John M. Lasala, MD, PhD, FACC, is Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of Interventional Cardiology at Washington University School of Medicine, and Medical Director of the Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis. He is a co-author of Interventional Procedures for Adult Structural Heart Disease.

Dr. Lasala received his PhD from St. Louis University and performed a fellowship in anatomy and neurobiology at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. He then received his medical degree from the University of Connecticut and did postgraduate work in internal medicine, cardiology, and interventional cardiology at Barnes Hospital, Washington University School of Medicine and Yale University School of Medicine. He is board certified in internal medicine and cardiology.

Dr. Lasala’s clinical interests include interventional cardiology, cardiac catheterization, coronary artery disease, circulation, angioplasty, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), myocardial infarction, coronary-artery stenting, Wolff-Parkinson White syndrome, ascending and descending aortic dissections, and aortic aneurysms.

Dr. Lasala says that his field is one of the most exciting in medicine today.  “Every three or four years there is a breakthrough in interventional cardiology, such as replacing heart valves without doing any surgery. It is an extremely exciting field,” he says. “This satisfies my interest in research, taking care of critically ill patients, and to also work with a very bright energetic group of fellows in cardiology. I couldn’t have asked for much more.”

The recipient of the Hugh McCulloch Award in 2011, Dr. Lasala has also been listed numerous times in U.S. News Top Doctors in the top 1% of his specialty and as a Best Doctor in St. Louis magazine. He is a board member of Interventional Cardiologists Institute and has editorial responsibilities with Circulation: Cardiovascular Interventions, Catheterization & Cardiovascular Intervention, American Journal of Cardiology, American Heart Journal, Journal of Thoracic Surgery, Journal of Hypertension, Video Journal of Cardiology, The Interventional Fellows Institute, Journal of Invasive Cardiology, and Interventional Cardiology Test Committee for American Board of Internal Medicine.