Christina Fanola, MD

Christina Fanola, MD, MSc is a cardiologist who cares for patients at Essentia Health. She practices general cardiology and sports cardiology, with added expertise in thoracic aortic aneurysms, and high risk pulmonary embolism.

Dr. Fanola works with patients to find heart problems early and explain what they mean in clear, practical terms. She focuses on a careful thorough evaluation and shared decision making, especially when conditions are complex or high risk. She focuses on general cardiology care in rural areas as well as cardiac conditions in aging endurance athletes, and helps them understand how heart health affects daily life, work, and activity.

She completed her internship and residency at Boston University, followed by fellowships in cardiology and vascular disease. She also earned a master’s degree in epidemiology and completed a research fellowship through Harvard Medical School’s TIMI Study Group. Before joining Essentia Health, Dr. Fanola spent nearly 10 years with University of Minnesota Physicians, where she helped build programs focused on high risk pulmonary embolism and thoracic aortic disease. She has published research in these areas and served on the 2022 American Heart Association / American College of Cardiology national guideline committee for aortic disease.

Dr. Fanola chose Essentia Health because of its strong focus on rural healthcare across the Upper Midwest and her connection to northern Minnesota and Wisconsin. Outside of work, she is an endurance athlete, mountain bike coach, volunteer with Birkie Medical and is actively pursuing a wilderness medicine certification.