Grand Rounds Spotlight | Dr. Danny Chu on Aortic Valve Neocuspidization

Dec 31, 2025

The Department of Surgery was honored to host Danny Chu, MD, FACS, FAHA, for Surgical Grand Rounds titled “Aortic Valve Neocuspidization (Ozaki Procedure) for Treatment of Aortic Valve Diseases.” Dr. Chu serves as Vice Chair of Education and Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery in the Division of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine and the UPMC Heart & Vascular Institute, and he directs the UPMC Ozaki Center of Excellence.​ 

Dr. Chu outlined the rationale behind aortic valve neocuspidization and highlighted how the Ozaki technique integrates into contemporary management of aortic valve disease, particularly as an alternative to conventional valve replacement. He emphasized practical considerations in patient selection, stepwise operative principles that enhance reproducibility, and outcome measures that inform the choice between valve repair and replacement strategies. The session provided an invaluable window into modern cardiac surgical innovation and decision-making and offered takeaways relevant to surgeons at every level.