Valluvan Jeevanandam, MD

UChicago Faculty Physicians

Valluvan Jeevanandam, MD

Cynthia Chow Professor of Surgery Director, Heart and Vascular Center
Chief, Section of Cardiac Surgery

UChicago Faculty Physicians who provide services at UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial are not employees or agents of UChicago Medicine Ingalls Memorial.

Valluvan Jeevanandam, MD, specializes in the surgical management of heart failure, and is an expert in high-risk cardiac surgery. He has performed more than 1,000 heart transplants — including the total artificial heart — and countless cardiac surgery procedures, including transmyocardial laser revascularization, complex valve reconstruction, and minimally invasive coronary artery bypass graft surgery.

Dr. Jeevanandam has a special interest in treating patients traditionally considered inoperable. He has repaired damaged hearts in several patients awaiting transplant, enabling those patients to forgo transplantation. He also has successfully performed transplants involving patients who do not fit the standard criteria for transplant. Additionally, Dr. Jeevanandam has received national attention for his skill in performing bloodless cardiac surgery, which requires the use of precise surgical techniques to minimize blood loss during the procedure — sparing the need for a blood transfusion.

Dr. Jeevanandam is a pioneer in the field of mechanical circulatory assist devices. In October 2000, he was the first surgeon in the world to successfully implant the CardioVad, a revolutionary, permanent circulatory assist device that boosts heart function in patients with severe heart failure who are not candidates for transplant. He continues to be a recognized leader in the field of advanced heart failure and currently serves on the FDA Device Panel.

He is a world-renowned surgeon, having started high risk and cardiac assist programs in countries including China, India, the Middle East and South America.

Dr. Jeevanandam was one of the physicians leaders of the transplant care team that made history in December 2018 after performing two triple-organ transplants within 27 hours, replacing the failing hearts, livers and kidneys of 29-year-olds Sarah McPharlin and Daru Smith.

Areas of Expertise

Board Certifications

  • Thoracic Surgery

Memberships & Medical Societies

  • American Association for Thoracic Surgery
  • Society of Thoracic Surgeons
  • American College of Surgeons
  • American Heart Association

Practicing Since

  • 1985

Languages Spoken

  • Tamil
  • English

Medical Education

  • Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons

Residency

  • Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons; University of Pennsylvania; NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

Fellowship

  • Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons; University of Pennsylvania

News & Research

View Published Papers
  • Aetna HMO (specialists only)
  • Aetna POS
  • Aetna PPO
  • BCBS Blue Precision HMO (specialists only)
  • BCBS HMO (HMOI) (specialists only)
  • BCBS PPO
  • Cigna HMO
  • Cigna POS
  • Cigna PPO
  • CountyCare *see insurance page
  • Aetna Better Health *see insurance page
  • Medicare
  • Multiplan PPO
  • PHCS PPO
  • United Choice Plus POS/PPO
  • United Options (PPO)
  • United Select (HMO & EPO) (specialists only)
  • United W500 Emergent Wrap
  • Aetna Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
  • BCBS Medicare Advantage HMO & PPO
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Choice PPO
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Choice PFFS
  • Humana Medicare Advantage Gold Plus HMO
  • United Choice HMO (specialists only)
  • University of Chicago Health Plan (UCHP)

Our list of accepted insurance providers is subject to change at any time. You should contact your insurance company to confirm UChicago Medicine participates in their network before scheduling your appointment. If your insurance company is not listed here, or if you have any other questions, please contact Managed.Care@uchospitals.edu.

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Helping Patients No Other Doctors Can Save

Dr. Valluvan Jeevanandam, the cardiac surgeon behind several historic organ transplant milestones at UChicago Medicine, is shaped by his spirituality and a relentless drive to help patients.

One Year Anniversary of Historic Back-to-Back Triple Transplants

UChicago Medicine physicians made history after performing two triple-organ transplants within 27 hours, replacing the failing hearts, livers and kidneys of then-29-year-olds Sarah McPharlin and Daru Smith. They join us with their doctors to reflect.

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UChicago Medicine performs historic back-to-back triple-organ transplants

Two 29-year-old patients from Michigan and Illinois received back-to-back triple-organ transplants to replace their failing hearts, livers and kidneys. The two surgeries lasted more than 17 and 20 hours each. This marked the first time a U.S. hospital has ever performed more than one of these complex procedures within one year, much less within 27 hours.