Dr. Rick A. Nishimura, MD, MACC, MACP

Rick A. Nishimura, MD, MACC, MACP, works as a cardiologist and master clinician in valvular heart disease at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, Minnesota, with a career centred on valvular and structural heart disease and cardiovascular haemodynamics. He is appointed as Emeritus Professor of Medicine and former Judd and Mary Morris Leighton Professor of Cardiovascular Diseases and Hypertension.

Earlier in his career, Dr. Rick Nishimura served as consultant in the Department of Internal Medicine from 1983 to 2016, Professor of Medicine from 1993 to 2023, Chair of the Division of Structural Heart Disease from 2016 to 2021 and Associate Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine from 2006 to 2010. He is a recipient of the Mayo Clinic Distinguished Alumni Award.

Some cardiologists build their careers around teaching and the standards of the specialty: training programmes, board examinations, guidelines and the textbooks and courses that the next generation learns from. They are fully qualified cardiologists who have practised, and their influence reaches patients through the clinicians they train. The field of Dr. Rick Nishimura is valvular and structural heart disease and cardiovascular haemodynamics.

Dr. Rick Nishimura At A Glance

Full Name And Credentials: Rick A. Nishimura, MD, MACC, MACP
Profession: Cardiologist and master clinician in valvular heart disease
Field Of Focus: Valvular and structural heart disease and cardiovascular haemodynamics
Current Position: Emeritus Professor of Medicine and former Judd and Mary Morris Leighton Professor of Cardiovascular Diseases and Hypertension
Institution: Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
Location: Rochester, Minnesota
Sees Patients: Not in routine outpatient clinics; works mainly in research and leadership
Previous Appointments: Served as consultant in the Department of Internal Medicine from 1983 to 2016, Professor of Medicine from 1993 to 2023, Chair of the Division of Structural Heart Disease from 2016 to 2021 and Associate Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine from 2006 to 2010

Dr. Rick Nishimura Degrees, Fellowship And Registration

The qualifications below are drawn from the institutional, professional body and publisher sources listed at the end of this profile.

Undergraduate: BA, Knox College, Galesburg, Illinois, 1974
Medical Degree: MD, Rush Medical College, Chicago, 1978
Internship: Internal medicine, Rush Presbyterian St Luke’s Medical Center, Chicago
Residency: Internal medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester
Fellowship: Cardiovascular diseases, Mayo Clinic, 1983
Professional Standing: Master of the American College of Cardiology and Master of the American College of Physicians

Dr. Rick Nishimura Clinical And Research Interests

Published professional sources describe the work of Dr. Rick Nishimura as centred on:

Valvular heart disease and structural heart disease
Invasive and non invasive cardiovascular haemodynamics
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Pericardial disease, including constrictive pericarditis
Infective endocarditis
Cardiovascular education and guideline development

Dr. Rick Nishimura Academic And Hospital Appointments

Emeritus Professor of Medicine, Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
Served on the American College of Cardiology and American Heart Association Valvular Heart Disease Guideline Committee for 26 years, chairing it for 12
A key figure in the development of septal ablation therapy for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy
Reorganised the Mayo Clinic cardiovascular training programme and developed the Mayo Clinic Cardiovascular Board Review Course
Founded the AskMayoExpert knowledge programme to deliver vetted guidance at the point of care
Chaired multiple American College of Cardiology committees, including Educational Programs and Lifelong Learning Oversight
Validated several non invasive Doppler measurements against cardiac catheterisation, making them standard steps in echocardiography worldwide

Professional Recognition Of Dr. Rick Nishimura

Mayo Clinic Distinguished Alumni Award
Mayo Clinic Distinguished Educator Award and Distinguished Clinician Award
Plummer Distinguished Clinician Award, Mayo Clinic
Gifted Teacher Award, Master Teacher Award and Presidential Citation, American College of Cardiology
Laennec Clinician Educator Award, American Heart Association
Won the Mayo Outstanding Cardiovascular Diseases Teacher Award so often that it is now named the Dr Rick Nishimura Teacher of the Year Award
The American College of Cardiology Emerging Faculty Leadership Academy is named jointly for him and Patrick O’Gara
Author of more than 500 peer reviewed articles and 79 book chapters

Dr. Rick Nishimura Appointments By Location

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science

Rochester, Minnesota. This is primarily an academic and research base rather than a general outpatient clinic. Enquiries about research, teaching or media are handled by the institution rather than by this directory.

What Valvular And Structural Heart Disease Involves

Valvular heart disease is largely a problem of timing. A narrowed or leaking valve can cause no symptoms for years while the heart quietly compensates, and if intervention is left too late some of the damage will not reverse. Imaging is what makes the judgement possible: serial measurements of valve severity, chamber size and pumping function indicate when the balance has tipped towards operating. This is why patients with a known valve problem are followed with scans at intervals even while they feel entirely well.

Subspecialty Colleagues Of Dr. Rick Nishimura

If you are comparing specialists, these profiles cover closely related areas of cardiology:

Dr. Robert Bonow, valvular heart disease and cardiac imaging at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Dr. Steffen Petersen, cardiovascular magnetic resonance at William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London, and Barts Heart Centre, Barts Health NHS Trust
Dr. Tom Marwick, echocardiography and cardiac imaging at Baker Heart and Diabetes Institute
Dr. Jeroen Bax, cardiovascular imaging at Leiden University Medical Center

Browse the full cardiologist directory for more heart specialists.

Reaching The Team Of Dr. Rick Nishimura

This specialist does not run routine outpatient clinics. Dr. Rick Nishimura works mainly in research, clinical trials, teaching and professional leadership. He holds emeritus status at Mayo Clinic, having concluded his consultant and professorial appointments in 2023 after four decades of practice. Research, teaching and media enquiries go to Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science directly. If you are looking for an appointment, ask your own doctor for a referral to a practising cardiologist, or use the enquiry button on this page and we will point you towards one in the directory.

Answers To Common Questions About Dr. Rick Nishimura

What does Dr. Rick Nishimura specialise in?

Dr. Rick Nishimura is a cardiologist and master clinician in valvular heart disease whose work centres on valvular and structural heart disease and cardiovascular haemodynamics. Particular areas of focus include valvular heart disease and structural heart disease; and invasive and non invasive cardiovascular haemodynamics.

Where is Dr. Rick Nishimura based?

Dr. Rick Nishimura works at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science in Rochester, Minnesota.

Does Dr. Rick Nishimura see patients?

Not in a routine consulting capacity. Dr. Rick Nishimura works mainly in research, trials, teaching and professional leadership rather than general outpatient clinics. For an appointment, ask your own doctor for a referral to a practising cardiologist.

What did Dr. Rick Nishimura study?

MD, Rush Medical College, Chicago, 1978. Full training details appear in the education section above.

What are the qualifications of Dr. Rick Nishimura?

Rick A. Nishimura, MD, MACC, MACP. Master of the American College of Cardiology and Master of the American College of Physicians.

What position does Dr. Rick Nishimura hold?

Dr. Rick Nishimura is Emeritus Professor of Medicine and former Judd and Mary Morris Leighton Professor of Cardiovascular Diseases and Hypertension, based at Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science.

Verified Sources For Dr. Rick Nishimura

Editorial Standards For This Dr. Rick Nishimura Listing

This profile was compiled from the public professional sources listed above, including university faculty pages, professional register and society records, journal author statements and publisher biographies. Qualifications, appointments and awards were checked against at least two independent sources where available. Last reviewed on 30 October 2026.

Update note: Served as consultant in the Department of Internal Medicine from 1983 to 2016, Professor of Medicine from 1993 to 2023, Chair of the Division of Structural Heart Disease from 2016 to 2021 and Associate Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine from 2006 to 2010.

Found something out of date? Contact the Find MD Health editorial team and we will review the entry.

How To Use The Information About Dr. Rick Nishimura

Information only, not medical advice, and not a listing for appointments. For individual care, see your own doctor. Severe or sudden chest pain is a medical emergency.

Dr. Rick Nishimura