James N. Slater, MD

As the Robert and Marc Bell Professor of Cardiology at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, I am dedicated to advancing cardiology through my roles as a clinician, educator, and clinical scientist. My career has been marked by a commitment to patient-centered care, innovative research, and the education of future medical professionals.

I specialize in interventional cardiology, focusing on the use of small catheters to treat common cardiac conditions such as heart valve disease and obstructive coronary disease. This minimally invasive approach has revolutionized the treatment of myocardial infarction (heart attack), significantly reducing hospital mortality rates. My work has also contributed to the development of catheter-based therapies for severe aortic stenosis and mitral regurgitation, offering safer and equally effective alternatives to open-heart surgery.

Throughout my career, I have been deeply involved in clinical trials and research, particularly in the area of structural heart disease. As the first director of the Structural Heart Program at NYU Grossman School of Medicine, I collaborated with colleagues to enhance visualization techniques, improving the speed and efficacy of interventional procedures. My tenure as director of NYU Langone’s Cardiac Catherization Laboratory saw a significant expansion of the program, with a strong emphasis on quality control and patient outcomes.

My journey into medicine was inspired by my mother, a chief operating room nurse, and my family’s history of heart and vascular disease. After earning an undergraduate degree in history from Stanford University, I pursued my medical degree at the University of Rochester School of Medicine, where I graduated with Distinction in Research. My postgraduate training, including internship, residency, and fellowship in cardiovascular disease, was completed at NYU Langone and Bellevue Hospital Center. Today, I continue to contribute to the field through research, publication, and the mentorship of medical students and fellows, driven by a passion to advance cardiology and improve patient care.