Hiroo Takayama Appointed Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery

Hiroo Takayama, MD, PhD, has been named chief of adult cardiac surgery at Columbia University’s Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons and NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. Takayama, who joined the Columbia faculty in 2010, is the Morris and Rose Milstein Associate Professor of Surgery and co-director of the Columbia Aortic Center and the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center. 

Through over 20 years of experience, Takayama has developed an international reputation treating all forms of heart and aortic problems. He is particularly known for his skill in open and endovascular aortic surgery, minimally invasive mitral valve repair, and myectomy for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.  

“Hiroo is what people call a ‘surgeon’s surgeon,’” says Emile Bacha, MD, chief of the Division of Cardiac, Thoracic, and Vascular Surgery. “He is one of the few surgeons in the Northeast to take on highly complex cases. His unending energy shows as he works late into the night in the OR.” 

As chief, Takayama plans to extend the multidisciplinary spirit that has come to define his career at Columbia. In partnership with vascular surgeon Virendra Patel, MD, he built Columbia’s Aortic Center, where the two surgeons work collaboratively on complex cases.  

“Dr. Takayama is one of best cardiac surgeons of his generation,” says Craig Smith, MD, chair of the Department of Surgery. “He has a great gift for collaboration. We are privileged to have him.” 

In addition to his clinical achievements, Takayama is known for his teaching; in 2012 he received the American Association of Thoracic Surgery’s most prestigious national education honor, the Dr. Dwight C. McGoon Award. His research has been supported by national grants and he has authored over 200 publications. 

Takayama attended medical school and completed his internship at the University of Tokyo. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Washington and a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at CUIMC/NYP.