Meet Takashi Harano, MD

Dr. Harano is a thoracic surgeon who specializes in lung transplantations at Keck Medicine of USC. 

Here’s what you won’t find on his resume. 

The trust of his patients is sacred and it drives him every day. 

“My patients place their trust in me. This inspires me to be the best physician I can every day.  

Patients and their families come to us during one of the most critical moments of their lives, and they’re relying on our expertise to help them get better. Knowing that my performance as a surgeon directly impacts their survival and quality of life pushes me to constantly improve.” 

Helping people recover is immensely gratifying. 

“The most rewarding part of my job as a lung transplant surgeon is witnessing the transformation in my patients’ lives. Many of them struggle with severe breathing difficulties and often rely on oxygen or other supportive measures to get through each day.  

After undergoing a lung transplant, their ability to breathe improves dramatically. They’re able to regain independence and enjoy their daily activities again. Seeing my patients progress — from struggling to take just a few steps to walking freely without assistance — is incredibly fulfilling. Knowing that my work allows my patients to have a second chance at life makes all the challenges of this field worthwhile.” 

He’s also a medical researcher. 

“My recent research has been focused on how kidney function affects the outcomes of lung transplantation. We’re working to increase our understanding of chronic kidney dysfunction and how best to manage it following a lung transplant, with the goal of improving long-term survival.” 

The medical breakthrough he’s hoping for in his lifetime: 

“When patients receive a transplant, immunosuppressive medications help prevent the body from rejecting and attacking the new organ. I would like to see advancements in the genetic modification of lung transplants that would reduce or even eliminate the need for immunosuppression. This breakthrough could significantly extend the survival of lung transplant recipients.” 

He advises young surgeons to keep pushing to be better. 

“If I could give an incoming medical student advice about my specialty, I’d tell them that we should always be pushing to advance our skills and be technically better. We need to see how the patients react to the surgery, monitor for any complications and continue to monitor patients into the long term. This will give us insights into what areas need improvement.” 

Keck Medicine stands out for its collaborative environment. 

“What I like most about working at Keck Medicine is the strong culture of collaboration across different specialties. When my patients require specialized care beyond my expertise, I can rely on seamless coordination with other specialists to ensure they receive the best treatment possible.” 

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