My path to cardiovascular research has been non-traditional, starting with my training and independent practice in cardiovascular surgery in Japan. I completed my general surgery training in 2002, and cardiovascular surgery training in 2011. I began my independent practice at the Oita Prefectural Hospital in 2011, during which my focus was on various aspects of cardiovascular surgery, including coronary artery bypass grafting, valve repairs and replacements, and aortic surgery. During my practice, I obtained a PhD on different strategies for aortic root reconstruction in my patients. After practicing clinical surgery for few years, I developed an interest in translational research that is focused on developing new surgical techniques and devices. With this interest, I joined Dr. Padala’s lab at Emory University in Atlanta, as a research fellow in cardiothoracic surgery from September, 2015.
