Dr. Kenneth K. Liao is a Houston-based cardiothoracic surgeon who is helping reshape the future of heart surgery through robotic and minimally invasive techniques. As chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Transplantation and Circulatory Support at Baylor College of Medicine and chief of cardiothoracic transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center, Liao has built a reputation for bringing advanced surgical technology to complex cardiac procedures.
Liao completed his general surgery residency at Brookdale University Hospital Medical Center in Brooklyn and his cardiothoracic surgery training at the University of Minnesota. During his career, he has developed expertise in robotic mitral valve surgery, robotic coronary artery bypass procedures, heart transplantation, ventricular assist devices and complex repeat cardiac surgeries.
One of his most notable recent achievements came in March 2025, when Liao and his team at Baylor St. Luke’s Medical Center performed the first reported fully robotic heart transplant on an adult patient in the United States. Rather than using the traditional approach that requires opening the chest and dividing the breastbone, the surgical team used robotic technology and smaller incisions to remove the failing heart and implant the donor heart.
The procedure represents an important step in the evolution of transplantation. Traditional heart-transplant surgery can involve significant trauma to the chest, while a minimally invasive approach may help reduce certain challenges associated with recovery. Liao has emphasized the importance of developing techniques that can help patients recover and return to their lives following major heart procedures.
His progress with robotic surgery has also been reflected in the growing volume of procedures performed by his team. In 2025, Liao surpassed 800 robotic heart surgeries, and by December he had reached his 900th robotic heart surgery milestone. His program performs robotic procedures involving heart valves, coronary bypass surgery, atrial fibrillation and other complex conditions.
Liao has also participated in more than 30 clinical trials as a principal investigator or co-investigator, with research covering areas including valve surgery, heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support.
What makes Dr. Liao particularly noteworthy is the combination of surgical experience, research and technology. His work demonstrates how robotic systems can potentially expand the possibilities of minimally invasive cardiac surgery while giving surgeons enhanced visualization and precision.
As cardiac medicine continues to evolve, physicians such as Liao are helping explore what may be possible when advanced technology is combined with extensive surgical expertise. His achievements in Houston make him a compelling example of a U.S. physician working to move complex heart care into a new era.
