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David Letterman's Heart Surgeon: Who Is He?

Written By: Adam Pick, Patient Advocate, Author & Website Founder
Page Last Updated: June 9, 2025

Lisa was recently diagnosed with severe mitral valve regurgitation due to due to mitral valve prolapse. That said, Lisa is currently searching for a heart surgeon. She writes to me, "Hi Adam: I live in New York.... And, I am curious... Do you know the name of David Letterman's heart surgeon?"

As you may know, David Letterman had emergency heart surgery on January 14, 2000 at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital in New York. David Letterman's surgeon was Doctor O. Wayne Isom, the Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Due to a blocked artery, Letterman had quintuple heart bypass surgery.

Dr. Wayne Isom

As a result of heart surgery, Letterman missed his first television show in twenty years of late night entertainment. In total, Letterman was out for five weeks during his recovery. Upon Dave's return to The Late Show, there was a week-long celebration featuring Jerry Seinfield, Julia Roberts, Rudy Giuliani, Bill Cosby, Regis Philbin, etc.

As for Doctor O. Wayne Isom, Letterman's surgeon, he too is a very celebrated person. Recognition for Dr. Isom's work includes:

The Greenberg Prize
The American Heart Association's distinguished Bugher Foundation Award for Achievement in Cardiovascular Science and Medicine
The Hero With A Heart Award from the National Marfan Foundation
The first annual Humanitarian Award from the Larry King Cardiac Foundation
The NYSAE Education Research Foundation
The highly coveted Third Year Teaching Award from Weill Cornell Medical College's medical students.

I hope that helps you better understand a little bit more about David Letterman's heart surgery and Doctor O. Wayne Isom, Letterman's heart surgeon.

Written by Adam Pick - Patient & Website Founder

Adam Pick is a heart valve patient and author of The Patient's Guide To Heart Valve Surgery. In 2006, Adam founded HeartValveSurgery.com to educate and empower patients. This award-winning website has helped over 10 million people fight heart valve disease. Adam has been featured by the American Heart Association and Medical News Today.

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