Gregg Yamada, MD, FACC
Dr. Gregg Yamada has practiced cardiology in Honolulu since 1996. He has created one of the largest private medical practices in Hawaii which he attributes more to his approach patient care, rather than to any special skill, knowledge or expertise. ‘I find our current medical system to be unnecessarily, and possibly intentionally, complex. We physicians need to do a better job helping our patients untangle these complexities‘, according to Dr. Yamada.

Over the years, Dr. Yamada’s role as a cardiologist has evolved from being one of the highest volume angioplasty specialists in Honolulu in the 1990s, to what he now refers to as a ‘medical conductor’.

Dr. Yamada, who has had much involvement with a local symphony, draws many parallels between a symphonic orchestra and a medical team: ‘Many people do not realize that the most important member of a symphonic orchestra is not the ‘principal violinist’, but the conductor. In medicine, we have too many ‘violinists’ and not enough conductors.’

Dr. Yamada has held an unprecedented board certifications in 5 different medical specialties, including 4 different cardiovascular subspecialities: Cardiovascular Disease, Interventional Cardiology (angioplasty/stent), Nuclear Cardiology , and Cardiovascular CT Imaging.

Following his undergraduate education, Dr. Yamada spend an additional 11 years of post-graduate education and subspecialty training (interventional cardiology). He returned to join Dr. Calvin Wong in private practice in Honolulu in 1996, and co-founded Pacific Cardiology, LLC in 2001. Dr. Yamada affiliated Pacific Cardiology with Stanford University in 2007. Dr. Yamada is currently a Consulting Associate Professor of Medicine (Division of Cardiology) at Stanford University. Dr. Yamada also is a former Aviation Medical Examiner for the FAA.

Dr. Yamada’s research and specialty interests have included cardiac CT imaging (CVCT, SPECT), device therapy for congestive heart failure, Pacemaker therapy, Advanced Echocardiography, and intracoronary stents.

Academic Awards: Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Kappa Phi, Alpha Omega Alpha.
Specialty: Preventative Health, Interventional cardiology, nuclear cardiology, cardiovascular CT, aviation medicine.