Dr. Rick A. Nishimura is a world-renowned cardiologist and esteemed educator who has dedicated his career to advancing cardiovascular medicine at Mayo Clinic. Born in Chicago in 1953 and raised in the post-World War II era with a strong Japanese-American cultural background that emphasized excellence in all areas, he developed the hard work ethic that would characterize his distinguished career. After completing his residency in internal medicine and fellowship in cardiovascular diseases at Mayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education, he joined the Mayo Clinic staff in 1983 where he would spend his entire professional career. Dr. Nishimura currently holds the position of Emeritus Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Minnesota, where he continues to contribute his expertise through selective consultations despite his retirement from active practice. His distinguished career has been marked by exceptional clinical skills and a profound commitment to medical education that has influenced generations of cardiologists.
Dr. Nishimura is internationally recognized as a master clinician with unparalleled expertise in hemodynamics and the treatment of complex valvular disorders, establishing himself as a global authority in cardiovascular medicine. His specialized knowledge encompasses valvular heart disease, structural heart disease, hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, pericardial disorders and infective endocarditis, with particular distinction as a key leader in the development of septal ablation therapy for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. He revolutionized clinical practice through his meticulous approach to challenging cardiac catheterizations, setting the standard for complex invasive hemodynamic assessment at Mayo Clinic and influencing protocols worldwide. Dr. Nishimura's seminal work validating novel noninvasive parameters against cardiac catheterization led to the incorporation of these measurements as mandatory steps in echocardiographic studies performed globally, significantly advancing diagnostic precision in cardiology. His contributions have fundamentally transformed how cardiovascular diseases are diagnosed and managed, benefiting countless patients around the world.
Beyond his clinical excellence, Dr. Nishimura has profoundly shaped cardiovascular education through numerous innovative initiatives that have transformed medical training across the field. At Mayo Clinic, he reorganized and directed the cardiovascular training program, developed the premier Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Board Review Course, restructured the cardiovascular inpatient service and founded the influential AskMayoExpert program that has become a model for clinical decision support. His exceptional teaching abilities earned him the Teacher of the Year award from Mayo Clinic fellows 14 times and induction into the Teacher of the Year Hall of Fame, in addition to Mayo Clinic's Distinguished Educator Award in 2007. On a national level, Dr. Nishimura chaired multiple American College of Cardiology committees and was instrumental in creating the Rick Nishimura and Patrick O'Gara Emerging Faculty Leadership Academy, cementing his legacy as one of the most influential cardiovascular educators of his generation. His dedication to nurturing future cardiologists continues to shape the field, ensuring that his expertise and teaching philosophy will influence cardiovascular medicine for decades to come.
