Keefe JH Jr:  Here’s to your health: May you always drink lightly (How and why alcohol is a potent double-edged sword). Cyberounds program for Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 2008.  http://www.cyberounds.com/. 
8. O’Keefe JH Jr, Contributor. Enhance Magazine.
9. O’Keefe JH.Contributing author to Living Wellness Kansas City
10. ACC Nutrition Working Group – This group is setting new Nutritional Guidelines for 2017 and beyond.
11. O’Keefe JH. Editorial Board for Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases Journal, 2017 to present.

VIDEO & PROGRAMS
1. Medical Roundtable – Mar 21, 2012. Lavie CJ, Arena R, Church T, O’Keefe JH.Therole of physical fitness in cardiovascular disease prevention. Med Roundtable Gen Med Ed. 1(2):152-163. 2012 Mar.
2. TEDx Program at University of Missouri-Kansas City – Run for your life . . . at a comfortable speed and not too far. http://youtube/Y6U728AZnV0. 2013 Mar.
3. TEDx Program at Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland – Homosexuality: It’s about survival not sex. https://youtu.be/4Khn_z9FPmU. 2016 Oct.
4. TEDx Program at Manchester, England – Go Outside and Play with Your Friends.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPz5_esb2ZM. 2018 Jun.

PUBLICATIONS:
1. Torres-Acosta N, O’Keefe JH, O’Keefe EL, Isaacson R, Small G.  Therapeutic potential of TNF-α inhibition for Alzheimer’s Disease prevention.  J AlzheimersDis. 78(2):619-626. 2020 Oct. 
2. Sperry BW, Burgett E, Bybee KA, McGhie AI, O'Keefe JH, Saeed IM, Thompson RC, Bateman TM.  Technetium pyrophosphate nuclear scintigraphy for cardiac amyloidosis: Imaging at 1 vs 3 hours and planar vs SPECT/CT. J Nucl Cardiol. 27(5):1802-1807. Epub 2020 May. 2020 October.
3. O'Keefe EL, Torres-Acosta N, O'Keefe JH, Stugess JE, Lavie CJ, Bybee KA. Takotsubo Syndrome: Cardiotoxic Stress in the COVID area. Mayo Clin ProcInnov Qual Outcomes. 4(6):775-785. 2020 Dec.
4. McCarty MF, Iloki Assanga SB, Lewis Luján L, O'Keefe JH, DiNicolantonio JJ.Nutraceutical Strategies for Suppressing NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation: Pertinence to the Management of COVID-19 and Beyond.  Nutrients. 13(1):47. 2020 Dec.
5. Elagizi A, Lavie CJ, O'Keefe E, Marshall K, O'Keefe JH, Milani RV. An update on Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and cardiovascular health.  Nutrients. 12;13(1):204. 2021 Jan.
6. DiNicolantonio JJ, O’Keefe JH. Magnesium and Vitamin D Deficiency as a Potential Cause of Immune Dysfunction, Cytokine Storm and Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation in covid-19 patients. Mo Med. 118(1):68-73. 2021 Jan-Feb.
7. Gersh FL, O'Keefe JH, Henry BM. COVID-19, the Female Immune Advantage, and Cardiovascular Impact – Letter to the Editor. Mayo Clin Proc. 96(3):820-821. Epub 2020 Dec 29. 2021 Mar.
8. Ostfeld RJ, Allen KE, Aspry K, Brandt EJ, Spitz A, Liberman J, Belardo D, O’Keefe JH, et al. Vasculogenic Erectile Dysfunction: The Impact of Diet and Lifestyle.Am J Med. 134(3):310-316. Epub 2020 Nov. 2021 Mar.
9. DiNicolantonio JJ, McCarty MF, Barroso-Aranda J, Assanga S, Lujan LML, O'Keefe JH.  A nutraceutical strategy for downregulating TGFβ signalling: prospects for prevention of fibrotic disorders, including post-COVID-19 pulmonary fibrosis. Open Heart. 8(1):e001663. 2021 Apr.
10. Gianos E, Jackson EA, Tejpal A, Aspry K, O’Keefe JH, Aggarwal M, et al. Oral health and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: A review. Am J Prev Cardiol. 5:7:100179. 2021 Apr.
11. DiNicolantonio JJ, O’Keefe JH. Does fish oil reduce the risk of cardiovascular events and death? Recent level 1 evidence says yes: PRO; Fish oil is useful to prevent or treat cardiovascular disease.  Mo Med. May-Jun;118(3):214-218. 2021 May-Jun.
12. Sammour Y, Nassif M, Magwire M, Thomas M, Fendler T, Khumri T, Sperry BW, O’Keefe JH, Kosiborod M. Effects of GLP-1 receptor agonists and SFLT-2 inhibitors in heart transplant patients with type 2 diabetes: Initial report from a Cardiometabolic center of excellence. J Heart Lung Transplant. 40(6):426-429. 2021 June.
13. Gersh FL, O’Keefe JH, Lavie CJ.  Postmenopausal hormone therapy for cardiovascular health: The evolving data.  Heart. 107(14):1115-1122. Online ahead of print 2021 Feb. 2021 Jul.
14. Elagizi A, O'Keefe EL, O'Keefe JH. Here’s to your health: Why a drink with dinner might improve longevity.  Mayo Clin Proc. 96(7):1706-1709. 2021 Jul.
15. DiNicolantonio JJ, O’Keefe JH. The flaws of recent omega-3 clinical trials should not prevent their use.  Mo Med. 118(4):322. 2021 Jul-Aug.
16. Ros E, Singh A, O’Keefe JH. Nuts: Natural Pleiotropic Nutraceuticals. Nutrients. 13(9):3269. 2021 Sep.
17. Sanchis-Gomar F, Lavie CJ, Marín J, Perez-Quilis C, Eijsvogels TMH, O'Keefe JH, Perez MV, Blair SN. Exercise Effects on Cardiovascular Disease: From Basic Aspects to Clinical Evidence. Cardiovasc Res. cvab272. 2021 Sep.
18. Ali Z, Saeed IM, Bybee KA, Thompson R, O’Keefe JH, Shafiq M, Zafar Y, Kennedy KF, Al-Sayyed L.  Correlation of Hepatic Steatosis Among Cohabitants Using Hounsfield Unit From Coronary Computed Tomography. Cereus. 13(9): e17834. 2021 Sep.
19. DiNicolantonio JJ, O’Keefe JH. Low-grade metabolic acidosis as a driver of insulin resistance.  Open Heart. 8(2):e001788. 2021 Sept.
20. Ros E, Singh A, O’Keefe JH. Nuts: Natural Pleiotropic Nutraceuticals.  Nutrients. 13(9):3269. 2021 Sep.
21. DiNicolantonio JJ, O’Keefe JH. The importance of maintaining a low omega-6/omega-3 ratio for reducing the risk of autoimmune diseases, asthma, and allergies.  Mo Med. 118(5):453-459. 2021 Sept-Oct. 
22. Thomas M, Magwire M, Gosch K, Sammour Y, Mehta R, O’Keefe JH, Nassif ME, Kosiborod M. Cardiometabolic Center of Excellence: A Novel Care Delivery Model for Secondary Prevention of Cardiovascular Disease in Type 2 Diabetes. Cir Cardiovas Qual Outcomes. 14(10):e007682. 2021 Sep.
23. DiNicolantonio JJ, O’Keefe JH. Low-grade metabolic acidosis as a driver of chronic disease: a 21st century public health crisis.  Open Heart. 8(2):e001788. 2021 Oct.
24. Gersh R, Lavie CJ, O’Keefe JH. Menopause Status and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Clin Infect Dis. 73(9):e2825-e2826. 2021 Nov.
25. Gersh FL, O’Keefe JH, Lavie CJ, Henry BM. The Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System in Postmenopausal Women: The Promise of Hormone Therapy.  Mayo Clin Proc. 96(12):3130-3141. Online ahead of print Nov 2021. 2021 Dec.
26. O’Keefe EL, Sturgess JE, O’Keefe JH, Gupta S, Lavie CJ.  Prevention and treatment of atrial fibrillation via risk factor modification.  Am J Cardio. 160:46-52. 2021 Dec.
27. Schnohr P, O'Keefe JH, Lavie CJ, Holtermann A, Lange P, Jensen GB, Marott JL. U-shaped association between duration of sports activity and mortality: Copenhagen City Heart Study. Mayo Clin Proc. 96(12):3012-3020.  Epub 2021 Aug. 2021 December. 
27. DiNicolantonio JJ, O'Keefe JH. Monounsaturated fat vs saturated fat: Effects on cardio-metabolic health and obesity.  Mo Med. 119(1):69-73. 2022 Jan-Feb.
28. Marott JL, Schnohr P, O’Keefe JH, Lavie CJ. Association Between Weekly Exercise Time and Mortality.  Mayo Clin Proc. 97(2):421-422.  2022 Feb. 
29. Aggarwal M, Freeman AM, Ros E, Allen K, Sikand G, Aspry K, Kris-Therton P, Devries S, Reddy K, Singh T, Litwin SE, O’Keefe JH et al.  Trending nutrition controversies #3: Top Controversies in 2021.  Am J Med. 135(2):145-156. 2022 Feb.
30. DiNicolantonio JJ, McCarty MF, Assanga SI, Lujan LL, O’Keefe JH. Ferulic acid and berberine, via Sirt1 and AMPK, may act as a cell cleansing promoters of health longevity.  Open Heart. 9(1):e001801. 2022 Mar.
31. DiNicolantonio JJ, McCarty MF, O’Keefe JH. Coenzyme Q10 deficiency can be expected to compromise Sirt1 activity.  Open Heart. 9(1):e001927. 2022 Mar.
32. O’Keefe JH, O’Keefe EL, Lavie CJ.  Omega-3: The overlooked evidence-based therapy for heart failure.  JACC Heart Fail. 10(4):235-237. 2022 Apr.
33. Sanchis-Gomar F, Lavie CJ, Marín J, Perez-Quilis C, Eijsvogels TMH, O'Keefe JH, Perez MV, Blair SN. Exercise effects on cardiovascular disease: from basic aspects to clinical evidence. Cardiovasc Res. 118(10):2253-2266. 2022 July.
34. McCarty MF, DiNicolantonio JJ, O’Keefe JH. Nutraceutical prevention of diabetic complications-Focus on dicarbonyl and oxidative stress.  Curr Issues Mol Biol. 44(9):4314-4338. 2022 Sep.
35. O'Keefe JH, O'Keefe EL, Lavie CJ, Cordain L. Debunking the vegan myth: The case for a plant-forward omnivorous whole-foods diet.  Prog Cardiovasc Dis.74:2-8. 2022 Sep-Oct.
36. DiNicolantonio JJ, O'Keefe JH. Added Sugars Drive Insulin Resistance, Hyperinsulinemia, Hypertension, Type 2 Diabetes and Coronary Heart Disease.Mo Med. 119(6):519-523. 2022 Nov-Dec.
37. Burtscher J, Vanderriele PE, Legrand M, Predel HG, Niebauer J, O’Keefe JH, Millet GP, Burtscher M.  Could repeated cardio-renal injury trigger late cardiovascular sequalae in extreme endurance athletes? Sports Med. 52(12):2821-2836.  2022 Dec.
38. DiNicolantonio JJ, McCarty MF, O'Keefe JH. Nutraceutical activation of Sirt1: a review. Open Heart. 9(2):e002171. 2022 Dec.
39. O'Keefe JH, O'Keefe EL, Nassif ME, Lavie CJ. Brave New World: Improving Obesity and Preventing Cardiovascular Disease. Mayo Clin Proc. 98(1):11-14. 2023 Jan.
40. Elagizi A, Gersh FL, Lavie CJ, Laukkanen JA, O’Keefe JH. Testosterone and Oestrogen Replacement Therapy and Cardiovascular Risk: A State-of-the-Art Review.  Invited European Heart Journal. 2023 Jan.
41. DiNicolantonio JJ, O'Keefe JH. Monounsaturated Fat vs Saturated Fat: Effects on Cardio-Metabolic Health and Obesity. Mo Med. 119(1):69-73. 2023 Jan-Feb.
42. O’Keefe JH, Tintle NL, Harris WS, O’Keefe EL, Mozaffarian D, Siscovick DS, Lemaitre RN, Sala-Vila A, FORCE Team.  Circulating Omega-3 Fatty AcidLevels and Stroke Risk: A pooled and harmonized analysis of 183,291 subjects from 29 prospective studies.  Submission to Stroke Journal 2023 Feb.
43. O’Keefe JH, O’Keefe EL, Eckert R, Lavie CJ.  Training Strategies to Optimize Cardiovascular Durability and Life Expectance.  Mo Med 2023 Mar-Apr; 120(2):155-162. 
44. Marott JL, Jensen MT, Benn M, Knegt MC, O'Keefe JH, Lavie CJ, Schnohr P, Nordestgaard BG, Jensen GB. Height explains sex difference in atrial fibrillation risk: Copenhagen General Population Study. Mayo Clin Proc. 98(6):846-855.2023 Jun.
45. Elagizi A, Lavie CJ, Gersh FL, O’Keefe JH.  Hormones and COVID-19. Mayo Clin Proc Invited Review. 2023 Jul;98(7):1098-1099. 2023 Jul.
46. Qian F, Tintle N, Jensen PN, Lemaitre RN, Imamura F, Feldreich TR, Nomura SO, Guan W, Laguzzi F, Kim E, Virtanen JK, Steur M, Bork CS, Hirakawa Y, O'Donoghue ML, Sala-Vila A, Ardisson Korat AV, Sun Q, Rimm EB, Psaty BM, Heckbert SR, Forouhi NG, Wareham NJ, Marklund M, Risérus U, Lind L, Ärnlöv J, Garg P, Tsai MY, Pankow J, Misialek JR, Gigante B, Leander K, Pester JA, Albert CM, Kavousi M, Ikram A, Voortman T, Schmidt EB, Ninomiya T, Morrow DA, Bayés-Genís A, O'Keefe JH, Ong KL, Wu JHY, Mozaffarian D, Harris WS, Siscovick DS; Fatty Acids and Outcomes Research Consortium (FORCE). Omega-3 Fatty Acid Biomarkers and Incident Atrial Fibrillation. J Am CollCardiol. 2023 Jul 25;82(4):336-349. 2023 Jul.
47. Gunta SP, O’Keefe JH, O’Keefe EL, Lavie CJ.  PCSK9 Inhibitor, Ezetimibe, and Bempadoic Acid: Evidence-Based LDL-Lowering for Statin-Intolerant/Statin-Phobic Patients.  Prog Cardiovasc Dis.79:12-18. Epub 2023 Mar 5. 2023 Jul-Aug.
48. Elagizi A, Gersh FL, Lavie CJ, Laukkanen JA, O'Keefe JH. Testosterone and cardiovascular health. Eur Heart J. 2023 Aug 9:ehad513. Online ahead of print. 2023 Aug
49. O’Keefe JH, Weidling R, O’Keefe EL, Franco WG.  SGLT inhibitors for improving Healthspan and lifespan.  Prog Cardiovasc Dis. 81:2-9. Epub 2023 Oct. 2023 Nov-Dec.
50. O’Keefe JH, Tintle NL, Harris WS, O’Keefe EL, Sala-Vila A, Attia J, Garg GM, Hure A, Fatty Acids and Outcomes Research Consortium (FORCE). Omega-3 blood levels and stroke risk: A pooled and harmonized analysis 183,291 participants from 29 prospective studies.  Stroke.55(1):50-58. Epub 2023 Dec 22. 2024 Jan.