DepartmentsTransplant CenterCardiovascular SurgerySurgerySpecialty GroupsLung Transplant ProgramHeart Transplant ProgramLocationRochester, MinnesotaLanguagesEnglishExisting patientsSend a secure message via patient portal Appointments 507-923-2390 Request an appointment online Video Player Dialog Box Close Video I'm Dr. Daly. I'm a cardiac surgeon at the Mayo Clinic, and my specialty involves adult cardiac surgery. And I also do the transplants, heart and lung transplants. I'm the surgical director of the heart and lung transplant programs. I became interested in medicine when I was in college, actually, because of interest in science and particularly biology and chemistry. Surgery was sort of an obvious thing for me to want to do. It's physically demanding, but it's also gratifying on a very concrete basis. Transplant, of course, was weird science almost 25 and 30 years ago and very cutting edge and exciting. And still, it remains exciting, every single case. And I really do enjoy the involvement and the challenges. Show transcript Watch my video Get to know me and my work at Mayo Clinic Open Video Modal Conditions treatedHeart failureHeart valve diseaseMitral valve disease Procedures performedCoronary bypass surgeryHeart transplantHeart valve surgeryLung transplantMitral valve repair and replacementRobotic heart surgery InterestsAdult cardiac surgeryMitral valve repairRobotic-assisted mitral valve repair (minimally invasive)Heart transplantationLung transplantationRobotic-assisted CABG (minimally invasive) Mayo Clinic locations Rochester, Minnesota Driving directions More info Billing & insurance Accessibility services Education1992Fellow - Thoracic and Cardiovascular SurgeryMayo Graduate School of Medicine1992ResidentThoracic Surgery, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine1991Fellow - Cardiopulmonary TransplantationNational Heart and Lung Institute, Harefield Hospital1990Fellow - Thoracic and Cardiovascular SurgeryMayo Graduate School of Medicine1990ResidentThoracic Surgery, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine1988ResidentSurgery, Programs in Rochester, Mayo School of Graduate Medical Education, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine1988Resident - General SurgeryMayo Graduate School of Medicine1982MDMayo Medical School1978BSUniversity of MinnesotaShow more education Activities and honorsCertifications1993Thoracic and Cardiac SurgeryAmerican Board of Thoracic SurgeryAwards and honors2016Distinguished Clinician Award Officers and Councilors2009Alumni Achievement AwardNormandale College2007Socrates AwardThoracic Surgery Residents Association2006Neochord Translational Research AwardAwarding Organization2003Outstanding service as At Large Member of the Thoracic Organ Transplant CommitteeUnited Network for Organ Sharing2003Left Ventricular Assist Device (HeartMate)Program Development Team, Mayo Clinic Rochester Committees1992Outstanding Alumnus of Normandale CollegeNormandale College1991Mayo Foundation ScholarMayo Clinic1990O.T. Clagett Traveling Fellow Award for Outstanding Achievement as a Cardiothoracic ResidentAwarding Organization1985Howard K. Gray Award for Outstanding Achievement as a Surgical ResidentAwarding Organization1978MemberPhi Beta Kappa Honor Society1978MemberPhi Kappa Phi Honor Society1978MemberGamma Sigma Delta Honor Society1978Graduated Summa Cum LaudeUniversity of Minnesota1975Outstanding Contribution to Normandale College AwardNormandale CollegeShow more awards and honorsProfessional memberships2020 - 2022Vice ChairOrgan Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) / United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS); Heart Transplantation Committee and Policy Oversight Committee (POC)2014 - presentMemberDivision of Cardiovascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, Mayo Graduate School of Medicine2005 - presentChairThoracic Surgery Committee, Upper Midwest Organ Procurement Organization2002MemberAmerican Heart Association2001 - 2003PresidentLifeSource, Upper Midwest Organ Procurement Organization2001Scientific ReviewerAmerican Heart Association2001 - presentMemberInternational Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation2001 - presentMemberAmerican Association for Thoracic Surgery2000 - presentMemberPractice Committee, William J von Liebig Transplant Center1999Abstract ReviewerAmerican Heart Association1998 - 2003Medical DirectorLifeSource, Upper Midwest Organ Procurement Organization1998 - 2000MemberTransplant Center Committee, William J von Liebig Transplant Center1998 - presentMemberInternational Xenotransplantation Association1998 - presentMemberTransplant Advisory Committee, Minnesota Department of Human Services1996 - 2006MemberExecutive Committee, LifeSource, Upper Midwest Organ Procurement Organization1996 - 2005MemberXenotransplant Working Group, William J von Liebig Transplant Center1995 - presentFellowAmerican College of Surgeons1995 - presentMemberSociety of Thoracic Surgeons1994 - 1997MemberGrant Review Committee, Basic Science Research, American Heart Association1994MemberUnited Network for Organ Sharing1994 - presentRegional RepresentativeRegion 7, United Network for Organ Sharing1994 - presentMemberRegion 7, United Network for Organ Sharing1993Mayo RepresentativeAcademic Medical Center Consortium1992 - 2008MemberBoard of Directors, LifeSource, Upper Midwest Organ Procurement Organization1988 - presentMemberPriestley Society1983 - presentMemberAmerican Medical Association Abstract GraderInternational Society for Heart and Lung TransplantationShow more professional membershipsPublicationsSee my publications Conditions treatedProcedures performedInterestsMayo Clinic locationsEducationActivities and honors Request an appointment PST-20218329 Doctors & Medical Staff Daly, Richard C. M.D.