James O'Keefe (cardiologist)

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James H. O'Keefe, MD

Dr. James O'Keefe Jr., MD (born June 8, 1956) is an American author and cardiologist best known for his studies in the field of cardiovascular medicine, diet and exercise. O’Keefe is the co-author of the best selling consumer health books, The Forever Young Diet & Lifestyle and Let Me Tell You a Story. He is currently a professor of medicine at the University of Missouri–Kansas City and Director of Preventive Cardiology at St. Luke's Cardiovascular Consultants.

Career

James Henry O’Keefe Jr., MD, son of James Henry O'Keefe Sr. and Leatrice O’Keefe, was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota on June 8, 1956. He graduated from the University of North Dakota where he received an undergraduate BS in Natural Science.^[1] In 1982, he graduated with his MD from Baylor College of Medicine. He then completed his medical residency as well as a cardiovascular fellowship at the Mayo Graduate School of Medicine in Rochester, Minnesota.^[1] He did an advanced fourth year cardiovascular fellowship in nuclear cardiac imagery and interventional cardiology.

Dr. O’Keefe is the director of the Preventive Cardiology Fellowship Program at the Saint Luke’s Mid America Heart Institute. At the Mid America Heart Institute, he is involved with patient care, clinical research as well as non-invasive cardiology practices. He has been board-certified in cardiology, nuclear cardiology, pacing, lipids, cardiac CT imaging, and internal medicine.^[1] He has been named to many top doctors lists, both regionally and nationally, including USA Today's Most Influential American Physicians,^[2] Ingram’s Business Magazine,^[3] Kansas City Family Magazine,^[4] and Consumer Guide to Top Doctors ^[5] In 1989, he became a Professor of Medicine at the University of Missouri in Kansas City.^[6] Dr. O’Keefe is also a fellow of the American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association Council of Clinical Cardiology.^[7]

Dr. O’Keefe has contributed over 250 articles to medical literature. These include his studies on vitamin D, omega-3, diet, exercise, and alcohol. He has been the lead author of four best-selling books, including, The Forever Young Diet & Lifestyle, Dyslipidemia Essentials, Diabetes Essentials, and the Complete Guide to ECGs.^[8] He has been a contributor to chapters in eight other books.^[9]

Hunter-gatherer lifestyle

Dr. O’Keefe suggests that in order to achieve a healthy lifestyle, humans must return to the lifestyles of their ancient ancestors.^[10] O’Keefe argues that this is essential because the nutritional needs of our current era were determined many centuries ago in the remote pre-historic past and humans have been genetically adapted to thrive in a Hunter-Gatherer type of lifestyle. However, the modern, fast-paced, technology-driven world is characterized by a diet of overprocessed fast food and empty calories in conjunction with excess stress and inaequate outdoor physical activity.^[11] O’Keefe believes these empty calories are the underlying cause for most diseases, disabilities, and unhappiness. Our ancestors survived on a diet high in fish, fruits, vegetables, and nuts. They also received a large amount of exercise from walking, bending, lifting, carrying, swimming, climbing, and other activities that were necessary to their daily routines.^[12] Dr. O’Keefe recommends drinking water, green tea, coffee, and red wine in moderation.^[13]

Research

O’Keefe has researched and published extensively about exercise, diet, omega-3, and vitamin D. Work on potential cardiovascular damage from excessive endurance exercise such as ultra-marathons has garnered much attention in both the cardiology world and the general public. The article^[14] posits extreme endurance exercise such as marathons, iron man distance triathlons, and very long distance bicycle races may eventually lead to adverse structural changes in the heart and large arteries, leading to 'cardiac overuse injury' and atrial fibrillation. These papers emphasize that exercise best confers benefits to longevity and cardiac health at moderate doses, such as vigorous exercise 30–60 minutes per day, beyond which it becomes a case of diminishing returns.^[15]^[16]

O’Keefe was the lead author for other articles as well including: Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Cardiovascular Protection and Vitamin D Deficiency:An Important, Common, and Easily Treatable Cardiovascular Risk Factor?^[17] Through his studies, O’Keefe has shown that vitamin D deficiency may have a direct correlation with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and inflammation.^[18]

Personal life

O'Keefe has a family history in medicine. His great grandfather, Dr. Henry O'Keefe, practiced medicine in North Dakota from 1890 to 1935. Henry's son, Emmett (James' grandfather), was also a doctor in North Dakota.

O'Keefe met his wife, Joan, while at the Mayo Clinic. The two married in October 1984 and together they have four children: James III, Evan, Kathleen, and Caroline.

Honors

Phi Eta Sigma (1977)
Phi Beta Kappa (1978)
Summa Cum Laude Honors Graduate at the University of North Dakota (1978)
AMA Outstanding Medical Student Award: University of North Dakota (1980)
Alpha Omega Alpha (1982)
The Squire Top 125 Kansas City Doctors (2004)
Kansas City Top 25 Doctors (2004–2005)
America’s Top Rated Physicians — Cardiology (2004–2005)
Kansas City Top 100 Doctors (2006–2007)
USA Today Most Influential Doctors (2010)
America's Top Doctors for Five Consecutive Years (2006–2010)
Kansas City Business Journal Top Doctors 2010

References

External links

Authority control	VIAF: 73094789 ISNI: 0000 0001 1574 3833

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Name	Okeefe, James, Md
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Date of birth	June 8, 1956
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