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Eric J. Okum

MD
Cardiothoracic Surgery,
Cardiac Surgery

About Me

Conditions I specialize in
  • Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • Cardiac Surgery

Dr. Okum’s passion for the advancement of the cardiothoracic specialty has taken him as far as Brussels, Belgium, for training. As a result, he was the first physician in the United States to treat inappropriate sinus tachycardia (abnormally fast heart rate) using an advanced ablation technique. He specializes in aortic valve and bypass surgery, atrial fibrillation surgery, and implantation of heart assist devices, and he also treats patients with heart failure. Through his involvement, the TriHealth hybrid afib program is the busiest in the region.

He dedicates his practice to applying minimally invasive surgical methods so his patients can have better and faster recoveries. But not only do Dr. Okum’s patient benefit from his skill and expertise. He strives to advance the knowledge of other physicians through education sessions, instructional surgical videos, and participation on expert panels such as the Surgical Ablation section of the Society for Thoracic Surgeons.

Co-author of more than a dozen clinical articles, Dr. Okum professes his fascination with the human heart and relates that expertise to answer his patients' questions to increase their understanding of their heart function and how he can help them.

Dr. Okum believes that cardiac care continues to improve through more minimally invasive techniques, technological advances and new therapies that allow people to get back to work more quickly. He also observes that the streamlining of post-operative care is allowing people to get out of the hospital more quickly and safely.

Dr. Okum's best health advice: If you smoke, quit. He personally chooses to model a healthy and balanced lifestyle by exercising, playing music and attending concerts. A Cincinnati native, Dr. Okum has regularly been selected as a Cincinnati Magazine Top Doctors.

In the News:

  • Collaborative Treatment Helps Pete Get Moving After AFib | TriHealth
  • Procedures Give Firefighter New Lease on Life | TriHealth
  • Robotic Heart Surgery Patient Back on Bicycle Two Weeks Post-Op | TriHealth
  • Emergency Heart Surgery Prevents Possible Emergency Landing | TriHealth
  • TriHealth Heart Institute Adds Five More Surgeons | TriHealth
  • Sinus node sparing novel hybrid approach for treatment of inappropriate sinus tachycardia/postural sinus tachycardia: multicenter experience - PubMed (nih.gov)
  • Abstract 16505: Sinus Node Sparing Surgical Hybrid Thoracoscopic Ablation for Inappropriate Sinus Tachycardia: Results of a Prospective Multicenter Registry (the Susruta Registry) | Circulation (ahajournals.org)
  • YouTube Surgical Education (note: graphic contents)

  • Epicardial non atriotomy maze with interoperative testing - YouTube
  • Thorascopic Maze Port Placement: Dr. Eric Okum - YouTube
  • Left port placement, left PVI, left atrial appendage clipping: Dr Eric Okum - YouTube
  • Convergent procedure with epicardial mapping mapping: Dr Eric Okum - YouTube
  • Dr. Eric Okum – Intraoperative Testing of the Posterior Left Atrium During Surgical Ablation - YouTube [Afib Surgeons, Atricure]
  • Drs. Eric Okum and Kathryn O’Keefe: Finding An AFib Mentor & Importance of Standardizing Lesion Sets - YouTube [Afib Surgeons, Atricure]
  • Locations I practice at

    Slide 1 of 1
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    TriHealth Heart & Vascular Institute - CT Surgery - Thomas Comprehensive Care Center
  • Education

    • Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center | Fellowship, 2004
    • Fletcher Allen Health Care | Residency, 2002
    • Fletcher Allen Health Care | Internship, 1997
    • The Ohio State University College of Medicine | Medical School, 1996

    Certifications

    • American Board of Thoracic Surgery | Other, 2005

    Ratings and Reviews

    The Patient Satisfaction Rating is an average of all responses to the care provider related questions shown below from our survey. Patients that are treated in outpatient or hospital environments may receive different surveys, and the volume of responses will vary by question.
    4.8 / 5 (77 ratings, 3 comments)
    Comments from patients
    • 4.5 / 5
      All good!
      Reviewed November 27, 2024
    • 5 / 5
      Everyone took plenty of time to describe & explain!
      Reviewed June 25, 2024
    • 5 / 5
      Dr. Okum explained everything and answered all my questions.
      Reviewed June 25, 2024
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