Dr. John Backman graduated from New York University School of Medicine in 1972, where he was a member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Society. Dr. Backman completed his internship and residency in Internal Medicine at the Albert Einstein School of Medicine, and then his Fellowship in Cardiology at the University of California, San Diego.

Dr. Backman has been in practice since 1978 and is certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Disease.

Dr. Backman places special interest in preventative medicine. His interest in fitness carries over to his practice. He evaluates and structures exercise programs for healthy “weekend warriors” and elite international competitors. Dr. Backman is an avid marathon runner. He has run over 190 marathons since 1982.

Dr. Backman was the medical director of the Cardiac Treatment Center at Scripps Memorial Hospital from 1980-2006. He was responsible for the hospital and outpatient cardiac rehabilitation programs for hundreds of post-myocardial infraction, post-angioplasty and post-cardiac surgery patients.

Dr. Backman is a Fellow of The American Heart Association, American College of Cardiology, American College of Chest Physicians, American College of Sports Medicine and the American College of Physicians. A competitive hurdler in high school, and swimmer in college, Dr. Backman took up distance running in 1980. He has served as Physician and Medical Director of many road races in San Diego and was Race Director of the Easter Seal Race for 5 years. He was on the medical Team for the U.S. Olympic Trials in February, 2016. Dr. Backman has run over 190 marathons and has completed almost a dozen triathlons. He has completed 37 Los Angeles Marathons since its inception in 1986, every Honolulu Marathon since 1982, as well as five Boston Marathons and marathons in Vancouver, B.C., San Francisco, Big Sur, St. George, Utah, Phoenix, Chicago, Kona, New York, Washington D.C., and as far away as London, Athens, Medec, Paris, Liverpool, Berlin, Madrid, Lisbon, Hamilton New Zealand, Turku Finland, & Chengdu, China. He looks forward to enhancing your health through appropriate changes in your diet and exercise programs.

New York University School of Medicine

Albert Einstein School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego

MD, FACC, FACSM, FACP
American Board of Internal Medicine – Internal Medicine
American Board of Internal Medicine – Cardiology
Fellow American College of Cardiology
Fellow American College of Sports Physicians
Fellow American College of Physicians

American College of Cardiology
San Diego County Medical Society

San Diego Top Doctor Award – 2008, 2010, 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022