Cardiologist, Richard Schatz, MD, started his practice in 1982 and joined Scripps Clinic in 1990. His interests are in complex coronary angioplasty, new cardiac devices, and stem cell research for refractory angina and heart failure.

He currently serves as the research director of cardiovascular interventions at the Heart, Lung, and Vascular Center at Scripps Clinic and as the director of cell therapy. Dr. Schatz also held the position of clinical associate professor of medicine at the University of Texas Health Sciences Center and served as director of research and education at the Arizona Heart Institute. He is best known as the co-inventor of the first coronary stent, the Palmaz-Schatz stent. His research led to a revolution in the field of interventional cardiology that continues today.

Dr. Schatz is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the Distinguished Alumnus Award from Duke University Medical Center and the Barton Haynes Lifetime Scholarship award from Duke University. He is currently conducting clinical trials in the field of stem cells and gene therapy for angiogenesis in heart patients with severe angina.