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Velu Balasubramanian (Dr. B)

Velu Balasubramanian (Dr. B), MD, MS

Specialty: Cardiothoracic Surgery

Schedule an Appointment

To schedule an appointment with Velu Balasubramanian (Dr. B), please call 319-861-7200

Areas of Interest

Dr. B specializes in both cardiac and thoracic surgery. CARDIAC SURGERY includes: Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG), aortic and mitral valve surgery, TAVR (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement), arrhythmia surgery and cardiac critical care. THORACIC SURGERY includes: lung cancer surgery (wedge resection, lobectomy), VATS (Video Assisted Thoracoscopic Surgery), procedures for benign pulmonary disease like pneumothorax and pneumonia, chest wall surgery, mediastinal surgery, rib fixation among others.

Year began practicing: 2015

Year joined staff: 2021

Year began practicing in specialty: 2021

Education and Training

Education

Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, Bachelor of Technology in Electrical Engineering
University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Master of Science in Electrical Engineering
Indiana University School of Medicine, Doctor of Medicine

Residency

University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics, six-year Integrated Thoracic Surgery Residency in Cardiothoracic Surgery

Professional Memberships

  • Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)
  • Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Medical Honor Society
  • Gold Humanism Honor Society (GHHS)
  • American Medical Association (AMA)
  • American College of Surgeons (ACS)

Honors, Awards, etc.

  • 2022 Nominee for Colleague Award, one of Mercy's Annual Provider Awards
  • Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Medical Honor Society Inductee
  • North America Cardiothoracic Surgery “Jeopardy” Competition Finalist
  • Arnold P. Gold Foundation Humanism & Excellence in Teaching Award
  • American College of Surgeons Award
  • Sigma Alpha Lambda Honor Society Inductee
  • Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society Inductee
  • Pittman Surgical Scholarship Recipient
  • Janice M. Pascuzzi Scholarship Recipient
  • Class of 1942, 1976 and 1978 merit scholarships during medical school
  • National Society of Collegiate Scholars Inductee

Certifications

Board Eligible/Certified in Cardiothoracic Surgery

Personal Interests

Dr. B loves spending time with his dogs, traveling, photography, hiking, biking and watching movies.

Additional Information

Mercy Medical Center welcomes Velu Balasubramanian, MD, (Dr. B) as our new cardiothoracic surgeon to assist the progression of its open heart surgery program.

Dr. B received his medical degree from the Indiana University School of Medicine and completed his integrated residency at the University of Iowa Hospital & Clinics, where he completed a six-year training in cardiothoracic surgery. Prior to pursuing his medical career, Dr. B worked as an engineer designing microprocessors for Intel.

His interests are in coronary artery disease and revascularization; transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR); minimally invasive and open heart valve procedures; minimally invasive and robotic thoracic surgery for lung cancer; and general thoracic surgery.

“It’s a privilege to be a cardiothoracic surgeon,” Dr. B said. “Caring for someone, being trusted by them and the gratitude for helping my patients through a difficult time in their lives never gets old.”

Dr. Balasubramanian sees patients at the Mercy Cardiothoracic & Vascular Clinic on the fourth floor of the 8th & 8th Medical Park building.

Ramping Up Heart Care

Mercy Heart Center is ramping up heart care programs with new facility and second heart surgeon. Read more from The Gazette (November 12, 2021) (PDF).

Locations