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Kevin J. Whitehead
( out of 78 reviews )

Kevin J. Whitehead, MD

Languages spoken: French, English, Norwegian

Clinical Locations

Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center

208-367-2121

University of Utah Hospital

Cardiovascular Center
801-585-7676

University of Utah Hospital

Utah Adult Congential Heart Clinic
801-585-7676

University of Utah Hospital

HHT Center
801-581-8188
  • Dr. Kevin Whitehead is an Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Utah, and Adjunct Associate Professor of Pediatric Cardiology at Primary Children's Medical Center. He also is an Attending Physician at the George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He is co-director of the Utah Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program and is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Comprehensive Echocardiography. He cares for adults with congenital heart disease, heart disease in pregnancy, and other patients with cardiac complications of genetic diseases (such as muscular dystrophies). As an outgrowth of his interests in congenital and genetic cardiovascular diseases, Dr. Whitehead is also the Director of the Utah Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) Center of Excellence, and in this role provides overall medical management and coordination of care to HHT patients seen at the University.

    Dr. Whitehead received his M.D. from the University of Alberta, and did an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Western Ontario. He completed Cardiology fellowship and a Cardiovascular Research fellowship at the University of Utah, where he was named a Pfizer Cardiovascular Research Fellow in 2000. He is a fellow of the American Heart Association, and a member of the American Society of Echocardiography and the North American Vascular Biology Organization.

    Board Certification

    American Board of Internal Medicine (Internal Medicine)
    American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Adult Congenital Heart Disease)
    American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Cardiovascular Disease)
    Fellow of Royal College of Physicians of Canada
    National Board of Echocardiography

    Patient Rating

    4.9 /5
    ( out of 78 reviews )

    The patient rating score is an average of all responses on our patient experience survey. The rating averages scores for all questions about care from our providers.

    The scale on which responses are measured is 1 to 5 with 5 being the best score.

    Patient Comments

    Patient comments are gathered from our patient experience survey and displayed in their entirety.
    Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

    August 17, 2023
    UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

    I have great respect for Dr.Whithead.

    August 04, 2023
    UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

    He always takes my wishes into consideration. But does whats best for me.

    August 03, 2023
    UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

    Explained each part of the process I would be going through and explained it to me in an easy to understand way

    July 23, 2023
    UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

    I appreciate how Dr. Whitehead listens and helps me understand my heart health, my needs, and what plans there are to take care of me now and in the future.

    July 20, 2023
    UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

    Both he and his assistant/associate were very attentive and provided good feedback. He spent the time necessary for a good discussion of my condition and concerns.

    July 15, 2023
    UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

    Dr. Whitehead is the kindest and most knowledgeable doctor that I have experienced. No superlative is too much.

    July 14, 2023
    UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

    Dr Whitehead takes time with me explaining things in a way I can understand. He takes time to answer any questions I have concerning my care. He explained in detail the next steps for my care.

    July 13, 2023
    UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

    I have never met a physician who was more interested in my medical problems. He spent a great deal of time listening and explaining the details of my education condition which is HHT. I have been to several Erica institutions around the country but have NEVER had anyone show the interest in my history or present situation as Dr Whithead did. His entire staff was very knowledgeable about HHT and interested in my experiences. I really cant say enough about the fabulous care I had.

    July 06, 2023
    UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL

    The guy is amazing! Smart, intuitive, and personable! What a great doctor!

  • Dr. Kevin Whitehead is an Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine at the University of Utah, and Adjunct Associate Professor of Pediatric Cardiology at Primary Children's Medical Center. He also is an Attending Physician at the George E. Wahlen Veterans Affairs Medical Center. He is co-director of the Utah Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program and is board certified in Internal Medicine, Cardiovascular Disease, Adult Congenital Heart Disease and Comprehensive Echocardiography. He cares for adults with congenital heart disease, heart disease in pregnancy, and other patients with cardiac complications of genetic diseases (such as muscular dystrophies). As an outgrowth of his interests in congenital and genetic cardiovascular diseases, Dr. Whitehead is also the Director of the Utah Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia (HHT) Center of Excellence, and in this role provides overall medical management and coordination of care to HHT patients seen at the University.

    Dr. Whitehead received his M.D. from the University of Alberta, and did an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Western Ontario. He completed Cardiology fellowship and a Cardiovascular Research fellowship at the University of Utah, where he was named a Pfizer Cardiovascular Research Fellow in 2000. He is a fellow of the American Heart Association, and a member of the American Society of Echocardiography and the North American Vascular Biology Organization.

    Board Certification and Academic Information

    Academic Departments Internal Medicine -Primary
    Pediatrics -Adjunct
    Academic Divisions Cardiovascular Medicine
    Cardiology
    Board Certification
    American Board of Internal Medicine (Internal Medicine)
    American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Adult Congenital Heart Disease)
    American Board of Internal Medicine (Sub: Cardiovascular Disease)
    Fellow of Royal College of Physicians of Canada
    National Board of Echocardiography

    Education history

    Fellowship Cardiology - University of Utah School of Medicine Fellow
    Internal Medicine - University of Western Ontario Resident
    Internship Internal Medicine - University of Western Ontario Intern
    Medicine - University of Alberta - School of Medicine M.D.
    Undergraduate Medical Science - University of Alberta B.Med.Sci.
    Undergraduate Biochemistry - University of Lethbridge
    Undergraduate Pre-Medicine - University of Lethbridge

    Selected Publications

    Journal Article

    1. Kilian A, Latino GA, White AJ, Ratjen F, McDonald J, Whitehead KJ, Gossage JR, Krings T, Lawton MT, Kim H, Faughnan ME, The Brain Vascular Malformation Consortium Hht Investigator Group (2023). Reply to Eker et al. Comment on "Kilian et al. Comparing Characteristics and Treatment of Brain Vascular Malformations in Children and Adults with HHT. J. Clin. Med. 2023, 12, 2704". J Clin Med, 12(23). (Read full article)
    2. Sun B, Rouzbehani OMT, Kramer RJ, Ghosh R, Perelli RM, Atkins S, Fatahian AN, Davis K, Szulik MW, Goodman MA, Hathaway MA, Chi E, Word TA, Tunuguntla H, Denfield SW, Wehrens XHT, Whitehead KJ, Abdelnasser HY, Warren JS, Wu M, Franklin S, Boudina S, Landstrom AP (2023). Nonsense Variant PRDM16-Q187X Causes Impaired Myocardial Development and TGF-β Signaling Resulting in Noncompaction Cardiomyopathy in Humans and Mice. Circ Heart Fail, 16(12), e010351. (Read full article)
    3. McDonald J, Kornish J, Stevenson DA, Hanson-Kahn A, Balch H, James J, Naik H, Whitehead KJ (2023). Frequency of epistaxis and telangiectasia in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) in comparison with the general population: Curaçao diagnostic criteria revisited. Genet Med, 25(8), 100865. (Read full article)
    4. Son SL, Hosek LL, Stein MC, Allshouse AA, Catino AB, Hoskoppal AK, Cox DA, Whitehead KJ, Lindsay IM, Esplin S, Metz TD (2021). Association between pregnancy and long-term cardiac outcomes in individuals with congenital heart disease. Am J Obstet Gynecol, 226(1), 124.e1-124.e8. (Read full article)
    5. Cho JM, Park SK, Ghosh R, Ly K, Ramous C, Thompson L, Hansen M, Mattera MSLC, Pires KM, Ferhat M, Mookherjee S, Whitehead KJ, Carter K, Buffolo M, Boudina S, Symons JD (2021). Late-in-life treadmill training rejuvenates autophagy, protein aggregate clearance, and function in mouse hearts. Aging Cell, 20(10), e13467. (Read full article)
    6. Shankar TS, Ramadurai DKA, Steinhorst K, Sommakia S, Badolia R, Thodou Krokidi A, Calder D, Navankasattusas S, Sander P, Kwon OS, Aravamudhan A, Ling J, Dendorfer A, Xie C, Kwon O, Cheng EHY, Whitehead KJ, Gudermann T, Richardson RS, Sachse FB, Schredelseker J, Spitzer KW, Chaudhuri D, Drakos SG (2021). Cardiac-specific deletion of voltage dependent anion channel 2 leads to dilated cardiomyopathy by altering calcium homeostasis. Nat Commun, 12(1), 4583. (Read full article)
    7. Andrade L, Hoskoppal A, Hunt Martin M, Whitehead K, Ou Z, Kuang J, Cox D (2020). Intracranial aneurysm and coarctation of the aorta: prevalence in the current era. Cardiol Young, 31(2), 229-232. (Read full article)
    8. Hart BL, Mabray MC, Morrison L, Whitehead KJ, Kim H (2021). Systemic and CNS manifestations of inherited cerebrovascular malformations. Clin Imaging, 75, 55-66. (Read full article)
    9. Faughnan ME, Mager JJ, Hetts SW, Palda VA, Lang-Robertson K, Buscarini E, Deslandres E, Kasthuri RS, Lausman A, Poetker D, Ratjen F, Chesnutt MS, Clancy M, Whitehead KJ, Al-Samkari H, Chakinala M, Conrad M, Cortes D, Crocione C, Darling J, de Gussem E, Derksen C, Dupuis-Girod S, Foy P, Geisthoff U, Gossage JR, Hammill A, Heimdal K, Henderson K, Iyer VN, Kjeldsen AD, Komiyama M, Korenblatt K, McDonald J, McMahon J, McWilliams J, Meek ME, Mei-Zahav M, Olitsky S, Palmer S, Pantalone R, Piccirillo JF, Plahn B, Porteous MEM, Post MC, Radovanovic I, Rochon PJ, Rodriguez-Lopez J, Sabba C, Serra M, Shovlin C, Sprecher D, White AJ, Winship I, Zarrabeitia R (2020). Second International Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia. Ann Intern Med, 173(12), 989-1001. (Read full article)
    10. Kilian A, Latino GA, White AJ, Clark D, Chakinala MM, Ratjen F, McDonald J, Whitehead K, Gossage JR, Lin D, Henderson K, Pollak J, McWilliams JP, Kim H, Lawton MT, Faughnan ME, the Brain Vascular Malformation Consortium HHT Investigator Group (2020). Genotype-Phenotype Correlations in Children with HHT. J Clin Med, 9(9). (Read full article)
    11. McDonald J, Bayrak-Toydemir P, DeMille D, Wooderchak-Donahue W, Whitehead K (2020). Curaçao diagnostic criteria for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia is highly predictive of a pathogenic variant in ENG or ACVRL1 (HHT1 and HHT2). Genet Med, 22(7), 1201-1205. (Read full article)
    12. Shanmugam G, Wang D, Gounder SS, Fernandes J, Litovsky SH, Whitehead K, Radhakrishnan RK, Franklin S, Hoidal JR, Kensler TW, DellItalia L, Darley-Usmar V, Abel ED, Jones DP, Ping P, Rajasekaran NS (2021). Reductive Stress Causes Pathological Cardiac Remodeling and Diastolic Dysfunction. Antioxid Redox Signal, 32(18), 1293-1312. (Read full article)
    13. Flemming KD, Kumar S, Brown RD Jr, Singh RJ, Whitehead K, McCreath L, Lanzino G (2020). Cavernous Malformation Hemorrhagic Presentation at Diagnosis Associated with Low 25-Hydroxy-Vitamin D Level. Cerebrovasc Dis, 49(2), 216-222. (Read full article)
    14. Polster SP, Stadnik A, Akers AL, Cao Y, Christoforidis GA, Fam MD, Flemming KD, Girard R, Hobson N, Koenig JI, Koskimki J, Lane K, Liao JK, Lee C, Lyne SB, McBee N, Morrison L, Piedad K, Shenkar R, Sorrentino M, Thompson RE, Whitehead KJ, Zeineddine HA, Hanley DF, Awad IA (2018). Atorvastatin Treatment of Cavernous Angiomas with Symptomatic Hemorrhage Exploratory Proof of Concept (AT CASH EPOC) Trial. Neurosurgery, 85(6), 843-853. (Read full article)
    15. Tang AT, Sullivan KR, Hong CC, Goddard LM, Mahadevan A, Ren A, Pardo H, Peiper A, Griffin E, Tanes C, Mattei LM, Yang J, Li L, Mericko-Ishizuka P, Shen L, Hobson N, Girard R, Lightle R, Moore T, Shenkar R, Polster SP, Roedel CJ, Li N, Zhu Q, Whitehead KJ, Zheng X, Akers A, Morrison L, Kim H, Bittinger K, Lengner CJ, Schwaninger M, Velcich A, Augenlicht L, Abdelilah-Seyfried S, Min W, Marchuk DA, Awad IA, Kahn ML (2018). Distinct cellular roles for PDCD10 define a gut-brain axis in cerebral cavernous malformation. Sci Transl Med, 11(520). (Read full article)
    16. Gonzalez CD, Cipriano SD, Topham CA, Stevenson DA, Whitehead KJ, Vanderhooft S, Presson AP, McDonald J (2019). Localization and age distribution of telangiectases in children and adolescents with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: A retrospective cohort study. J Am Acad Dermatol, 81(4), 950-955. (Read full article)
    17. Wooderchak-Donahue WL, Akay G, Whitehead K, Briggs E, Stevenson DA, OFallon B, Velinder M, Farrell A, Shen W, Bedoukian E, Skrabann CM, Antaya RJ, Henderson K, Pollak J, Treat J, Day R, Jacher JE, Hannibal M, Bontempo K, Marth G, Bayrak-Toydemir P, McDonald J (2019). Phenotype of CM-AVM2 caused by variants in EPHB4: how much overlap with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT)? Genet Med, 21(9), 2007-2014. (Read full article)
    18. Balakrishnan B, Verheijen J, Lupo A, Raymond K, Turgeon C, Yang Y, Carter KL, Whitehead KJ, Kozicz T, Morava E, Lai K (2019). A novel phosphoglucomutase-deficient mouse model reveals aberrant glycosylation and early embryonic lethality. J Inherit Metab Dis, 42(5), 998-1007. (Read full article)
    19. Lyne SB, Girard R, Koskimki J, Zeineddine HA, Zhang D, Cao Y, Li Y, Stadnik A, Moore T, Lightle R, Shi C, Shenkar R, Carrin-Penagos J, Polster SP, Romanos S, Akers A, Lopez-Ramirez M, Whitehead KJ, Kahn ML, Ginsberg MH, Marchuk DA, Awad IA (2019). Biomarkers of cavernous angioma with symptomatic hemorrhage. JCI Insight, 4(12). (Read full article)
    20. Wooderchak-Donahue WL, McDonald J, Farrell A, Akay G, Velinder M, Johnson P, VanSant-Webb C, Margraf R, Briggs E, Whitehead KJ, Thomson J, Lin AE, Pyeritz RE, Marth G, Bayrak-Toydemir P (2018). Genome sequencing reveals a deep intronic splicing ACVRL1 mutation hotspot in Hereditary Haemorrhagic Telangiectasia. J Med Genet, 55(12), 824-830. (Read full article)
    21. Girard R, Zeineddine HA, Koskimki J, Fam MD, Cao Y, Shi C, Moore T, Lightle R, Stadnik A, Chaudagar K, Polster S, Shenkar R, Duggan R, Leclerc D, Whitehead KJ, Li DY, Awad IA (2018). Plasma Biomarkers of Inflammation and Angiogenesis Predict Cerebral Cavernous Malformation Symptomatic Hemorrhage or Lesional Growth. Circ Res, 122(12), 1716-1721. (Read full article)
    22. Thomson RS, Molin NL, Whitehead KJ, Ashby S, Johnson L, Ward PD, McRae BR, Wilson KF, McDonald J (2018). The effects of nasal closure on quality of life in patients with hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Laryngoscope Investig Otolaryngol, 3(3), 178-181. (Read full article)
    23. Weber LM, McDonald J, Whitehead K (2018). Vitamin D levels are associated with epistaxis severity and bleeding duration in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia. Biomark Med, 12(4), 365-371. (Read full article)
    24. Girard R, Zeineddine HA, Fam MD, Mayampurath A, Cao Y, Shi C, Shenkar R, Polster SP, Jesselson M, Duggan R, Mikati AG, Christoforidis G, Andrade J, Whitehead KJ, Li DY, Awad IA (2017). Plasma Biomarkers of Inflammation Reflect Seizures and Hemorrhagic Activity of Cerebral Cavernous Malformations. Transl Stroke Res, 9(1), 34-43. (Read full article)
    25. Akers A, Al-Shahi Salman R, A Awad I, Dahlem K, Flemming K, Hart B, Kim H, Jusue-Torres I, Kondziolka D, Lee C, Morrison L, Rigamonti D, Rebeiz T, Tournier-Lasserve E, Waggoner D, Whitehead K (2016). Synopsis of Guidelines for the Clinical Management of Cerebral Cavernous Malformations: Consensus Recommendations Based on Systematic Literature Review by the Angioma Alliance Scientific Advisory Board Clinical Experts Panel. Neurosurgery, 80(5), 665-680. (Read full article)
    26. Whitehead KJ, Sautter NB, McWilliams JP, Chakinala MM, Merlo CA, Johnson MH, James M, Everett EM, Clancy MS, Faughnan ME, Oh SP, Olitsky SE, Pyeritz RE, Gossage JR (2016). Effect of Topical Intranasal Therapy on Epistaxis Frequency in Patients With Hereditary Hemorrhagic Telangiectasia: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA, 316(9), 943-51. (Read full article)
    27. Hunter BN, Timmins BH, McDonald J, Whitehead KJ, Ward PD, Wilson KF (2016). An evaluation of the severity and progression of epistaxis in hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia 1 versus hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia 2. Laryngoscope, 126(4), 786-90. (Read full article)
    28. McDonald J, Wooderchak-Donahue W, VanSant Webb C, Whitehead K, Stevenson DA, Bayrak-Toydemir P (2015). Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia: genetics and molecular diagnostics in a new era. Front Genet, 6, 1. (Read full article)
    29. Gibson CC, Zhu W, Davis CT, Bowman-Kirigin JA, Chan AC, Ling J, Walker AE, Goitre L, Delle Monache S, Retta SF, Shiu YT, Grossmann AH, Thomas KR, Donato AJ, Lesniewski LA, Whitehead KJ, Li DY (2015). Strategy for identifying repurposed drugs for the treatment of cerebral cavernous malformation. Circulation, 131(3), 289-99. (Read full article)
    30. Mleynek TM, Chan AC, Redd M, Gibson CC, Davis CT, Shi DS, Chen T, Carter KL, Ling J, Blanco R, Gerhardt H, Whitehead K, Li DY (2014). Lack of CCM1 induces hypersprouting and impairs response to flow. Hum Mol Genet, 23(23), 6223-34. (Read full article)

    Video/Film/CD/Web/Podcast

    1. Cure HHT (2019). Dr Whitehead's Interview Highlighting Utah HHT Center [Video]. Pompano Beach, Florida: Cure HHT.