Bjarki J. Olafsson MD FACC

Echocardiography, Interventional Cardiology, Preventive Cardiology

Interventional Cardiology St Thomas West

4230 Harding Rd.Suite 330Nashville, TN 37205
Phone+1 615-812-5157

Dr. Olafsson is on Doximity

As a Doximity member, you’ll join more than three million U.S. healthcare professionals—including 85+% of physicians, and 2/3 of all NPs and PAs—in a private, secure network.

Gain access to free telehealth tools, such as our “call shielding” and one-way patient texting.
Connect with colleagues in the same hospital or clinic.
Read the latest clinical news, personalized to your specialty.

See Dr. Olafsson's full profile Already have an account?

Summary

Dr. Bjarki Olafsson is a cardiologist located in Nashville, TN, with subspecialties in echocardiography, interventional cardiology, and preventive cardiology. He completed his residency in internal medicine at the University of North Carolina Hospitals and a cardiovascular disease fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Dr. Olafsson has been a consulting physician at West Tennessee Healthcare Henry County Hospital and a cardiologist at Ascension Saint Thomas. He was also an assistant clinical professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine from 1987 to 2018. His experience includes general cardiology, atherosclerosis, hypertension, coronary artery disease, and valvular heart disease. He has authored multiple publications in reputable medical journals and has received recognition such as Fellow from the American College of Cardiology and CMS Meaningful Use Stage Certifications.

Clinical Expertise

General cardiology, Atrial fibrillation, Atherosclerosis, Hyperlipidemia, Coronary artery disease, Cardiac critical care, Echocardiography, Lipid metabolism disorders, Left ventricular dysfunction, Interventional cardiology, Cardiology, Aortic stenosis, Internal medicine

Education & Training

Vanderbilt University Medical CenterFellowship, Cardiovascular Disease, 1984 - 1986
University of North Carolina HospitalsResidency, Internal Medicine, 1981 - 1984
University of IcelandClass of 1979

The following disclaimer is related to board certifications obtained from ABMS®, denoted by the ABMS® logo.

This information is proprietary data maintained in a copyrighted database owned by the American Board of Medical Specialties®. The display and presence of ABMS Data in no way constitutes any affiliation, association with, or endorsement of any advertising, promotion, or sponsorship by ABMS and its affiliates and subsidiaries, the ABMS Member Boards, or ABMS board certified physicians and medical specialists. Copyright 2026 American Board of Medical Specialties®. All rights reserved.

The user is responsible for ensuring that the profile obtained in this directory is the profile of the physician or medical specialist being sought.

A self-designated specialty, subspecialty, or practice area neither implies nor is equivalent to ABMS board certification or the existence of specialized training by or competence of a physician or medical specialist.

Certifications & Licensure

TN State Medical License 1985 - 2028
American Board of Internal Medicine Internal Medicine
American Board of Internal Medicine Cardiovascular Disease

Awards, Honors, & Recognition

CMS Meaningful Use Stage 1 Certification athenaClinicals, athenahealth, Inc., 2014, 2016-2017
CMS Meaningful Use Stage 2 Certification athenaClinicals, athenahealth, Inc., 2014, 2016-2017
Fellow (FACC) American College of Cardiology

Publications & Presentations

PubMed

170 citations
Cardiovascular and respiratory effects of adenosine in conscious man. Evidence for chemoreceptor activation.
Italo Biaggioni, B Olafsson, R M Robertson, Alan S. Hollister, David Robertson
Circulation Research. 1987-12-01
300 citations
Reduction of reperfusion injury in the canine preparation by intracoronary adenosine: importance of the endothelium and the no-reflow phenomenon.
B Olafsson, Mervyn B. Forman, D W Puett, A Pou, Christopher U. Cates
Circulation. 1987-11-01

Journal Articles

TNT; Intensive Lipid Lowering with Atorvastatin in Patients with Stable Coronary Disease
Coinvestigator, NEJM, 2005
The WIZARD Study
Olafsson, B (Coinvestigator), JAMA, 2003
Treatment of Orthostatic Hypotension
Olafsson, B and Robertson, D, Drug Therapy, 1987

Abstracts/Posters

Characteristics of Adenosine-induced stimulation of respiration in man
Biaggioni, I., Olafsson,B., Robertson,R., Hollister, A.S and Robertson, D., Plugers Arch. Eur. J. Physiol., Munich, Germany, 6/1986
The hemodynamic and respiratory effects of Adenosine boluses are not antagonized by aminophylline in man.
Olafsson B., Biaggioni,I., Robertson, R.M., Hollister, A.S., Robertson, D, American Federation for Clinical Research, Washington., D.C,, 5/1986
Adenosine infusion stimulates respiration in man
Biaggioni, I., Olafsson, B., Robertson, R., Hollister, A.S. and Robertson. D, American Federation for Clinical Research, Washington, D.C, 1986