Ralph J. Damiano Jr., MD
Evarts A. Graham Professor of Surgery
Section of Cardiac Surgery
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Phone: 314-362-7260
Specialties
- Cardiac surgery
- Atrial fibrillation
- Coronary artery bypass surgery
- Valve repair and replacement
- Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (septal myectomy)
- Minimally invasive cardiac surgery
- Complex, multi-diagnosis heart surgery
- Redo cardiac procedures
Call for patient appointments: 314-362-7260
Meet Dr. Damiano
Dr. Ralph Damiano Jr. is a cardiac surgeon specializing in complex heart surgery.
He has expertise in minimally invasive cardiac surgery, the Cox-Maze procedure for atrial fibrillation and other types of cardiac surgery.
Dr. Damiano earned his medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine, where he also completed surgical residency and a research fellowship. Dr. Damiano previously served as chief of cardiac surgery and director of cardiothoracic surgery at WashU Medicine.
Degrees
Medical Degree
Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
1980
Residency
Surgery Residency
Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
1988
Fellowship
Research Fellowship
Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, NC
1984
Research interests
Surgical treatment of arrhythmias, pathophysiology of surgical ischemia, hyperpolarizing cardioplegia, cell volume regulation during cardioplegia, transplant preservation (donor heart), surgical robotics, minimally invasive cardiac surgery
Locations
Center for Advanced Medicine
Heart and Vascular Center
4921 Parkview Place
St. Louis, MO 63110
Suite 8A
Appointments: 314-362-7260
Fax: 866-272-2816
Hospital affiliations
Barnes-Jewish Hospital
Board certifications
- Surgery
- Thoracic Surgery
Dr. Damiano in the news
- Top Doctors 2024
- Barnes-Jewish Hospital receives 2024 Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award
- Top Doctors 2023
- Surgeons study outcomes of cardiac surgery technique developed at WashU Medicine
- Top Doctors 2022
- Barnes-Jewish Hospital receives 2022 Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award
- Top Doctors 2021
- Heart to Heart with Ralph Damiano, MD: Leading Edge Medicine
Professional memberships
American Association for Thoracic Surgery
American Surgical Association
American College of Surgeons
Heart Rhythm Society
International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery
Society of Clinical Surgery
Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Southern Surgical Association
Editorial board
Journal of Cardiovascular Surgery
Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery
Journal of Laparoendoscopic and Advanced Surgical Techniques
Activities, awards and honors
Alpha Omega Alpha
US Public Health Service NRSA Award
ACS Faculty Fellowship Award
Computerworld Smithsonian Award for work in robotic heart surgery
St. Louis Business Journal’s Physician Healthcare Hero Award
Evarts A. Graham Professor
AATS Foundation, Vice President
AATS Board of Directors
1999-2008 Associate Editor – Journal of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery
2008-2018 Editor-in-Chief, Innovations
Past President, International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery; Society of Clinical Surgery; Cardiac Surgery Biology Club
Clinical trials
On-X Anticoagulation Trial
PROACT Xa Trial
Partner 3 Trial – SAPIEN 3 Transcatheter Heart Valve
Portico Re-sheathable Transcatheter Aortic Valve System
Innovations
First robotically-assisted CABG procedure in North America
Developed the Cox-Maze IV procedure
Pioneered minimally invasive valve surgery
Financial disclosures
Medtronic, AtriCure