Makoto Hashimoto, MD

Makoto Hashimoto, M.D., is a fellowship-trained cardiac surgeon at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute. He is professor and director of robotic cardiac surgery at Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine. He specializes in robotic cardiac surgery and minimally invasive cardiac surgery, including coronary artery revascularization. He treats such conditions as valvular heart disease, ischemic heart disease, cardiac arrhythmia and adult congenital cardiac disease. Prior to joining Baptist Health, Dr. Hashimoto was director of the Center of Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery and Robotic Cardiac Surgery, part of the Department of Cardiovascular Surgery at the Sapporo Cardiovascular Clinic in Japan. Dr. Hashimoto earned his medical degree at Shimane University School of Medicine in Izumo, Japan and a Ph.D. in Medical Science at Sapporo Medical University in Sapporo, Japan. He completed two cardiac surgery residencies — one at Sapporo Medical University Hospital and the other at Hokkaido Prefectural Kitami Hospital in Kitami, Japan. He also completed two cardiovascular fellowships — one at Tomishiro Central Hospital in Tomigusuku, Japan and the other at Sakakibara Heart Institute in Fuchu, Japan. During his career, he has published numerous scientific articles in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Hashimoto is passionate about robotic cardiac surgery because, compared to open-heart surgery, it offers advanced, safe and reliable treatment while also enabling patients to heal faster and return to their normal activities more quickly. “As a cardiac surgeon, I live by the meaning of this phrase by Leonardo da Vinci: ‘Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication,’” Dr. Hashimoto said. Dr. Hashimoto is fluent in English, Japanese and Finnish. When he is not treating patients, he enjoys reading books, exercising and road cycling.