Karen Walker, MD

Clinical Faculty

Karen “Kalei” Walker, MD, MHS, is a cardiovascular surgeon with Orlando Health Heart & Vascular Institute. Her clinical interests include all aspects of cardiac surgery. She performs coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), valve surgery, aortic surgery and arrhythmia surgery. She believes in providing individualized, patient-centric care. When treating patients, Dr. Walker uses traditional surgical techniques, transcatheter valve technology and endovascular stent grafts.

Dr. Walker earned her medical degree from the University of Florida, College of Medicine. She completed her residency in vascular surgery at Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center in New Hampshire. Following her vascular surgery training, she trained in cardiothoracic surgery at Washington University in St. Louis. She also earned a master’s degree in health science from Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

Dr. Walker’s research has focused on resource utilization and the incorporation of new technology, such as thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR), in cardiac and vascular surgery. She received the Alley-Sheridan Scholarship from the Thoracic Surgery Foundation and attended the Leadership Program for Health Policy and Management at Brandeis University. She is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons.