I am a currently practicing board certified cardiac surgeon/scientist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and an Assistant Professor of Surgery at Harvard Medical School. I have also earned a certificate in International Leadership Development Program for Physicians through the Harvard School of Public Health. My clinical areas of interests include structural heart disease and I do have a particular interest in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
As an NIH funded scientist my research interests are focused at the intersection cardiac surgery, data science and global health to address cardiovascular health disparities. I have written extensively on implementing outcomes-based cardiovascular guidelines in emerging countries and serve as editor of the Global Health Series first edition textbook, “Cardiac Surgery Capacity Development in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. I am also partnered with the African Centers of Excellence in addressing Rheumatic Heart Disease.
I am an active member of several national and international professional organizations including the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American College of Cardiology, Society of Vascular Surgery, Association of Black Cardiologists and Ghana Medical Association. I am a Fellow of the American College of Cardiology (FACC) and currently serve on the global health workforce for the Association of Black Cardiologists, workforce for Diversity and Inclusion for the Society of Thoracic Surgery and the cardiac surgery leadership workforce of American College of Cardiology. In this capacity, I have participated in establishing national guidelines for the development of an equitable and diverse cardiology and cardiothoracic surgery workforce. In addition, I am associate editor of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery the leading cardiothoracic journal in our specialty and associate editor of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Network (CTSNet Global Portal) where I oversee global cardiothoracic surgery education, research, webinars for the largest network of cardiothoracic surgeons in the world. I am also a part of the NHLBI workgroup on “Rheumatic Heart Disease,” a workgroup tasked with developing scientific research questions around understanding rheumatic heart disease for future NIH funding opportunities to address global cardiovascular burden of disease. There are many opportunities for advocating for promoting and addressing cardiovascular health disparities and I plan to be at the forefront.
Selected publications from PubMed
Review of the decision making approach to treating young and low-risk patients with aortic stenosis.
Gupta T, Malaisrie SC, Batchelor W, Boudoulas KD, Davidson L, Ibebuogu UN, Kpodonu J, Singh R, Sultan I, Theriot M, Reardon MJ, Leon MB, Grubb KJ, A Perspective from the American College of Cardiology Cardiac Surgery Team and Interventional Cardiology Councils
J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2025 Oct;170(4):1035-1040 doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2024.12.027.
Decision-Making Approach to the Treatment of Young and Low-Risk Patients With Aortic Stenosis.
Gupta T, Malaisrie SC, Batchelor W, Boudoulas KD, Davidson L, Ibebuogu UN, Kpodonu J, Singh R, Sultan I, Theriot M, Reardon MJ, Leon MB, Grubb KJ, A Perspective From the American College of Cardiology Cardiac Surgery Team and Interventional Cardiology Councils
JACC Cardiovasc Interv. 2024 Nov 11;17(21):2455-2471 doi: 10.1016/j.jcin.2024.08.032.
Global Access to Cardiac Surgery Centers: Distribution, Disparities, and Targets.
Vervoort D, Babar MS, Sabatino ME, Riaz MMA, Hey MT, Prakash MPH, Mathari SE, Kpodonu J
World J Surg. 2023 Nov;47(11):2909-2916 doi: 10.1007/s00268-023-07130-1.
Recommendations for developing effective and safe paediatric and congenital heart disease services in low-income and middle-income countries: a public health framework.
Hasan BS, Bhatti A, Mohsin S, Barach P, Ahmed E, Ali S, Amanullah M, Ansong A, Banu T, Beaton A, Bolman RM 3rd, Borim BC, Breinholt JP, Callus E, Caputo M, Cardarelli M, Hernandez TC, Croti UA, Ejigu YM, Fenton K, Gomanju A, Harahsheh AS, Hesslein P, Hugo-Hamman C, Khan S, Kpodonu J, Kumar RK, Jenkins KJ, Lakhoo K, Malik M, Nichani S, Novick WM, Overman D, Quenot AP, Patton Bolman C, Pearson D, Raju V, Ross S, Sandoval NF, Sholler G, Sharma R, Shidhika F, Sivalingam S, Verstappen A, Vervoort D, Zühlke LJ, Zheleva B
BMJ Glob Health. 2023 May;8(5) doi: 10.1136/bmjgh-2023-012049.
An Exploration of Myths, Barriers, and Strategies for Improving Diversity Among STS Members.
Backhus LM, Kpodonu J, Romano JC, Pelletier GJ, Preventza O, Cooke DT
Ann Thorac Surg. 2019 Dec;108(6):1617-1624 doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2019.09.007.
We are proud to present an exciting webinar titled “The Voices of Cardiothoracic Surgery: The State of DEI Today”. In this webinar, brought to you in part by the support of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Taskforce, we will be discussing a wide variety of data highlighting important topics within the field of Cardiothoracic Surgery. We will discuss issues including the inclusion and advancement of underrepresented minorities, international medical graduates, women, and members of the LBGTQ community into the specialty. Additionally, we will touch on issues regarding health equity and global health.
With American College of Surgeons
Published
Jun 2023
Cardiothoracic surgery is among the least diverse specialties in terms of racial and gender diversity. Lack of diversity is detrimental to patient care, physician well-being, and stifles innovation.
With Medtronic
Published
Nov 2021
Help your network discover Dr. Jacques Kpodonu's clinical expertise.
