IBHRE Announces 2026 Ambassador of the Year
IBHRE Announces 2026 Ambassador of the Year
Alexandru Recognized for Role as Mentor and Coach
Mar. 9, 2026, Washington, DC – The International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners today announced the recipient of its 2026 IBHRE Ambassador of the Year Award. This year, IBHRE honors Robert-Marian Alexandru, FESC, FHRS, CEPS, who has leveraged his knowledge in cardiac implantable devices and cardiac electrophysiology to educate and coach heart rhythm management professionals.
“Robert-Marian Alexandru is an esteemed member of IBHRE’s Ambassador Program,” said Tracy Lofty- Brown, MSA, CAE, ICE-CCP, chief executive officer, IBHRE. “His high level of expertise has been instrumental in advancing IBHRE’s professional development efforts, particularly as it pertains to mentoring, coaching, and providing guidance to other heart rhythm management professionals.”
Having worked much of his career in the hospital environment, Alexandru has assisted EP physicians in thousands of procedures, including more than 1,890 electrophysiological procedures, 330 defibrillator implants, and 65 resynchronization pacemaker implants. In his 26 years of practice with Medtronic, he held many roles, including educator, marketer, and clinical and technical support to hundreds of physicians seeking to broaden their expertise. He currently serves as the Senior International Specialist in Clinical Engineering at Pulse Biosciences in Padova, Italy.
”I developed a passion for cardiology early, starting in 2000,” said Alexandru. “Over the span of my career, I have been fortunate to be mentored by exceptional managers and electrophysiologists. Serving as an IBHRE Ambassador is an opportunity for me to return some of the support I have received over the years and, hopefully, inspire others.”
Alexandru has made valuable contributions to IBHRE. In 2013, he joined the IBHRE Ambassador program and has been featured in IBHRE marketing and social media campaigns. Since 2021, he has served on the IBHRE CEPS Job Task Analysis (JTA) Advisory Group, and in 2025, he assumed the role of Chair of the IBHRE Professional Resources Advisory Group. Alexandru is highly innovative and possesses excellent leadership skills. Most recently, he collaborated with IBHRE to launch Exam Pearls, https://ibhre.org/ibhre-exam-pearls, articles that feature certification exam and career tips written by IBHRE Ambassadors.
Alexandru has notable professional and academic accomplishments. He has distinguished himself as an expert in the field of electrophysiology by publishing numerous scientific articles. In 2011, he became IBHRE-certified by earning the Certified Electrophysiology Specialist (CEPS) credential; and in 2024, he became a Certified CHART Healthcare Academy Coach.
In addition to earning an undergraduate degree in Medical Electronics and Software Specialization and several professional certifications, Alexandru has a Master's in Business Administration and a Master in Medical Electronics and Software from the Politehnica University of Bucharest. He will be recognized on April 24 at Heart Rhythm 2026 in Chicago, IL, during the IBHRE Ambassador Meeting. The presentation will be in the IBHRE Lounge at 1:00 PM CT in the McCormick Place South Building, Level 1.
Recipients of the IBHRE Ambassador of the Year Award are selected by IBHRE staff, approved by the Ambassador Chair, and recognized by the IBHRE Board of Directors. They are recognized for their valuable contributions, including work on IBHRE committees, task forces, and special projects. Since 2016, IBHRE has honored IBHRE-certified specialists who promote excellence in the field of heart rhythm management. These individuals encourage peers to learn, adopt and practice in adherence to higher professional standards. In addition, IBHRE Ambassadors advise practitioners on how to advance their skill level through IBHRE certification.
About the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners
Since 1985, the International Board of Heart Rhythm Examiners® has set the standard for global certification in heart rhythm management. IBHRE validates the competency of physicians and allied professionals who provide quality patient care in cardiac pacing, cardiac device remote monitoring, and electrophysiology. Certifications offered are the Certified Cardiac Device Specialist (CCDS), the Certified Cardiac Device Specialist- Japan Device Representative (CCDS-JDR) , the Certified Electrophysiology Specialist (CEPS), the Certified Electrophysiology Specialist – Adult (CEPS-A), the Certified Electrophysiology Specialist – Pediatric (CEPS-P), and the Cardiac Device Remote Monitoring Specialist (CDRMS).
Learn more about IBHRE at IBHRE.org.