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Jennifer S. Lawton

Jennifer S. Lawton, MD

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Accepting New Patients

Highlights

Age Groups Seen

  • Infant 0-2
  • Child 3-12
  • Adolescent 13-17
  • Young Adult 18-25
  • Adult 26-64
  • Older Adult 65+

Languages

  • English

Gender

Female

Johns Hopkins Affiliations:

  • Johns Hopkins School of Medicine Faculty

About Jennifer S. Lawton

Professional Titles

  • Richard Bennett Darnall Professor of Cardiac Surgery
  • Chief, Division of Cardiac Surgery
  • Director, Cardiac Surgery Research Laboratory

Primary Academic Title

Professor of Cardiac Surgery

Johns Hopkins Physician

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Background

Jennifer S. Lawton, M.D., is the Richard Bennett Darnall Professor of Surgery and chief of the Johns Hopkins Division of Cardiac Surgery, as well as director of the Cardiac Surgery Research Laboratory.

Dr. Lawton’s clinical area of focus is adult cardiac surgery. She also leads the division’s residency education program, and conduct research in myocyte volume regulation and ATP-sensitive K channels.

She has held important leadership roles in several organizations, including chair of the surgery study section of the American Heart Association, vice-chair of the ACGME residency review committee, and president of the Women in Thoracic Surgery.  Lawton’s achievements also include 81 peer-review publications, 7 book chapters, and 18 abstracts. She has delivered over 50 invited lectures.

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Research Interests

ATP-Sensitive Potassium Channels, Myocardial Protection, Myocyte Volume Regulation

Lab Website

Cardiac Surgery Research Lab - Lab Website

  • Founded in 1942 by surgeon Alfred Blalock and surgical technician Vivien Thomas, the Cardiac Surgery Research Lab at The Johns Hopkins Hospital serves not only to spearhead discovery and innovation in cardiothoracic surgery, but also to train future leaders in the field. Active areas of investigation include the development of novel, nanoparticle-based therapeutics to mitigate acute lung injury, avoid neurological injury during cardiac surgery, and improve organ preservation during heart and lung transplantation. The lab is also active in a variety of clinical research projects aimed at improving outcomes for our patients. Equally important, the lab plays a critical role in training residents for impactful careers in academic cardiothoracic surgery. Medical students, residents, and fellows receive hands-on simulation experiences to hone surgical skills outside of the operating room. The lab also serves as a training ground to develop research and investigation skills as trainees learn methods of advanced statistical analysis and academic writing. Special programs for undergraduates and medical students help develop their passion for cardiac surgery and surgical research, giving unique opportunities to young talent.

Selected Publications

  • Lawton JS, Barner HB, Bailey MS, Moazami N, Pasque MK, Moon, MR, Damiano RJ, Jr.  Radial Artery Grafts in Women:  Utilization and Results.  Ann Thorac Surg 2005; 80(2):559-63.  PMID 16039204

  • Lawton JS, Liu J, Kulshrestha K, Moon MR, Damiano RJ, Maniar H, Pasque MK. The Impact of Surgical Strategy on Survival Following Repair of Type A Aortic Dissection. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2015; 150:294-301.PMID 26005060

  • Lawton JS, Moazami N, Pasque MK, Moon MR, Damiano RJ Jr.  Early Stenosis of Medtronic Mosaic Porcine Valves in the Aortic Position.  J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2009; 137(6):1556-7.  PMID: 19464483

  • Henn MC, Janjua MB, Zhang H, Kanter EM, Makepeace CM, Schuessler RB, Nichols CG, Lawton JS. Cardiac Expressed Gain – of – Function of ATP –Sensitive Potassium Channel Subunit Kir6.1 is Associated with Increased Tolerance to Myocyte Stress. Accepted J Surg Res August 2016.

  • Selected from 89 publications

    Lawton JS, Brister SJ, Petro KR, Dullum M. Surgical Revascularization in Women:  Unique Intraoperative Factors and Considerations. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2003; 126(4):936-8.  PMID 14566226

  • Sellitto AD, Al-Dadah AS, Schuessler RB, Nichols CG, Lawton JS. An Open Sarcolemmal Adenosine Triphosphate-Sensitive Potassium Channel is Necessary for Detrimental Myocyte Swelling Secondary to Stress. Circulation 2011;124[suppl 1]:S70-S74.  PMID:  21911821

Honors

  • Fellow, American Heart Association
  • Invited Attendee, American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Leadership Academy for Division Chiefs/Potential Chiefs
  • Invited Attendee, American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS) Strategic Planning Retreat
  • Named to Best Doctors in St. Louis, 2009 - 2015, St. Louis Magazine
  • National Research Service Award, National Institutes of Health; 1994-1996

Memberships

  • American Surgical Association
  • Society of Clinical Surgery
  • Fellow, American College of Surgeons
  • American Association for Thoracic Surgery
  • Cardiac Surgery Biology Club
  • Society of Thoracic Surgeons
  • Southern Thoracic Surgical Association
  • Fellow, American Heart Association
  • St. Louis Thoracic Surgery Society
  • Association for Academic Surgery
  • Women in Thoracic Surgery
  • Association of Women Surgeons
  • International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
  • Associate Member, Washington University Center for the Investigation of Membrane Excitability Diseases (CIMED)

Locations

  1. Levi Watkins, Jr., M.D., Outpatient Center

Expertise

Education

  • Fellowship: Penn State Hershey Medical Center, Cardiothoracic Surgery, 2001
  • Residency: VCU Health and Hospitals, General Surgery, 1999
  • Medical Education: Drexel University College of Medicine, Medicine, MD, 1992

Board Certifications

  • Thoracic and Cardiac Surgery: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, 2002

Insurance

Please contact the location directly to confirm your health plan is accepted.
Search plans
  • Aetna
  • CareFirst
  • Cigna
  • First Health
  • Geisinger Health Plan
  • HealthSmart/Accel
  • Johns Hopkins Health Plans
  • MultiPlan
  • Pennsylvania's Preferred Health Networks (PPHN)
  • Point Comfort Underwriters
  • Private Healthcare Systems (PHCS)
  • Veteran Affairs Community Care Network (Optum-VACCN)

Ratings & Reviews

5 out of 5

57 ratings, 30 reviews

The Patient Rating score is an average of all responses to physician related questions on the national CG-CAHPS Medical Practice patient experience survey through Press Ganey. Responses are measured on a scale of 1 to 5, with 5 being the best score. Comments are also gathered from our CG-CAHPS Medical Practice Survey through Press Ganey and displayed in their entirety. Patients are de-identified for confidentiality and patient privacy.

Overall Rating by Patient
Provider Listened Carefully
Provider Explained Things Clearly
Provider Knew Medical History
Provider Showed Respect
Provider Spent Enough Time
Search reviews
    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 3/20/2026

    Outstanding concern for myself as a being

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 3/6/2026

    Knowledgable, thorough and patient

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 3/6/2026

    GREAT

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 2/27/2026

    Cant wait to get my date for my surgery.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 2/27/2026

    Dr. Lawton was professional, educational, understanding and took a great deal of time to explain all steps along the way and outcomes. She was excellent!

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 2/27/2026

    Very professional and kind and caring

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 2/6/2026

    I am well aware that Dr. Lawton saved my life and for that I am very grateful.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/23/2026

    Passionate, kind, respectful, amazing clinician

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/23/2026

    Dr Lawton is superb

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/2/2026

    I felt very at ease right from the beginning to voice any concerns I had, thoroughly explained my procedure. She was approachable, and made the whole process. Understandable with a perfect degree of empathy. She had a great bedside manner and spent ample time with me as well. Feel very confident that she will take great care of me to the best of her abilities. Journey

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 1/2/2026

    Dr. Lawton is a truly wonderful cardiac care provider - she is knowledgeable, skilled, and caring. My post-op care visit was excellent, just as my surgery. Dr. Lawton devoted the time to explain my condition, answer questions, and provide encouragement for continued healing, and she is very pleasant. Especially given the seriousness of my health issue, this was without doubt the best experience that I have ever had with a specialized care provider.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 12/19/2025

    Thank you for providing me the Accessibility <sign language interpretation >

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 12/19/2025

    She's awesome.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 12/19/2025

    Dr. Lawton performed a triple by-pass on me 30 days prior to this visit. Results of surgery were excellent.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 12/19/2025

    Very kind, personable and easy to talk to.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 12/12/2025

    Dr. Lawton is calm, caring and a leading expert in cardiac care. I feel very fortunate to be under her care.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 11/14/2025

    An all around excellent experience.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 10/24/2025

    Very empathy and patience

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 10/24/2025

    My post-op appointment with Dr Lawton was on time for both the X-ray and to see her. Her knowledge as a surgeon is well known and her demeanor, bed side manner and ease to how she explained the pre and post surgery was exceptional. I feel very fortunate that she was the surgeon for my double by pass operation.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 10/24/2025

    Concerned, nice and cared

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 10/17/2025

    Outstanding, informative and succinct dialogue. I could not be more satisfied with the appointment. Extraordinary physician!

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 10/3/2025

    Refer all to other surgeon for procedure not done at Hopkins currently

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 9/19/2025

    I am very thankful Dr. Lawton accepted me as a patient. I know she is the best.8

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 9/12/2025

    Dr.Lawton is always kind and really listens to what you have to say about your medical condition.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 9/5/2025

    I thought she was wonderful

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 8/1/2025

    Very professional, good sense of humor and listener, kind, and compassionate

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 8/1/2025

    Dr. Lawton is the best!

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 6/27/2025

    Very caring yet professional.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 6/27/2025

    Dr Lawton and her assistant are awsome.

    5 out of 5 stars
    Reviewed on 6/10/2025

    Dr. Lawton and her entire support team are exceptional in all aspects of care for the patient. I had great confidence in my patient experience and outcome directly as a result of their meticulous involvement and thoroughness.