Juan Samayoa Escobar, MD

Juan Carlos Samayoa, MD is an Assistant Professor of Pediatric Cardiology at the University of Minnesota Medical School. He is a Pediatric Interventional Cardiologist, where he specializes in transcatheter therapies for complex congenital heart disease across the lifespan, from premature neonates to adults.

Dr. Samayoa completed his pediatric cardiology training at Primary Children's Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah, followed by advanced fellowship training in pediatric interventional cardiology at Seattle Children's Hospital.

Dr. Samayoa has a broad range of research interests centered on his clinical role in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. He is particularly focused on the development of novel percutaneous devices for congenital heart disease, including a pulmonary artery flow restrictor for which he holds a United States patent. He serves as institutional principal investigator on multiple national registries examining outcomes of transcatheter pulmonary valve replacement, percutaneous flow restrictors, and transcatheter palliation for tetralogy of Fallot, among others. Dr. Samayoa also collaborates with industry partners on the development of new intracardiac devices and participates in national device trials and clinical registries.

A career in pediatric interventional cardiology has been Dr. Samayoa's goal since the earliest days of his medical training in Guatemala. He is driven by the belief that the best therapies for his patients have not yet been invented — a conviction that shapes everything he does, from his work in the catheterization laboratory to his commitment in academia. His journey from Guatemala City to the University of Minnesota has been shaped by extraordinary mentors and formative experiences, and his work at Masonic Children's Hospital represents the realization of everything he set out to accomplish.

Outside of medicine, Dr. Samayoa enjoys skiing, cycling, and spending time with his wife and three children.