TEDxUMKC
Run for your life!
At a comfortable pace, and not too far.
About Dr. James
Dr. James H. O’Keefe MD, FACC, is a renowned preventive cardiologist based in Kansas City. He serves as a Professor of Medicine at the University of Missouri–Kansas City and is the Director of the Charles and Barbara Duboc Cardio Health & Wellness Center and the Haverty CardioMetabolic Center at Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute.
He earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine, followed by seven years of residency and cardiovascular fellowship training at the Mayo Clinic. He joined Saint Luke’s in 1988 and has since authored over 500 peer‑reviewed articles that have been cited in other scientific paper over 45,000 times. His research has been influential in shaping cardiovascular prevention, exercise and diet recommendations, and longevity strategies.
James is widely recognized for pioneering the preventive model in cardiology. After starting in interventional cardiology under Dr. Geoffrey Hartzler, he shifted focus toward lifestyle medicine, believing the majority of cardiovascular disease could be prevented before it presented as a catastrophic complication or required invasive procedures or surgery.
His website O’Keefe ECG and CV Board Review has become an essential tool that Cardiology Fellows everywhere use to master concepts needed to pass their Cardiology Boards. He also authored the best‑selling educational medical text The Complete Guide to ECGs.
Dr. O’Keefe’s expertise spans dietary interventions, omega‑3 supplementation, exercise dosing, and emerging drug therapies (like PCSK9 inhibitors and SGLT2/GLP-1 agents) as tools for longevity and cardiometabolic health.
He has done 3 TED Talks, which have been viewed 7 millions times.
About James
From the Heart Blog
A trusted source for Dr. James O’Keefe’s insights on heart health, longevity, and joyful living—translating decades of medical wisdom into inspiring, actionable guidance for your everyday life.
Thanks to the generous support of grateful patients through the Saint Luke’s Foundation, From the Heart reaches more than 260,000 homes and offices across the country.
All content is created by our physicians exclusively for the education of patients and referring physicians. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider for diagnosis and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
James H. O’Keefe, MD
Editor-in-Chief
Lisa Harkrader
Managing Editor
TEDxTallaght
Homosexuality: It's about survival - not sex
This passionate talk from Dr. James O'Keefe MD gives us a deeply personal and fascinating insight into why homosexuality is indeed a necessary and extraordinarily useful cog in nature's wheel of perfection.
