Sports Cardiology, Cardiovascular Prevention, Cardiac Rehabilitation, Clinical Cardiology, and Hereditary Heart Conditions.

Professor Hélder Dores: Preventive Cardiology and Lifelong Heart Health

I am Hélder Dores, Consultant Cardiologist and Professor of Medicine. My work is guided by a simple principle that remains underutilised in modern healthcare: most cardiovascular disease is preventable. Since the beginning of my career, my focus has been on acting before disease develops.

This commitment has taken me through diverse clinical environments—from military medicine and elite sports cardiology to academic research and university teaching. Across each of these settings, cardiovascular prevention has remained the common thread.

Education and Clinical Career

I graduated in Medicine from NOVA Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, in 2006. Alongside my medical training, I completed additional studies in Military Sciences at the Portuguese Military Academy, an experience that shaped a rigorous clinical approach to physical performance, resilience and cardiovascular risk under demanding conditions.

I completed my Cardiology residency at Hospital de Santa Cruz between 2008 and 2013, one of Portugal's leading centres for complex cardiovascular disease, and became a Consultant Cardiologist in 2014.

That same year, I undertook advanced training in Sports Cardiology and Inherited Cardiac Diseases at the Department of Cardiovascular Sciences, St George's Hospital and the University of London. This experience expanded my expertise in cardiovascular risk assessment and exercise prescription for both healthy individuals and patients with complex cardiac conditions.

Since 2014, I have been a Consultant Cardiologist at Hospital da Luz Lisboa, where, since 2022, I have led the Clinical Cardiology, Sports Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation departments.

I was awarded the title of Senior Consultant in Cardiology in 2022 and hold recognised competencies from the Portuguese Medical Association in Healthcare Management (2026), Military Medicine (2021) and Aeronautical Medicine (2019).

Academic Career and Research

In 2019, I completed my PhD in Medicine at NOVA Medical School with a thesis entitled Cardiovascular Risk Assessment in Athletes: The Role of Electrocardiography and Imaging. My research focused on improving cardiovascular risk stratification in athletes, where distinguishing between normal physiological adaptation and underlying disease requires exceptional precision.

I am an Assistant Professor at NOVA Medical School and completed my Habilitation (Aggregation) in 2026. My academic responsibilities include coordinating the Pathophysiology module within the Integrated Master's Degree in Medicine and the Sports Nutrition module within the Bachelor's Degree in Nutrition Sciences and Metabolism.

I also serve as Vice-President of CoLab-TRIALS and as a researcher at the Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC) at NOVA Medical School.

My academic work includes more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific publications, two books and multiple book chapters in cardiology. I am also a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology.

Sports Cardiology and Sport Lisboa e Benfica

Since 2019, I have been part of the Human Performance Department at Sport Lisboa e Benfica, where my work focuses on cardiovascular assessment, disease prevention and performance optimisation.

Working alongside elite athletes offers a unique perspective on the capabilities of the cardiovascular system, while also reinforcing the importance of recognising early warning signs—even in individuals who appear exceptionally healthy.

This experience has strengthened one of my core beliefs: cardiovascular assessment should always be preventive, systematic and tailored to the individual.

My Clinical Philosophy

My clinical practice is guided by several fundamental principles:

• Cardiovascular assessment should be preventive and longitudinal, rather than simply reactive.

• Cardiovascular risk is frequently underestimated, even among young and physically active individuals.

• Accurate risk stratification, based on objective clinical data, enables earlier and more effective intervention.

• Structured exercise is one of the most powerful tools for cardiovascular prevention and rehabilitation.

• Long-term clinical follow-up is essential for achieving meaningful and lasting health outcomes.

B-Life and Preventive Cardiology

Joining B-Life Clinic was a natural extension of everything I believe and practise.

The clinic's data-driven, preventive model of care—supported by continuous follow-up and a multidisciplinary team—reflects my vision of modern preventive cardiology. It allows cardiovascular assessment to be integrated into a broader understanding of each person's health, with the time, precision and individualisation that meaningful prevention requires.

At B-Life, I help every member develop a clear cardiovascular profile through advanced assessment, early identification of risk markers and a personalised action plan.

Because the best time to care for the heart is long before urgent treatment becomes necessary.

About Professor Hélder Dores

Professor Hélder Dores is Director of Cardiology at B-Life Clinic. He graduated in Medicine and completed his PhD at NOVA Medical School, becoming a Consultant Cardiologist in 2014 and Senior Consultant in Cardiology in 2022.

He has led the Clinical Cardiology, Sports Cardiology and Cardiac Rehabilitation departments at Hospital da Luz Lisboa since 2022 and has been a member of the Human Performance Department at Sport Lisboa e Benfica since 2019.

Professor Dores is an Assistant Professor at NOVA Medical School, where he has completed his Habilitation (Aggregation). He is a researcher at the Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), author of more than 100 scientific publications, and a Fellow of the European Society of Cardiology.

Portuguese, English

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