Dr. Clara Chow

Dr. Clara K. Chow, AM, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FCSANZ, FAHMS

Clara K. Chow, AM, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FCSANZ, FAHMS, is a cardiologist specialising in cardiovascular prevention and digital health whose base is University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital and the Western Sydney Local Health District in Sydney, Australia and whose field is cardiovascular prevention and digital health. Dr. Clara Chow holds the post of Professor of Medicine, Academic Director of the Westmead Applied Research Centre and Program Director of Community Based Cardiac Services.

Her principal interests are cardiovascular disease prevention in Australia and globally; digital health and mobile health interventions; and secondary prevention after coronary heart disease. She was elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences.

Cardiologists are doctors who diagnose and treat conditions of the heart and blood vessels. After a medical degree they complete general medical training, then several further years in cardiology and often a subspecialty fellowship. Dr. Clara Chow works in cardiovascular prevention and digital health, which means that referrals tend to involve this area specifically.

Key Facts About Dr. Clara Chow

• Full Name And Credentials: Clara K. Chow, AM, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FCSANZ, FAHMS
• Profession: Cardiologist specialising in cardiovascular prevention and digital health
• Field Of Focus: Cardiovascular prevention and digital health
• Current Position: Professor of Medicine, Academic Director of the Westmead Applied Research Centre and Program Director of Community Based Cardiac Services
• Institution: University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital and the Western Sydney Local Health District
• Location: Sydney, Australia
• Sees Patients: Yes, in a clinical setting

Dr. Clara Chow Degrees And Board Certification

The qualifications below are drawn from the institutional, professional body and publisher sources listed at the end of this profile.

• Medical Degree: MBBS, University of Sydney, 1997
• Specialty Training: Cardiology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney
• Doctorate: PhD in cardiovascular epidemiology and international public health, University of Sydney, on cardiovascular risk in rural India
• Fellowship: Postdoctoral training in cardiovascular epidemiology and clinical trials, McMaster University, Canada, and a year at the British Heart Foundation Cardiovascular Research Centre in Glasgow

Main Areas Of Knowledge For Dr. Clara Chow

Published professional sources describe the work of Dr. Clara Chow as centred on:

• Cardiovascular disease prevention in Australia and globally
• Digital health and mobile health interventions
• Secondary prevention after coronary heart disease
• Models of care and rapid access cardiology clinics
• Cardiac computed tomography and echocardiography
• Cardiovascular risk in South Asian and low income populations

Appointments And Leadership Roles Of Dr. Clara Chow

• Professor of Medicine at Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, since 2013
• Academic Director of the Westmead Applied Research Centre in the Faculty of Medicine and Health
• Program Director and clinical lead for Community Based Cardiac Services at Westmead Hospital, with responsibility for its rapid access cardiology services
• Member of the Governing Board of the Western Sydney Local Health District
• Inaugural Director of the Australian Stroke and Heart Research Accelerator
• Past President of the Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand, and the first woman elected to that office in the society’s sixty eight year history
• Academic Co-Director of the Charles Perkins Centre Westmead and co-lead of the cardiovascular stream of Sydney Health Partners
• Honorary Professorial Fellow at the George Institute for Global Health, and Director of its Cardiovascular Division from 2014 to 2017
• Member of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee and co-chair of the Secondary Prevention Alliance
• Led the TEXT ME trial, which showed that a text messaging programme lowered cholesterol, blood pressure and weight in patients with coronary heart disease

Distinctions Held By Dr. Clara Chow

• Member of the Order of Australia, for significant service to medicine as a cardiologist and to research
• Elected Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Sciences, 2023
• Ross Hohnen Award for Research Excellence and Innovation, Heart Foundation, 2013
• Google Impact Challenge Award in 2016 and AI Impact Challenge Award in 2019
• Impact Award of the George Institute, 2016
• Highly Commended for Digital Health Technology, Research Australia, 2023
• Finalist for Woman of Excellence in the 2024 NSW Premier’s Woman of the Year Awards
• Author of more than 350 published papers
• Current holder of a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator grant

Hospital And Country Where Dr. Clara Chow Works

University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital and the Western Sydney Local Health District

Sydney, Australia. Clinical commitments at this institution are arranged through its own departments and services. Confirm the current address, department and telephone number with the institution before travelling, because academic appointments and clinic sites change.

Understanding Cardiovascular Prevention And Digital Health

Most cardiovascular disease now occurs in low and middle income countries, and much of it in people younger than in high income populations. Global cardiovascular research studies that shift directly, following hundreds of thousands of people across dozens of countries to establish which risk factors matter most where, and testing treatments that are affordable and practical at scale. The findings matter everywhere, because advice developed in one population does not automatically hold in another with different diets, incomes and health systems.

Other Cardiologists Working In Cardiovascular Prevention And Digital Health

If you are comparing specialists, these profiles cover closely related areas of cardiology:

• Dr. K. Srinath Reddy, preventive cardiology and public health at Public Health Foundation of India
• Dr. Karen Sliwa, heart disease in pregnancy at University of Cape Town, Groote Schuur Hospital and UCT Private Academic Hospital
• Dr. Salim Yusuf, global cardiovascular epidemiology at McMaster University and the Population Health Research Institute
• Dr. Sonia Anand, vascular medicine and population health at McMaster University, the Population Health Research Institute and Hamilton Health Sciences

Browse the full cardiologist directory for more heart specialists.

Booking And Referral Information For Dr. Clara Chow

Dr. Clara Chow is a cardiologist at Westmead Hospital since 2009 who divides her time about equally between clinical work and research, with clinical interests in cardiac computed tomography and echocardiography. Access is usually arranged through the institution, a referring doctor or its own clinic rather than through this directory. Insurance participation, fees and waiting times vary by institution and by plan, and they change over time, so check coverage with both the institution and your insurer before scheduling. Use the enquiry button on this page to ask about availability.

Questions Patients Ask About Dr. Clara Chow

What did Dr. Clara Chow study?

MBBS, University of Sydney, 1997. Full training details appear in the education section above.

What are the qualifications of Dr. Clara Chow?

Clara K. Chow, AM, MBBS, PhD, FRACP, FCSANZ, FAHMS. Full credentials are listed above.

What position does Dr. Clara Chow hold?

Dr. Clara Chow is Professor of Medicine, Academic Director of the Westmead Applied Research Centre and Program Director of Community Based Cardiac Services, based at University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital and the Western Sydney Local Health District.

What is Cardiovascular Prevention And Digital Health?

Cardiovascular Prevention And Digital Health is the area of cardiology that covers cardiovascular disease prevention in Australia and globally; digital health and mobile health interventions; and secondary prevention after coronary heart disease. Cardiologists working in it, including Dr. Clara Chow, diagnose and treat these problems and carry out the research that sets the standard of care for them.

Has Dr. Clara Chow received professional recognition?

Yes. Member of the Order of Australia, for significant service to medicine as a cardiologist and to research. Further awards and distinctions are listed above.

Does Dr. Clara Chow hold leadership roles in the field?

Yes. Professor of Medicine at Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, since 2013. A fuller list of appointments appears above.

Source References For Dr. Clara Chow

• University of Sydney academic profile
• Heart Foundation of Australia profile
• Cardiac Society of Australia and New Zealand Order of Australia citation

Last Reviewed And Sourcing For Dr. Clara Chow

This profile was compiled from the public professional sources listed above, including university faculty pages, professional register and society records, journal author statements and publisher biographies. Qualifications, appointments and awards were checked against at least two independent sources where available. Last reviewed on 30 October 2026.

Found something out of date? Contact the Find MD Health editorial team and we will review the entry.

Health Information Disclaimer For The Dr. Clara Chow Profile

Information only, not medical advice. Location, services, insurance and availability change, so confirm details with University of Sydney, Westmead Hospital and the Western Sydney Local Health District. Severe or sudden chest pain is a medical emergency.