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John G. Byrne, MD, a highly regarded surgeon, researcher and teacher, has been named the new chief of the Division of Cardiac Surgery in the Department of Surgery at Brigham and Women's Hospital. He begins on April 1, 2013.
Byrne, whose visionary leadership and breadth of experience encompasses the entire spectrum of cardiac surgery, joins BWH from Vanderbilt University Medical Center, one of the top clinical, research and training programs in the U.S. He is the William S. Stoney Jr. Professor of Cardiac Surgery and chair of the department at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, overseeing the Vanderbilt Heart and Vascular Institute.
Byrne's new role at BWH is a homecoming. After receiving his medical degree from Boston University, he completed his postdoctoral training at the University of Illinois affiliated hospitals and at BWH. He was BWH's chief resident in Cardiothoracic Surgery from 1995 to 1997, and then joined the cardiac surgery staff here. He served as associate chief of Cardiac Surgery at BWH prior to joining Vanderbilt in 2004.
"We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Byrne back to the Brigham," said Chair of the Department of Surgery Michael Zinner, MD. "He has articulated his commitment to our mission of patient care, research, teaching and community. One of his plans upon his arrival is to focus on enhancing the collaboration and teamwork between cardiology and cardiac surgery."
Byrne brings superior knowledge and expertise in aortic valve and root surgery, minimally invasive mitral valve reconstruction, and surgical interventions for heart failure and coronary artery disease. Under his leadership, Vanderbilt built the first-in-the-region "hybrid OR," a surgical theatre that combines standard operating room capabilities with state-of-the-art imaging, providing significant advantages in the diagnosis and treatment of patients requiring cardiac procedures. This advancement inspired BWH to open New England's first hybrid OR in 2008.
In collaboration with his colleagues in cardiology and hospital administration, Byrne helped implement an integrated cardiovascular service line. This, together with other activities, resulted in the tripling of the cardiac surgery volume at Vanderbilt.
His research primarily centers on clinical outcomes of newer approaches to heart surgery and risk factors in determining which patients most benefit from major heart procedures. As associate program director in the Cardiothoracic Residency Program at Vanderbilt, he was a proven and committed educator.
Byrne succeeds "Chip" Bolman, MD, who has been division chief since 2005. As a result of the significant achievements of Bolman and Larry Cohn, MD, senior surgeon and past division chief, the BWH Division of Cardiac Surgery is recognized nationally for its excellence in clinical care, research, teaching and contributions to the local and global community, such as in Rwanda.