Dr. Jacques Kpodonu is a cardiovascular surgeon specializing in global health system innovation with an emphasis on addressing rheumatic heart disease and currently a faculty member at Harvard Medical School and an adjunct professor of surgery at the University of Ghana. Dr. Kpodonu's interests lie in biomedical discoveries, modernizing the operating room via novel design and growing the global capacity of cardiac surgeons especially in emerging countries with his work in global cardiac surgery. In addition to writing medical textbooks and his research work, Dr. Kpodonu is a key opinion leader in design of advanced hybrid cardiac surgical rooms and biomedical innovation and is passionate in advocating for the use of telehealth services-especially in African nations. Dr. Kpodonu is frequently quoted in the Orange County Register, American Health Journal, and holds leadership positions with the Society Thoracic Surgeons and the American College of Cardiology. Based in Boston, he sitson the diversity and inclusion committee for the American College of Cardiology and the Society of Thoracic Surgery and has helped to raise millions of dollars to finance the construction of advanced robotic hybrid operating room both here in the USA and in Africa.