University of Toronto
Adult Cardiac
Member Since: 2023
Biography:
Bobby Yanagawa is the Program Director and Associate Professor, Division of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Toronto. Dr. Yanagawa obtained his BSc and PhD from the University of British Columbia and his MD degree and Cardiac Surgery Residency from the University of Toronto. He has completed research fellowships at the University of Wales College of Medicine (Cardiff, UK), National Cardiovascular Center (Osaka, Japan) and at St Michael’s Hospital (Toronto, Canada). He completed an advanced valvular fellowship at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York. Dr. Yanagawa's clinical and research interests are, broadly, surgical revascularization and valvular heart disease. He has published over 70 peer reviewed papers, 40 reviews and 15 book chapters including publications in Nature Communications, Nature Medicine, Circulation, Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery and Annals of Thoracic Surgery. He is on the editorial board of the following journals: Ann Thorac Surg, Can J Cardiol, Innovations (Associate Editor) and J Card Surg. He was the AATS 13th Annual C. Walton Lillehei Award winner in 2010.
What Does the AATS Mean to You:
Heart surgery can be a tough business and we experience things that only other here surgeons understand. It is so important to have a tribe of people that share the same experiences, are striving to advance our profession together and to just have a drink and enjoy each others' company. The AATS brings together the top academic heart and lung surgeons from around the world and facilitates such esprit de corps.
My First Experience with AATS:
My first experience attending the AATS was as a resident. There was much wonder and awe. Time has flown by and I am now attending as a surgeon. The initial wonder has been replaced by comraderie and friendships and inspiration.
Why I became an AATS member:
Becoming an AATS member says to me that those that I admire in this community of top academic heart surgeons see me as one of them. To me it says that I am on the right track.
The most impactful presentation I have seen at an AATS meeting:
I always enjoy the Presidential Addresses. All of them. They provide perspective, a lay of the land from the top and a vision for the future. I find them educational, inspirational and entertaining at the same time.
I plan on becoming more involved in the organization through:
I hope to contribute to committees that are near and dear to my heart such as education and equity. I hope to share my own unique perspectives to strengthen the organization.
The most impactful presentation I have seen at an AATS meeting:
I always enjoy the Presidential Addresses. All of them. They provide perspective, a lay of the land from the top and a vision for the future. I find them educational, inspirational and entertaining at the same time."
My career in CT Surgery was inspired by:
My father was "having heartburn" and asked me to take him to the hospital. I initially refused. He had a CABG in his 40's and is still alive. I guess I always felt guilty about that. Luckily this path has become my life's work.
A significant case/patient interaction that impacted my career is:
I only remember the disasters - the technical and decision errors that led to calamitous consequences. I think of them daily. I really don't remember the successes.
The biggest impact my mentor had on my career is:
I am fortunate to have many surgical mentors. I hear their voices in my head as I operate and relay their sayings to my own residents. I am sure that they will hear my voice in their heads and so on and so forth.
The topic most important to advancing the field of CT Surgery is:
We must embrace innovation. This is hard to do in our high stakes field. Innovators encounter resistance and critics at every turn and must stay strong. Surgically, I am not an innovator but as Division Head, I nurture and support those in our Division that do. As Peter Drucker said..."Innovate or Die"
The most pressing issues impacting CT surgery are:
We all want the best and the to be heart surgeons. In Canada, we have never had a Black heart surgeon and 90% of heart surgeons are men. At UofT last year, 75% of the medical school class were women. We are picking heart surgeons from a very small pool of people. If we really want the best and brightest, we need to make heart surgery accessible and inviting for a wider group of people.
Advice for Trainees:
Learn the bread and butter. Trainees get mesmerized by the Commandos, the total arches, the MICS and robotic procedures. They are exciting indeed. But if you cannot do 100's of CABGs with good graft patency, quick and uneventful hospitalizations and without major complication, its going to be hard for you to be a heart surgeon.