James Barnard, MD, Joins UMass Memorial Health as Chief of Cardiac Surgery

Worcester, MA – UMass Memorial Health is pleased to announce the appointment of James Barnard, BSc, MD, FRCS (CTh), as Chief of Cardiac Surgery in the Department of Surgery at UMass Memorial Medical Center.

Dr. Barnard joins UMass Memorial from Manchester University Foundation NHS Trust, Wythenshawe Hospital in the United Kingdom (UK), the regional center for cardiac surgery and transplantation serving the northwest of England.

An accomplished and highly experienced surgeon, Dr. Barnard brings extensive expertise across the spectrum of adult cardiac surgery. His areas of special interest include mitral valve repair surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting, atrial fibrillation ablation, redo surgery, surgery for infective endocarditis, and major aortic surgery. He also has significant experience in heart and lung transplantation, mechanical circulatory support surgery, and left ventricular assist device implantation.

Dr. Barnard received his medical degree from St. Andrews and Manchester Universities in the UK and completed his residency training in London and Manchester. In 2007, he was awarded a research doctorate from Manchester University. He went on to complete an advanced fellowship as the National Fellow in Heart and Lung Transplantation at the renowned Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, England.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Barnard to UMass Memorial Health,” said Dr. Andrew Karson, Chief Physician Executive, UMass Memorial. “His depth of expertise and commitment to advancing cardiac surgical care will be invaluable to patients across the region and our team as we continue to expand and enhance our cardiac surgery program.”

Please join us in welcoming Dr. James Barnard to the UMass Memorial Health community.

UMass Memorial Health 
UMass Memorial Health is the largest not-for-profit health care system in Central Massachusetts with more than 20,000 caregivers and 2,400 physicians, many of whom are members of UMass Memorial Medical Group. We are the clinical partner of UMass Chan Medical School. Our comprehensive system includes UMass Memorial Medical Center, UMass Memorial Health – Harrington, UMass Memorial Health – HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital, UMass Memorial Health – Marlborough Hospital, UMass Memorial Health – Milford Regional Medical Center and UMass Memorial Health – Community Healthlink. Visit www.ummhealth.org.

October 24, 2025
Contact: Kristy Lee
617-388-5555 
kristy.lee@umassmemorial.org