Dr. Martin B. Leon, MD

Martin B. Leon, MD, is an interventional cardiologist and pioneer of transcatheter valve therapy at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York, New York, known above all for interventional cardiology and transcatheter valve therapy. He holds the position of Professor of Medicine, Chief Innovation Officer and Director of the Cardiovascular Data Science Center for the Division of Cardiology.

Dr. Martin Leon served as Director of Columbia Interventional Cardiovascular Care until July 2023, and earlier held posts at the National Institutes of Health, the Washington Cardiology Center, Georgetown University Medical Center and the Lenox Hill Heart and Vascular Institute.

A cardiologist is a physician, not a surgeon: the work is diagnosis, medical treatment and catheter based procedures rather than open operations. Qualification takes a medical degree, general medical training and several years of cardiology specialisation. The particular area of practice for Dr. Martin Leon is interventional cardiology and transcatheter valve therapy.

Dr. Martin Leon Specialty And Hospital Summary

Full Name And Credentials: Martin B. Leon, MD
Profession: Interventional cardiologist and pioneer of transcatheter valve therapy
Field Of Focus: Interventional cardiology and transcatheter valve therapy
Current Position: Professor of Medicine, Chief Innovation Officer and Director of the Cardiovascular Data Science Center for the Division of Cardiology
Institution: Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
Location: New York, New York
Sees Patients: Yes, in a clinical setting
Previous Appointments: Served as Director of Columbia Interventional Cardiovascular Care until July 2023, and earlier held posts at the National Institutes of Health, the Washington Cardiology Center, Georgetown University Medical Center and the Lenox Hill Heart and Vascular Institute

Dr. Martin Leon Medical Education History

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

Medical Degree: MD, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
Internship: Yale-New Haven Hospital
Residency: Internal medicine, Yale-New Haven Hospital
Fellowship: Cardiology, Yale-New Haven Hospital
Board Certification: Internal medicine and cardiovascular disease

Dr. Martin Leon Subspecialty Expertise

Published professional sources describe the work of Dr. Martin Leon as centred on:

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement
Coronary angioplasty and stenting
Valvular heart disease
Cardiac catheterisation
Device innovation and clinical trial design

Positions, Editorial And Guideline Roles Of Dr. Martin Leon

Professor of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center
Chief Innovation Officer and Director of the Cardiovascular Data Science Center for the Division of Cardiology
Founder and Director of Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics, which he established in 1988 and which has become the leading global meeting in interventional cardiovascular medicine
Founder and Chairman Emeritus of the Cardiovascular Research Foundation
Led the Columbia and NewYork-Presbyterian team that pioneered transcatheter aortic valve replacement
Has directed or co-directed more than 100 international educational programmes in interventional cardiology
Chairs scientific advisory boards on cerebral embolic protection during transcatheter valve procedures

Dr. Martin Leon Awards And Distinctions

Recipient of ten international career achievement awards
Honorary degree from the University of Athens
Co-author of more than 1,550 publications and investigator on more than 50 clinical trials
Has performed more than 10,000 interventional procedures
Named among America’s Top Doctors by Castle Connolly

Base And Affiliation Details For Dr. Martin Leon

Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

New York, New York. Clinical commitments at this institution are arranged through its own departments and services. Confirm the current address, department and telephone number with the institution before travelling, because academic appointments and clinic sites change.

Background On Transcatheter Valve Therapy

Interventional cardiology treats narrowed or blocked arteries and failing heart valves through a catheter threaded in from the wrist or groin, instead of opening the chest. The commonest procedure is angioplasty with a stent, in which a balloon widens the narrowing and a small metal scaffold holds it open. Most patients are awake, go home within a day or two and need no rehabilitation. The field advances through large randomised trials that compare devices and drug combinations against each other, which is why guidance on stents and blood thinners changes every few years.

Specialists To Compare With Dr. Martin Leon

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

Dr. Patrick Serruys, interventional cardiology and coronary imaging at University of Galway and the CORRIB Research Centre for Advanced Imaging and Core Laboratory
Dr. Robert Harrington, antithrombotic therapy and clinical trials at Weill Cornell Medicine and Cornell University
Dr. Roxana Mehran, interventional cardiology and outcomes research at Zena and Michael A. Wiener Cardiovascular Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
Dr. Stephan Windecker, transcatheter heart valve intervention at Cardiovascular Center Bern, University Hospital Bern Inselspital, and the University of Bern

Browse the full cardiologist directory for more heart specialists.

How To Request An Appointment With Dr. Martin Leon

Dr. Martin Leon practises as an interventional cardiologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and is listed as accepting new patients. Access is usually arranged through the institution, a referring doctor or its own clinic rather than through this directory. Insurance participation, fees and waiting times vary by institution and by plan, and they change over time, so check coverage with both the institution and your insurer before scheduling. Use the enquiry button on this page to ask about availability.

Quick Answers About Dr. Martin Leon

What did Dr. Martin Leon study?

MD, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut. Full training details appear in the education section above.

What are the qualifications of Dr. Martin Leon?

Martin B. Leon, MD. Internal medicine and cardiovascular disease.

What position does Dr. Martin Leon hold?

Dr. Martin Leon is Professor of Medicine, Chief Innovation Officer and Director of the Cardiovascular Data Science Center for the Division of Cardiology, based at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.

What is Transcatheter Valve Therapy?

Transcatheter Valve Therapy is the area of cardiology concerned with interventional cardiology and transcatheter valve therapy. Cardiologists working in it, including Dr. Martin Leon, diagnose and treat these conditions and carry out the research that sets the standard of care for them.

Has Dr. Martin Leon received professional recognition?

Yes. Recipient of ten international career achievement awards. Further awards and distinctions are listed above.

Does Dr. Martin Leon hold leadership roles in the field?

Yes. Professor of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center. A fuller list of appointments appears above.

Citations And Further Reading On Dr. Martin Leon

Profile Verification And Review Date For Dr. Martin Leon

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 Director of Columbia Interventional Cardiovascular Care until July 2023, and earlier held posts at the National Institutes of Health, the Washington Cardiology Center, Georgetown University Medical Center and the Lenox Hill Heart and Vascular Institute.

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

Find MD Health Disclaimer For This Dr. Martin Leon Profile

Information only, not medical advice. Location, services, insurance and availability change, so confirm details with Columbia University Irving Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital. Severe or sudden chest pain is a medical emergency.

Dr. Martin Leon