Koji Higuchi, MD

Koji Higuchi, MD, PhD, CEPS-A, FHRS, is a staff cardiologist in the Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing Section of The Tomsich Family Department of Cardiovascular Medicine in the Miller Family Heart, Vascular & Thoracic Institute. He sees patients at Main Campus.

Specialty Interests: Ventricular arrhythmia ablation, atrial arrhythmia ablation, supraventricular tachycardia ablation, device implantation, translational research

Experience: Dr. Higuchi has been in practice for more than 10 years, specializing in the diagnosis, treatment and management of heart rhythm abnormalities. He has performed more than 2,500 ablations and implanted more than 1,000 cardiac rhythm-regulating devices.

He is a fellow of the Heart Rhythm Society. 

Success Rates: Cleveland Clinic is nationally and internationally renowned for its cardiovascular care.  To learn about patient outcomes for specific conditions and procedures at Cleveland Clinic, go to http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/about-heart-vascular-institute/treatment-outcomes.aspx

Education: Dr. Higuchi earned his medical degree and his PhD from Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, and served his residency there. He completed fellowships in internal medicine and cardiovascular medicine at Musashino Red Cross Hospital, Tokyo, and a fellowship in cardiac electrophysiology at Tokyo Medical and Dental University. 

As an assistant professor at the university Dr. Higuchi taught for several years in the Department of Cardiac Electrophysiology before coming to the United States in 2011 for a research fellowship in cardiac arrhythmia in the Department of Cardiology, University of Utah, Salt Lake City. After completion of this fellowship, he returned to Japan to accept a position as a staff electrophysiologist at Hiratsuka Kyosai Hospital in Kanagawa. He was named chief of the department in 2016.

Dr. Higuchi continued in that position until he joined the Cleveland Clinic Cardiac Electrophysiology and Pacing Section in 2022.

Research, Publications and Speaking: Dr. Higuchi is a dedicated translational researcher, particularly in the areas of ablation for premature ventricular contraction and ventricular tachycardia and atrial fibrillation using MRI navigation. He has coauthored more than two dozen scientific papers related to these interests published in leading peer-reviewed electrophysiology journals, as well as editorials and a textbook chapter. Dr. Higuchi has been a manuscript reviewer for the journal Heart Rhythm Case Report since 2016. He also has lectured and presented research abstracts at major cardiac electrophysiology meetings in Asia, Europe and the United States, including the American College of Cardiology and Heart Rhythm Society annual meetings.

About Dr. Higuchi: “As a heart rhythm specialist, I offer patients a variety of options, ranging from noninvasive to invasive procedures. I strive to communicate effectively with patients during clinic visits to determine the best approach to address their conditions. The most rewarding moment for me is seeing my patients’ happy faces after a successful procedure.”

Leisure Activities: In his leisure time Dr. Koji enjoys camping and playing basketball.