The research interests of Rick A. Nishimura, M.D., center on cardiovascular hemodynamics and its application to patients with diseases of the heart muscle and heart valves (structural heart disease). Dr. Nishimura and colleagues have used combined cardiac catheterization and Doppler echocardiography to further understand the pathophysiology of valvular heart disease as well as myocardial and diastolic functions of the heart. Their published manuscripts include work with combined Doppler and catheterization correlations.

Dr. Nishimura has a special interest in the cardiomyopathies, particularly hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, as well as in valvular heart disease. His team has investigated the diagnosis and treatment of patients with these diseases. The team is actively involved in clinical research investigating catheter-based therapies to treat patients with myocardial and valvular heart disease.

Finally, Dr. Nishimura is leading an institutional effort — called the Knowledge Management Program — to provide the optimal Mayo Clinic-vetted knowledge to Mayo physicians through electronic systems, to be used at the point of care.