Juan Grau, MD

What are some of the specific conditions you treat?

Off-pump complex coronary revascularization with non-touch technique of the ascending aorta Myectomy for the treatment of Hypertrophic Obstructive Cardiomyopathy Complex Mitral valve Repair Aortic valve repair and aortic root reconstruction Reoperative valve surgery Aortic arch aneurysm repair Surgery for the treatment of atrial fibrillation Adult Congenital Cardiac procedures Repair of congenital coronary anomalies.

Describe some of your professional highlights.

Some of my professional highlights are as follows: Tenured professor of surgery at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute Director of the hypertrophic cardiomyopathy program at The Valley Hospital Co-Chairman of AATS Foundation Research Committee Chair of European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgical Sciences and Translational Research Task Force.

What would you like patients to know about your approach to care?

I perform an individual assessment of each patient's pathology with bespoke treatment algorithms for each and every patient. I use the broad and comprehensive use of cardiac imaging to enhance diagnostic accuracy. I also perform dynamic testing on patients with HOCM prior to considering surgical intervention. I incorporate research into my daily clinical practice.

What inspired you to become a doctor?

My uncle and his work as a medical examiner showed me the consequences of poor medical judgment. Since then, I strive to provide each patient with the best possible analysis and planning for their particular cardiac condition.

Valley Medical Group providers accept these insurance plans

Jabagi, H., Shaw, R.E., Kontorovich, A.R., Alemany, V.S., Ciallella, C., Burns, P., & Grau, J.B. (2026). Utilization of current ACC/AHA genetic testing recommendations for thoracic aortic disease at a large adult aortic center. Genetics in Medicine. doi: 10.1016/j.gim.2026.102069

Jabagi, H., Alemany, V.S., Jones, E., Gupta, H., Kim, F., Tayal, R., Rahim, H., Burns, P., & Grau, J.B. (2025). Early TAVR explantation due to a large mobile leaflet mass and severe prosthetic valve stenosis. JACC: Case Reports, 30(18). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaccas.2025.103885

Alemany, V.S., Fortier, J., Gupta, H., Zaider, A., Grau, J., Burns, P., & Jabagi, H. (2024). A rare case of IgG4-related aortitis in the thoracic aorta mimicking an intramural hematoma: Navigating the diagnostic labyrinth. Journal of Cardiothoracic Surgery, 19(1), 599. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13019-024-03026-w

Castillero, E., Camillo, C., Levine, D., D'Angelo, A.M., Kosuri, Y., Grau, J.B., Levy, R.J., & Ferrari, G. (2024). Serotonin transporter deficiency in mice results in an increased susceptibility to HTR2B-dependent pro-fibrotic mechanisms in the cardiac valves and left ventricular myocardium. Cardiovascular Pathology, 74. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.carpath.2024.107689

Fortier, J.H., Thapa, Y., Crean, A.M., Gupta, H., & Grau, J.B. (2023). Invasive management of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy with clinically important obstruction: Surgical myectomy is superior, but only when accessible. The Canadian Journal of Cardiology. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjca.2023.11.040

Jabagi, H., Shaw, R.E., Gharibeh, L., Tayal, R., Rahim, H., Kim, F., Zapolanski, A., & Grau, J.B. (2024). Patient characteristics and outcomes associated with sentinel protection device use in patients with aortic valve disease undergoing TAVR in a “Real-World” setting. Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine, 25(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.31083/j.rcm2501003

Gupta, H., Spanopoulous, B., Lubat, E., Krinsky, G., Rutledge, J., Fortier, J.H., Grau, J.B., & Tayal, R. (2023). Real-world approach to comprehensive artificial intelligence-aided CT evaluation of coronary artery disease in 530 patients: A retrospective study. HELIYON, 9(9). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e19974

Jabagi, H., Levine, D., Gharibeh, L., Camillo, C., Castillero, E., Ferrari, G., Takayama, H., Grau, J.B. (2023). Implications of bicuspid aortic valve disease and aortic stenosis/insufficiency as risk factors for thoracic aortic aneurysm. Reviews in Cardiovascular Medicine, 24(6), 178. 
https://doi.org/10.31083/j.rcm2406178

Grau, J.B., & Fortier, J.H. (2023). Patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy deserve heart teams, and those heart teams need surgeons. European Journal of Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, 63(3), ezad096. https://doi.org/10.1093/ejcts/ezad096

Castillero, E., Fitzpatrick, E., Keeney, S. J., D'Angelo, A. M., Pressly, B. B., Simpson, M. T., Kurade, M., Erwin, W. C., Moreno, V., Camillo, C., Shukla, H. J., Inamdar, V. V., Aghali, A., Grau, J. B., Salvati, E., Nissim, I., Rauova, L., Oyama, M. A., Stachelek, S. J., … Ferrari, G. (2023, January). Decreased serotonin transporter activity in the mitral valve contributes to progression of degenerative mitral regurgitation. Science Translational Medicine. 10.1126/scitranslmed.adc9606

Royse, A., Ren, J., Royse, C., Tian, D. H., Fremes, S., Gaudino, M., Benedetto, U., Woo, Y. J., Goldstone, A. B., Davierwala, P., Borger, M., Vallely, M., Reid, C. M., Rocha, R., Glineur, D., Grau, J.B., Shaw, R., Paterson, H., El-Ansary, D., … Bellomo, R. (2022, November).Coronary artery bypass surgery without saphenous vein grafting: JACC review topic of the week. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 80(19), 1833-1843.

Crean, A. M., Gharibeh, L., Saleem, Z., Glineur, D., Maharaj, G., & Grau, J. B. (2022, August). Extended myectomy for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Early outcomes from a nascent center of excellence in canada. CJC Open. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cjco.2022.06.012.

Fortier, J.H., & Grau, J.B. & Fortier, J.H. (2022). The mitral valve and its contribution to the generation of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: Considerations for surgeons. Cirugía Cardiovascular, ISSN 1134-0096, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.circv.2022.02.006.

Castillo J., Crean A.M., Gharibeh L., Grau J.B., & Rahmouni K. (2021). Severe mitral annular calcification in two cases of hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy. The Annals of thoracic surgery, S0003-4975(21)01297-2. Advance online publication.

Gharibeh L., Glineur D., Grau J.B., Hosoyama K., Lapierre H., Ruel M., & Shaw R.E. (2021, May). Comparative analysis following implementation of two types of y-composite multiarterial revascularization strategies at a single academic institution. Journal of the American Heart Association. 10(10): 1-11.

Castillo, J., Grau, J. B., Maharajh, G., Rahmouni, K., & Ruel, M. (2021). Reimplantation for anomalous right coronary artery. JTCVS techniques, 7, 226–228.

Chan, V., Deng, M., Elmistekawy, E., Gharibeh, L., Grau, J.B., Mesana, T., & Rahmouni, K. (2021). Systematic approach to the calcified mitral valve apparatus at time of mitral valve replacement. The Annals of thoracic surgery, S0003-4975(21)00747-5. Advance online publication.

Gharibeh, L., Grau, J. B., & Smedira, N. G. (2021). Comprehensive left ventricular outflow tract management beyond septal reduction to relieve obstruction. Asian Cardiovascular & Thoracic Annals. Advance online publication.

Grau, J. B. (2021). Commentary: Statins for secondary prevention after coronary artery bypass grafting: Pleiotropic effects and dementia risk. The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. Advance online publication.

Crean, A. M., Gharibeh, L., Grau, J. B., Hong, S. J., & Rahmouni, K. (2021). Surgical techniques for the treatment of anomalous origin of right coronary artery from the left sinus: A comparative review. Journal of the American Heart Association. Advance online publication.

Grau, J.B. (2021). Patient prosthesis mismatch: Troubles to come for TAVR patients. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. Advance online publication.

Gharibeh L, Ferrari G, Ouimet M, Grau JB. Conduits’ Biology Regulates the Outcomes of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (2021). JACC: Basic to Translational Science. 1-9.
Grau JB. (2020). No Excuse for Inadequate Adherence to Guideline-Driven Medical Therapy. The Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 110(1): 19.

Frasca A, Xue Y, Kossar AP, Keeney S, Rock C, Zakharchenko A, Streeter M, Gorman RC, Grau JB, George I, Bavaria JE, Krieger A, Spiegel DA, Levy RJ, Ferrari G. (2020). Glycation and Serum Albumin Infiltration Contribute to the Structural Degeneration of Bioprosthetic Heart Valves. JACC. Basic to translational science. 5(8): 755-766.

Glineur D, Rahouma M, Grau JB, Etienne PY, Fortier JH, Papadatos S, Laruelle C, Pieters D, El Khoury E, Gaudino M. (2020). FFR Cutoff by Arterial Graft Configuration and Location: IMPAG Trial Insights. JACC. Cardiovascular Interventions. 13(1): 143-144.

Schussler O, Lila N, Grau J, Ruel M, Lecarpentier Y, Carpentier A. (2020). Possible Link Between the ABO Blood Group of Bioprosthesis Recipients and Specific Types of Structural Degeneration. Journal of the American Heart Association. 9(15): e015909.

Ravalli F, Kossar AP, Takayama H, Grau JB, Ferrari G. (2020). Aortic Valve Regurgitation: Pathophysiology and Implications for Surgical Intervention in the Era of TAVR.Structural heart: The Journal of the Heart Team. 4(2): 87-98.

Glineur D, Grau JB, Etienne PY, Benedetto U, Fortier JH, Papadatos S, Laruelle C, Pieters D, El Khoury E, Blouard P, Timmermans P, Ruel M, Chong AY, So D, Chan V, Rubens F, Gaudino MF. (2019). Impact of preoperative fractional flow reserve on arterial bypass graft anastomotic function: the IMPAG trial. European Heart Journal. 40(29): 2421-2428.