John M. Stulak, M.D.

  1. Cardiovascular Surgeon

John M. Stulak, M.D., is a Professor of Surgery in the Department of Cardiovascular surgery. His clinical focus includes:

  • Management of coronary artery disease, especially coronary artery bypass grafting with multiple arterial revascularization and redo coronary artery bypass surgery
  • Management of patients with valvular heart disease
  • Expertise with specific training in surgical treatment of advanced heart failure including high-risk conventional corrective heart surgery, mechanical circulatory assistance, and heart transplantation
  • Special interest in surgical ablation of atrial fibrillation and evolving techniques of alternate energy sources, as well as lesion sets
  • Management of patients with chronic relapsing or constrictive pericarditis, including preoperative hemodynamic optimization prior to surgical resection

In addition to his clinical activities, Dr. Stulak is active in outcomes research and national clinical trials. From an education standpoint, he provides guidance and mentorship to medical students, residents and fellows. He authors expert content and publishes in high-impact scientific journals.

Dr. Stulak currently serves as the Surgical Core Clerkship Director in the Mayo Medical School, Program Director of the Advanced Cardiovascular Surgery Fellowship, Program Director of the Fellowship in Mechanical Circulatory Assistance and Heart Transplantation, Associate Program Director of the Thoracic Surgery Residency, and Associate Program Director of the General Surgery Residency.

  • Cardiac transplantation
  • Mechanical circulatory support (left ventricular assist device, total artificial heart, ECMO)
  • Arrhythmia surgery (Maze procedure)
  • Valvular heart disease
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Pericardial disease
  • Ascending Aortic aneurysm, Valve-sparing root replacement
  • Cardiac tumors
  1. 2011
    Fellow - Cardiac Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory SupportUniversity of Michigan
  2. 2010
    Chief Resident - Thoracic and Cardiovascular SurgeryMayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education
  3. 2010
    ResidentThoracic Surgery, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  4. 2008
    Resident - Thoracic and Cardiovascular SurgeryMayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education
  5. 2006
    Chief Resident - General SurgeryMayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education
  6. 2006
    ResidentSurgery, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine
  7. 2005
    Resident - General SurgeryMayo Clinic School of Graduate Medical Education
  8. 2001
    MDTemple University School of Medicine
  9. 1995
    BSWest Chester University

Certifications

  1. 2011
    Thoracic and Cardiac SurgeryAmerican Board of Thoracic Surgery
  2. 2006
    General SurgeryAmerican Board of Surgery

Awards and honors

  1. 2021
    Commitment to EducationMayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
  2. 2019
    2019 Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine Dean's recognition AwardMayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine
  3. 2017
    McGoon AwardAATS/TSRA
  4. 2014
    TeamworkAbove and Beyond Recognition Program
  5. 2014
    Castle Connolly Top Surgeons, The New York TimesCastle Connolly Medical Ltd.
  6. 2013
    2013 Teacher of the Year, Department of SurgeryMayo Fellows Association, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
  7. 2010
    Fellow Teacher of the YearDivision of Subspecialty General Surgery, Department of Surgery
  8. 2010
    Making a Difference AwardUniversity of Michigan Health System
  9. 2008
    O.T. Clagett Travel AwardDivision of Cardiovascular Surgery
  10. 2007
    Southern Thoracic Surgical Association President's Award - Best Scientific PaperSouthern Thoracic Surgical Association
  11. 2005
    Mayo Brothers Distinguished Fellowship AwardMayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Department of Education Administration
  12. 2005
    Kaare K. Nygaard Travel Award for Clinical ResearchDivision of Subspecialty General Surgery, Department of Surgery
  13. 2005
    Jonathon van Heerden Award for Meticulous Patient CareDivision of Subspecialty General Surgery, Department of Surgery
  14. 2005
    Best Scientific Presentation, Resident CompetitionMinnesota Surgical Association
  15. 2003
    Priestly Society Research Competition, Inlow AwardPriestley Society, Mayo Clinic Rochester Societies
  16. 2002
    Excellent Teacher RecognitionMayo Graduate School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Department of Education Administration
  17. 2001
    Excellent Teacher RecognitionMayo Graduate School of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Department of Education Administration
  18. 2001
    Emergency Medical Technician, Volunteer of the YearGood Fellowship Ambulance Club
  19. 1996
    Who's Who in American Universities, West Chester UniversityWest Chester University

Professional memberships

  1. 2023 - 2024
    Society of Thoracic Surgeons
  2. 2020 - 2023
    Society of Thoracic Surgeons
  3. 2018 - 2019
    Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)
  4. 2018 - 2019
    Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)
  5. 2017 - present
    General Surgery Clinical Competency Committee
  6. 2017 - 2020
    Minnesota Surgical Society
  7. 2017 - 2020
    Society of Thoracic Surgeons
  8. 2017 - 2019
    Society of Thoracic Surgeons
  9. 2016 - present
    Priestley Society, Mayo Clinic Alumni Association, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
  10. 2016 - present
    PREVENT II Steering Committee Member
  11. 2016 - 2017
    Tech-Con Task Force 2016-2017
  12. 2015 - present
    Heart Practice Marketing & Communications Subcommitee, Mayo Clinic in Rochester
  13. 2015 - present
    Enterprise Cardiac Services Demand Generation Subcommittee
  14. 2015 - present
    Mayo Midwest Ethics Committee
  15. 2015 - present
    American Association of Thoracic Surgery
  16. 2015 - present
    Mechanical Circulatory Support and Heart Transplantation Fellowship
  17. 2015 - present
    Department of Surgery, Clerkship Committee
  18. 2015 - present
    Surgical Core Clerkship, Department of Surgery
  19. 2014 - present
    Surgical Peer Review Research Committee, Department of Surgery
  20. 2014 - present
    Post-Doctoral Program Executive Committee, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
  21. 2014 - present
    Division of Cardiovascular Surgery
  22. 2014 - present
    Divisions of Cardiovascular Surgery and General Thoracic Surgery
  23. 2014 - present
    Priestley Society, Mayo Clinic Rochester Societies
  24. 2014 - present
    General Surgery Program Evaluation Committee
  25. 2014 - present
    Thoracic Surgery Residency Clinical Competency Committee
  26. 2013
    International Society For Heart and Lung Transplantation
  27. 2012 - present
    Education Committee, Department of Surgery
  28. 2012 - present
    Education Committee, Department of Surgery
  29. 2012 - 2020
    SPRRC, Department of Surgery
  30. 2012 - 2014
    Surgical Peer Review Research Committee, Department of Surgery
  31. 2012 - present
    Mortality Review Committee
  32. 2012 - present
    Surgery Review Committee
  33. 2012 - present
    Surgical Peer Review Research Committee, Department of Surgery
  34. 2012 - present
    Health Outcomes Committee, Department of Surgery
  35. 2012 - present
    Critical Care Fellowship Committee for NP/PA
  36. 2012 - present
    Society of Thoracic Surgeons
  37. 2012 - present
    LifeSource Clinical Advisory Board
  38. 2012 - present
    Southern Thoracic Surgical Association
  39. 2011 - present
    ECMO Administrative Committee
  40. 2011 - present
    Critical Care IMP Clinical Practice Subcommittee, Critical Care Independent Multidisciplinary Program
  41. 2010
    Mayo Clinic Fellows Association
  42. 2010 - present
    American Heart Association
  43. 2010 - present
    American College of Cardiology
  44. 2010 - present
    Midwest Surgical Association
  45. 2010 - present
    American Medical Association
  46. 2010 - present
    Minnesota Medical Association
  47. 2010 - present
    Zumbro Valley Medical Society, Minnesota Medical Association
  48. 2009
    Thoracic Surgery Resident Association
  49. 2007
    Thoracic Surgery Resident Association
  50. 2006 - 2010
    Thoracic Surgery Resident Association
  51. 2006 - 2009
    Thoracic Surgery Resident Association, Representative to AATS
  52. 2005 - 2006
    General Surgery Review Committee, Division of Subspecialty General Surgery, Department of Surgery
  53. 2004 - 2006
    General Surgery Residency Program, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education
  54. 2004 - 2006
    ABSITE Committee, Mayo Clinic Residency Program
  55. 2004 - 2006
    Surgical Sentinel Committee, Mayo Clinic Residency Program
  56. 2004 - 2005
    Physicians Focus Group
  57. 2001
    Good Fellowship Ambulance Club
  58. 1998 - 1999
    Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Department of Education Administration
  59. 1996
    Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Department of Education Administration
  60. 1994 - 1995
    West Chester University Emergency Medical Services
  61. 1994
    Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science, Department of Education Administration
  62. 1994
    West Chester University
  63. 1993 - 2001
    Good Fellowship Ambulance Club
  64. 1993
    West Chester University Emergency Medical Services
  65. 1992
    West Chester University Emergency Medical Services
  66.  
    Adult Trauma Performance Improvement Committee, Department of Surgery
  67.  
    American Red Cross

Publications

Research activities

See a description of research activities.