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Dr. Stuart W. Jamieson, Endowed Chair, Distinguished Professor of Surgery, and Dean of Cardiovascular Affairs is known throughout the world for his pioneering research and innovative surgical therapy. Internationally recognized for his expertise in pulmonary thromboendarterectomy (PTE), he pioneered this operation, which now is performed at many centers throughout the world. He is also well known for his skill in both adult and pediatric cardiac surgery. Patients come to Dr. Jamieson from throughout the nation for complex valve or coronary operations. The longest surviving heart, heart-lung and double lung transplanted patients in the world are patients of Dr. Jamieson.

Dr. Jamieson was born in Rhodesia, which is now known as Zimbabwe. He attended university and medical school at the University of London. After completing general surgery and two years of cardiothoracic training in England he came to Stanford in 1978 as the British Heart Foundation – American Heart Association fellow. His research in the Stanford laboratories included the first use of the drug cyclosporine, which, when used clinically in December 1980 revolutionized the field of heart transplantation, and made lung transplantation possible. Starting in 1983 heart transplantation became performed throughout the world, as a result of the use of cyclosporine. Dr. Jamieson stayed on the staff at Stanford as Assistant and then Associate Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery. From 1982 to 1986, Dr. Jamieson was the director of the heart and lung transplantation program at Stanford and was involved in the first successful heart and lung transplants in the world.

In 1986 Dr. Jamieson went to Minnesota as Professor and Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery, where he founded and directed the Minnesota Heart and Lung Institute. Here he performed the first heart/lung, double lung and lung transplants in the Midwest. Dr. Jamieson came to the University of California, San Diego, in 1989 as the Professor and Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and was made Distinguished Professor in 2004. In 2008 he was given the Endowed Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of California, San Diego.

The longest surviving heart transplant in the world was operated upon by Dr. Jamieson in 1979, and the longest surviving lung transplant in the world was operated upon by Dr. Jamieson in 1986. Dr. Jamieson is the author of more than 500 scientific papers, including the original descriptions of the techniques for both heart/lung and double lung transplantation, and the first use of cyclosporin in heart transplantation. In addition, he is the author of two major medical textbooks on cardiac surgery and heart and lung transplantation. He is a former President of the International Society for Heart Transplantation, and is the Chancellor of the World Society of Cardiothoracic Surgery. He is a member and officer of numerous other medical and surgical societies, and is the recipient of a number of honors and awards. He has been named one of the "Giants of Cardiothoracic Surgery" by the Cardiothoracic Network, a "Living Legend" by the World Society of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, and has received the Pioneer Award from the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation. Institutions worldwide invite him as a lecturer.

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Jamieson is a cattle rancher and commercial helicopter pilot, and collects and studies ancient medical manuscripts and antique watches.