Jill Jesurum

Dr. Jesurum is a cardiovascular research scientist, the Scientific Director of the Swedish Heart and Vascular Institute in Seattle, WA and a Research Assistant Professor at The University of Washington.

Her research interests are focused on the heart-brain connection, specifically the linkage between cryptogenic stroke, migraine and patent foramen ovale. In longitudinal projects, she has investigated the effect of transcatheter closure of patent foramen ovale (PFO), a defect of the intra-atrial septum, on recurrent stroke and migraine symptoms. She is currently investigating platelet reactivity and aspirin resistance in migraineurs, endothelial dysfunction in migraine pathogenesis and sequela of migraine including cognitive dysfunction, when migraine is associated with PFO.

She is the Principal Investigator for the “Comorbidities Associated with PFO and Migraine (CAMP)” Study and the “Aspirin Resistance in Women with Migraine” Study both of which are currently enrolling at The University of Washington and Swedish Medical Center in Seattle. Both studies are partially funded by the National Headache Foundation.

Her migraine-PFO research has been published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology (JACC), American Journal of Cardiology (AJC), Headache, Stroke, and the Journal of Neuroimaging, and featured in theheart.org, Reuters, ReachMD.com, US News and World Report, and the Wall Street Journal.

In addition to her research program, Dr. Jesurum maintains an active clinical practice at Swedish Heart and Vascular Clinic focusing on the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis and complex cardiovascular risk factor reduction. She serves as a consultant for medical device companies focusing on the treatment of structural cardiac disease, specifically septal occluder devices for transcatheter patent foramen ovale closure as well as for transcranial Doppler imaging.

In her leisure time, she enjoys exploring the Pacific Northwest, road trips, rock concerts, wine-tasting, and running. Her future plans include guitar lessons (again) and improving her chess and poker skills.