Appointments and affiliations
Professor
Division of Cardiac Surgery
University of Ottawa Heart Institute
Professor
Department of Surgery and Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine
University of Ottawa
Marc Ruel, MD, is a professor and the endowed chair and director of minimally invasive cardiac surgery research in the Division of Cardiac Surgery at the Ottawa Heart Institute. He is also a professor in the Department of Surgery and in the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the University of Ottawa.
Background
Dr. Ruel earned his medical degree from the University of Ottawa in 1994 and completed his cardiac surgery training there. He received board certification in cardiac surgery from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada in 2000. He subsequently went to Harvard University to study experimental minimally invasive surgery and cardiac regeneration, during which time he also completed a master's degree in public health. He later returned to Harvard for leadership courses. He has spent his entire career at the Ottawa Heart Institute.
A seasoned heart surgeon, innovator, and researcher, Dr. Ruel has devoted his career to making cardiac surgery less invasive, more evidence-based, and better for patients. He developed multi-vessel minimally invasive coronary artery bypass surgery, along with several other cardiac surgical techniques. The BioEngineering and Therapeutic Solutions (BEaTS) laboratory research program he founded at the start of his career has also achieved translational impact and international reach, and is now expertly led by Erik Suuronen, PhD, and Emilio Alarcón, PhD.
For 11 years, Dr. Ruel led the Division of Cardiac Surgery at the Ottawa Heart Institute, strengthening its reputation and presence both nationally and internationally. He shaped the division's approach to every aspect of patient care while driving translational and clinical research and supporting surgical innovation, including a dedicated, philanthropically funded robotic cardiac surgery program. Under his leadership the division grew markedly in surgical volume and national outreach, with gains in quality, research and innovation, education, out-of-region referrals, international reputation, recruitment, and overall impact.
Dr. Ruel performs all types of cardiac surgery, including minimally invasive procedures, valve surgery, surgery for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, complex repeat operations, heart transplants, and ventricular assist device implantations. He pioneered minimally invasive cardiac surgery coronary artery bypass grafting (MICS CABG) on a global scale, and has led numerous international courses on MICS CABG and minimally invasive valve surgery, teaching surgeons from around the world both in Ottawa and abroad. Thousands of sternal-sparing coronary operations performed worldwide now use the multi-vessel bypass techniques he developed. He has also safely performed several first-in-man operations that have led to successful clinical series.
In 2026, the MIST trial—the first international randomized trial comparing MICS CABG with conventional bypass surgery—showed that multi-vessel MICS CABG offers better recovery and patient-reported outcomes for people with multivessel coronary artery disease. Led by Dr. Ruel and published in The Lancet, the world’s top medical journal, the study represents a major advance after more than 50 years of using the traditional surgical approach.
Research and clinical interests
Dr. Ruel has published more than 500 scientific papers and chapters and seven books, and has delivered over 400 invited lectures. He has led or participated in 18 international practice guidelines or consensus statements on cardiovascular care, and continues to lead key clinical trials in cardiac surgery. He is a co-editor of a 608-page Elsevier textbook on cardiac surgical techniques. Now in its third edition and available in four languages, it has sold nearly 10,000 copies worldwide.
In 2007, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada awarded Dr. Ruel the Gold Medal in Surgery for his work in cardiac regeneration. In 2012, he received Queen Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee Medal for his contributions to cardiovascular care. In 2019, the American Heart Association honoured him with its Distinguished Achievement Award. In 2024, the University of Ottawa named him Researcher of the Year—the second clinician to receive the award since its creation in 1963. Several organizations have also recognized him for lifetime achievement, and he is counted among the "giants of cardiothoracic surgery".
Dr. Ruel is a past president of the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS), one of the most respected medical societies in the world. Since the CCS was established in 1947, only three other surgeons have held the role. He served as surgery editor for the prestigious journal Circulation and is executive editor of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, the journal with the highest impact factor in cardiothoracic surgery. He also serves as a reviewer for leading national and international research and funding agencies, including the British Heart Foundation, the Swiss National Science Foundation, the Austrian Science Fund, the Research Council of Norway, the Dutch Research Council, and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. He has contributed his expertise to regulatory bodies such as the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Dr. Ruel's philosophy of care reflects the core values of the Ottawa Heart Institute. Above all, he is committed to ensuring that every patient and family receives world-class care. That commitment radiates outward into a culture of care providers who strive for excellence in everything they do: in clinical and surgical care, in technical innovation, in research, and in the knowledge and support they offer to peers, colleagues, and the aspiring healthcare leaders of tomorrow.
Publications
Please see PubMed for current listing.