Shinichi Fukuhara, MD

Dr. Shinichi Fukuhara is the inaugural holder of the G. Michael Deeb, M.D., and Nancy Deeb Research Professorship and an adult cardiac surgeon at University of Michigan Health. He specializes in complex aortic and valvular heart disease, with expertise spanning conventional open surgery, minimally invasive approaches, and catheter-based therapies, including transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR).

Dr. Fukuhara is globally recognized as a leading expert in the surgical management of failed TAVR and has one of the world’s largest experiences with TAVR explantation. Through extensive clinical experience and the development of systematic surgical techniques, he has helped transform TAVR explantation from a life-threatening, exceptionally high-risk operation into a procedure that can be performed safely and reproducibly. His expertise has led to national and international teaching and proctorship, through which he shares these techniques with cardiovascular surgeons and programs around the world.

A major focus of Dr. Fukuhara’s work has also been making complex aortic surgery safer, more reproducible, and less physiologically demanding for patients. He has pioneered warm aortic arch repair, an approach that allows selected aortic arch operations to be performed without the hypothermia—or “freezing” of the body—traditionally required for these procedures. By eliminating the prolonged cooling and rewarming required with conventional hypothermic techniques, warm arch repair can dramatically shorten operative time while maintaining safe and reproducible cerebral and organ protection. This approach is designed to reduce the physiologic burden of complex aortic surgery and facilitate patient recovery.

Dr. Fukuhara has also developed advanced endovascular strategies for complex aortic disease, including laser aortic septotomy, which can expand minimally invasive TEVAR options for selected patients with chronic aortic dissection who previously had limited endovascular treatment options.

A central philosophy of Dr. Fukuhara’s practice is to provide an individualized treatment strategy rather than approaching complex cardiovascular disease simply as “open surgery versus catheter therapy.” His experience across open, endovascular, and transcatheter procedures allows each patient to be evaluated across the full spectrum of available treatments. This is particularly important for patients with complex anatomy, previous cardiac operations, failed transcatheter therapies, or conditions for which conventional treatment options may be limited.

Equally important is timely access to care. Dr. Fukuhara believes that patients who need cardiac or aortic surgery should not face unnecessary delays. He and the Michigan Medicine cardiovascular team prioritize timely evaluation of referrals, efficient coordination of diagnostic testing and multidisciplinary review, and prompt scheduling of surgery when intervention is indicated. This commitment extends throughout the patient journey—from initial referral and consultation through surgery, recovery, and long-term follow-up.

Through innovation, technical expertise, and timely access to care, Dr. Fukuhara’s goal is straightforward: to provide each patient with the safest and most effective treatment available while making even the most complex cardiovascular care accessible when it is needed.

Adult cardiac surgery; aortic surgery (open and endovascular surgery); complex aortic valve repair (David procedure, Ross procedure); transcatheter cardio-aortic therapy (TAVR and TEVAR); minimally invasive cardiac surgery; complex coronary artery bypass grafting; high-risk reoperation surgery.

University of Michigan Health participates with most health insurance plans.

Dr Fukuhara's research is focused on aortic disease (aortic dissection and aneurysms), and aortic valve. Specifically, his projects are directed at development of new less invasive approaches used to treat patients with complex aortic diseases.