Assoc Prof Christine Burdeniuk (B.Sc.(Hons), BMBS, FRACP) completed her BMBS at Flinders University in 2000 and completed her advanced training in Cardiology and Echocardiography in 2007 at Flinders Medical Centre. She then pursued a further Clinical Fellowship in Advanced Heart Failure and Transplantation at The Alfred Hospital in Melbourne.
Since returning to Adelaide in 2009, Assoc Prof Burdeniuk has been providing care to patients with advanced heart failure throughout the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network, and has established a tertiary level heart failure service in Mt Gambier.
She is heavily involved in the selection and care of heart transplant recipients in South Australia, including the management of heart transplant waiting list patients requiring ventricular assist devices as a bridge to transplantation. Whilst these patients will typically receive their transplant interstate, with Christine’s involvement they have been able to return to await their transplant in South Australia.
Assoc Prof Burdeniuk strongly believes it is important to focus on the early detection of cardiac disease. By addressing cardiac risk factors such as high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol (hyperlipidaemia) and smoking cessation, the subsequent development of cardiac disease can be prevented in many cases. Life style modifications are an integral component of any management plan. Patients need to be encouraged to address their environmental risk factors (weight, diet, smoking) before relying on medication prescription.
Assoc Prof Burdeniuk also provides mentoring and further education to doctors and nurses on how to achieve optimal outcomes for their patients. She has delivered educational sessions on topics including: management of hyperlipidaemia, atrial fibrillation, pulmonary hypertension, heart failure, heart transplantation and mechanical support across a number of forums. She has been recognised by the CPMEC in 2017 as the Clinical Educator of the Year in South Australia for her work with junior doctors.