Dr. James R. Stewart, MD

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Get to know Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. James R. Stewart, who serves patients in Kansas City, Missouri. 

Dr. Stewart is dual board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon in practice with Truman Medical Center – UMKC Health Sciences District & Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

Alongside his clinical role, he serves as a Clinical Associate Professor within the Department of Surgery, Section of Cardiovascular and Thoracic at the University of Missouri–Kansas City School of Medicine.

Since his formative years, Dr. Stewart was certain that he wanted to become a medical professional. As a college student, he conducted research with a friend whose father was a surgeon, which is where his interest in the discipline was born. From there, he continued to shadow thoracic surgeons before becoming one himself. He graduated from DePauw University, where he received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Chemistry and Spanish. He then went on to earn his medical degree from the University of Colorado School of Medicine, after which he completed an internship and residency in general surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital and a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Dedicated to surgical excellence, the doctor is board-certified in general surgery by the American Board of Surgery (ABS). The ABS is an independent, nonprofit organization founded in 1937 to provide board certification to individuals who have met a defined standard of education, training, and knowledge in the field of surgery.

Furthermore, he is board-certified in thoracic surgery by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, an American surgical organization devoted to surgery of the chest.

Licensed to practice medicine in Missouri, Dr. Stewart is affiliated with Truman Medical Center Hospital Hill, and the Kansas City Veterans Affairs Medical Center.

In an effort to remain aware of changes in the field, he maintains his professional affiliation with the American College of Surgeons, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the Western Thoracic Surgical Association, and the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association. 

Cardiothoracic surgery is the field of medicine involved in the surgical treatment of organs inside the chest. Cardiothoracic surgeons are medical doctors who specialize in surgical procedures inside the thorax, which may involve the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest. Alongside performing surgery, they also diagnose and treat diseases of these organs.

For his accomplishments in the field, Dr. Stewart has been named one of the Top Cardiothoracic Surgeons in the Country in 2006. Likewise, he has been presented awards from the University of Colorado, The John Hopkins Hospital, and the Virginia Surgical Society, among others, and attributes his professional success to the support and love of his patients. 

Looking toward the future, Dr. Stewart plans to retire in the coming years. In his spare time, he enjoys fishing, golfing and biking.

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