Joplin, MO. – Dr. James Taylor is excited to announce his return to Joplin, joining the cardiovascular and thoracic surgery team at Freeman Health System. He is an American Board-certified cardiothoracic and vascular surgeon with more than 25 years of surgical experience.

Dr. Taylor previously worked at another local hospital from 2012 to 2015 before heading west to Las Vegas for a year and then spending eight years in Virginia. Now back in Southwest Missouri, he is dedicated to providing the highest quality care in cardiac, thoracic, and vascular surgery to his patients.

“I believe Freeman Health System shows a commitment to providing exceptional healthcare services to the Joplin community and surrounding areas, with a focus on innovative techniques and compassionate care,” he said.  

Dr. Taylor is eager to bring new techniques and advancements to the area – such as minimally invasive cardiovascular and thoracic surgical procedures utilizing the Da Vinci surgical system – to his Joplin patients. This robotic technology allows Dr. Taylor to perform complex operations with greater precision, enhanced visualization, and improved dexterity through high-definition 3D imaging. 

"The support and investment the Joplin community shows for the well-being of their family members and neighbors is truly unique and inspiring,” he said.

Dr. Taylor is skilled in advanced cardiac surgery, including Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and the MAZE procedure, a type of heart surgery used to treat atrial fibrillation by creating a specific pattern of scar tissue to redirect electrical impulses inside the heart. His skills also span robotic thoracic surgery, vascular reconstruction, endovascular aneurysm repair, trans carotid artery revascularization, and complex peripheral vascular interventions.

Dr. Taylor completed medical school at Des Moines University in Iowa; his general surgery residency at Peninsula Hospital in Queens, New York; and his cardiothoracic and vascular surgery fellowship at Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Browns Mills, New Jersey.

During his 26 years as a cardiothoracic surgeon, Dr. Taylor has held numerous leadership positions throughout his career, including Chief of Cardiac Surgery and Medical Director of Cardiovascular Surgery at multiple institutions. He has been honored with numerous accolades for his patient care and service to the community, including Texas Monthly Cardiac Super Doc, TOMA Community Service Award, America’s Top Physicians for Cardiac, Thoracic, and Vascular Surgery and 417 Top Doctors for Cardiac and Vascular Surgery.

Dr. Taylor’s commitment to advancing surgical techniques and adopting emerging technologies has made him a leader in providing the highest level of care to patients facing complex heart and lung issues. Aside from TAVR and Da Vinci, his significant contributions to the field of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery include his pioneering work in off-pump coronary bypass surgery, Transmyocardial Laser Revascularization  (TMR), transcarotid artery revascularization (TCAR), and Transcatheter Aortic Aneurysm Repair (TEVAR).

Dr. Taylor will start at Freeman this week. He is married to his wife, Christine, with three children. In his spare time, he owned a fully operational cattle ranch and collected John Deere tractors.