Dr Christian Verdicchio
School of Health Sciences
Faculty of Medicine and Health
Dr Christian is the Chief Executive Officer of Heart Support Australia overseeing the organisation and leading Australia’s largest cardiovascular disease peer support network to ensure Australians receive long-term support following a cardiac event.
Prior to his work with Heart Support Australia, Dr Verdicchio was the the Corporate Allied Health and Cardiac Rehabilitation Manager at Macquarie Health where he established and led Australia’s largest private cardiac rehabilitation program across 12 hospitals in Sydney and Melbourne.
Dr Verdicchio is a clinician-researcher with extensive experience in exercise in cardiovascular disease and sports cardiology. He completed his PhD in Medicine under the supervision of Prof Prash Sanders and was awarded Dean's Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence for his PhD titled 'Exercise in Atrial Fibrillation'. He continues to hold academic appointments as a Clinical Senior Lecturer in the Adelaide Medical School at the University of Adelaide and in the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Sydney.
Dr Verdicchio has extensive board and governance experience. He was the President of Com.It.Es South Australia from 2017-2021 being the youngest in the world to be elected to such a position. He was one of three founding Board Directors of the new Adelaide Italian Festival in 2019, where he continues to be an active member.
He is a current referee on the SA National Premier League (formerly NSW National Premier League) with more than 300-senior fixtures and was formerly a match official on the Hyundai-A-League, Foxtel Youth League and Australian Cup.
Subject expert in cardiopulmonary exercise testing and prescription of exercise for patients with atrial fibrillation and complex cardiovascular disease.
I have taught or continue to teach within the following courses; Principles of Exercise Science, Nutrition and Metabolism, Exercise Physiology, Human Physiology and MBBS research project supervision.
Accredited Exercise Physiologist (ESSA AEP)
ESC European Association of Preventive Cardiology Member (EAPC)
Australian Cardiac Rehabilitation Association Member (ACRA)
Cardiac Society of Australia and NZ Member (CSANZ)
- Exercise and Sports Science Australia Research to Practice Early Career Research Finalist 2021
- University of Adelaide Dean’s Commendation for Doctoral Thesis Excellence 2019
- European Society of Cardiology EuroPrevent Young Investigator Award Finalist 2019 and 2021
- The Hospital Research Foundation Travel Grant 2019
- Heart Foundation Australia EO Myers Trust Fund Travel Grants 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019
- Exercise and Sports Science Australia Research to Practice Young Investigator Finalist 2018
- Walter and Dorothy Duncan Trust Fund Travel Grant 2017 & 2018
- Lions Medical Research Foundation Travel Grant 2017
- University of Adelaide Florey Research Conference Medical School “Best Abstract” 2016
- University of Adelaide Faculty of Health Sciences Divisional Scholarship 2015-18
- University of South Australia’s Merit Award 2014
Publications
Journals
- Verdicchio, C., Freene, N., Hollings, M., Maiorana, A., Briffa, T., Gallagher, R., Hendriks, J., Abell, B., Brown, A., Colquhoun, D., Redfern, J., et al (2023). A Clinical Guide for Assessment and Prescription of Exercise and Physical Activity in Cardiac Rehabilitation. A CSANZ Position Statement. Heart, Lung, and Circulation, 32(9), 1035-1048. [More Information]
- Cartledge, S., Thomas, E., Murphy, B., Abell, B., Verdicchio, C., Zecchin, R., Cameron, J., Gallagher, R., Astley, C. (2023). Impact of Early COVID-19 Waves on Cardiac Rehabilitation Delivery in Australia: A National Survey. Heart, Lung, and Circulation, 32(3), 353-363. [More Information]
- Verdicchio, C., Mahajan, R., Middeldorp, M., Gallagher, C., Mishima, R., Lau, D., Sanders, P., Elliott, A. (2023). Influence of sex on efficacy of exercise training for patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation: insights from the ACTIVE-AF randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 30(18), 2006-2014. [More Information]
2023
- Verdicchio, C., Freene, N., Hollings, M., Maiorana, A., Briffa, T., Gallagher, R., Hendriks, J., Abell, B., Brown, A., Colquhoun, D., Redfern, J., et al (2023). A Clinical Guide for Assessment and Prescription of Exercise and Physical Activity in Cardiac Rehabilitation. A CSANZ Position Statement. Heart, Lung, and Circulation, 32(9), 1035-1048. [More Information]
- Cartledge, S., Thomas, E., Murphy, B., Abell, B., Verdicchio, C., Zecchin, R., Cameron, J., Gallagher, R., Astley, C. (2023). Impact of Early COVID-19 Waves on Cardiac Rehabilitation Delivery in Australia: A National Survey. Heart, Lung, and Circulation, 32(3), 353-363. [More Information]
- Verdicchio, C., Mahajan, R., Middeldorp, M., Gallagher, C., Mishima, R., Lau, D., Sanders, P., Elliott, A. (2023). Influence of sex on efficacy of exercise training for patients with symptomatic atrial fibrillation: insights from the ACTIVE-AF randomized controlled trial. European Journal of Preventive Cardiology, 30(18), 2006-2014. [More Information]
Selected Grants
2022
- A very brief intervention for physical activitybehaviour change in cardiac rehabilitation: the Measure It trial, Freene N, Davey R, McPhail S, Gallagher R, Kunstler B, Tyack Z, Keegan R, Niyonsenga T, Verdicchio C, Abhayaratna W, Department of Health and Aged Care (Federal - administered by NHMRC)/MRFF - 2021 Cardiovascular Health Grant Opportunity
In the media
Availlable to comment on matters relating to cardiovascular disease and consumer access to healthcare therapies.