Biography
Scott Huffaker, D.O., is an invasive cardiologist with MyMichigan Health and is a member of the comprehensive heart and vascular team. This team includes cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, electrophysiologists, heart failure and structural heart specialists, as well as vascular and cardiovascular surgeons.
As an invasive cardiologist, Dr. Huffaker works with patients who have a variety of cardiac-related conditions such as coronary artery disease, atherosclerosis, peripheral vascular disease, valvular and structural heart disease, congenital heart defects, heart failure, and other complex cardiac conditions.
According to Dr. Huffaker, as an under-graduate student at Oakland University he had a job doing research with cardiac cells. “I was also an EMT and was teaching Advanced Cardiac Life Support classes,” he added. “When the opportunity to accept a cardiology fellowship came up, I jumped at the chance. Because cardiac issues are the leading cause of death in males and females, and one third of the population will have cardiac issues at some point, there is opportunity for higher quality research than there is with rare diseases. In my opinion, cardiology has the best research, the best technology and the most rapid innovations available of all fields of medicine.”
Philosophy of Care
Dr. Huffaker strives to provide compassionate, timely, evidenced-based and guideline-directed care. According to him, most people seek out a physician’s advice to improve the quality or quantity of their life. “Because heart disease is usually a long-term problem, I try to develop relationships of trust, mutual respect and friendship,” he said. “I take the time to listen to my patient’s stories and try to understand what they want and how I can help them.”
Special Interests and Procedures
Dr. Huffaker holds a special interest in congestive heart failure. “During my cardiology fellowship, I spent additional rotation time at Henry Ford Health System and Cleveland Clinic in their advance heart failure and transplant programs,” he said. “I am also a member of the Heart Failure Society of America.”
His special procedures and testing include pacemaker implantation, echocardiograms and transesophageal echocardiograms, nuclear cardiac imaging, cardioversions, stress testing, and rhythm monitoring including Holter and event monitors and implantable loop recorders.
In his free-time Dr. Huffaker enjoys mountain biking. He also does wood working and aspires to build musical instruments, such as guitars and ukuleles. He also likes to do remote wilderness canoe trips. Dr. Huffaker and his wife Stefanie met at church while students at Michigan State University. They have been married over 30 years and have six children and two grandchildren.
