[5 min read]
In this article:
- Peter Tomozawa, CEO of Seattle's FIFA World Cup Organizing Committee, was battling the worst headache of his life when his wife urged him to reach out to his Providence Swedish physician, Timothy Johnson, M.D.
- Concerned about his family history of aneurysm, Dr. Johnson insisted that Tomozawa go to the Providence Swedish emergency department immediately.
- That call was the right one; his care team discovered and repaired a potentially fatal aneurysm in Tomozawa's brain.
- Watch the video below to learn more about Tomozawa and how expert care helped get the busy executive ready to suit up for one of Seattle's biggest summer events.
As CEO of Seattle’s FIFA World Cup 2026 organizing committee, Peter Tomozawa has a busy schedule and plenty on his mind. So when a severe headache came and went, he initially thought little of it. Thanks to the quick actions of his physicians at Providence Swedish, that headache led to the discovery and treatment of a brain aneurysm before it could rupture.
Tomozawa has long known he carries a significant family history of brain aneurysms. His mother died from an aneurysm at age 69, and several relatives on her side of the family faced similar health challenges.
Last October, Tomozawa woke up with a sudden, severe headache.
“It was sort of in the back of my head,” he recalls. “I fought through it during the day, and then I woke up the next morning and it was completely gone.”
Like many people, he assumed the problem had passed. At his wife’s urging, however, he sent a message through MyChart to his primary care physician Timothy Johnson, M.D. That decision set a life-saving chain of events into motion.
“My doctor told me, ‘Peter, you may not have 10 days. He said, ‘I need you to go to Swedish. We need to find out what’s going on.’ He saved my life.”
“Peter’s not a big headache person,” says Dr. Johnson. “The headache was gone and he was going about his business, but it just didn’t sit well with me because of his family history.”
Dr. Johnson was concerned that Tomozawa may have experienced what physicians call a sentinel bleed — a small leak from an aneurysm that can cause a sudden headache before a potentially catastrophic rupture.
“I called him right away,” says Dr. Johnson. “He asked, ‘Should I go to the emergency room?’ And I said, ‘That’s exactly what I want you to do.’”
For Tomozawa, the experience highlighted the expertise and coordination behind every stage of care.
“My doctor told me, ‘Peter, you may not have 10 days,’” he says. “He said, ‘I need you to go to Swedish. We need to find out what’s going on.’ He saved my life.”
Following surgery, Tomozawa was cared for by the neurocritical care team led by Ali Massaro, M.D., medical director of the Neurocritical Care at Providence Swedish Cherry Hill.
Imaging at Providence Swedish revealed a brain aneurysm that required urgent treatment.
“When aneurysms leak or rupture, they can cause a devastating type of stroke,” explains Akshal Patel, M.D., director of Neurosurgical Quality at Fellowship Programs at Providence Swedish Neuroscience Institute. “The only warning sign can be the worst headache you’ve ever had.”
Although Tomozawa’s aneurysm had not ruptured, the symptoms and imaging findings left little time to wait.
“Our team came together quickly and determined surgery was the best option,” says Dr. Patel. “We were able to get him to surgery within a day and successfully treat the aneurysm.”
Dr. Patel performed a craniotomy and aneurysm clipping procedure to permanently secure the weakened blood vessel before it could rupture.
“Aneurysms are outpouchings of blood vessel walls that weaken the vessel and make it prone to rupture,” says Dr. Massaro. “Peter had a remarkable recovery, and I think his success was really threefold: excellent surgery, his overall good health, and his positive mindset throughout the process.”
Today, Tomozawa is back to leading one of the region’s most visible organizations and is grateful for the team that helped him return to his life.
“I’ve been around successful organizations my whole life,” Tomozawa says. “The commonality among all of them is a strong culture. It’s pretty clear to me that Swedish has a culture of caring.”
His physicians hope others will learn from his experience.
“Listen to your body,” says Dr. Massaro. “If something feels off, especially if you experience a sudden severe headache or the worst headache of your life, seek medical attention immediately. Early evaluation can make all the difference.”
Learn more and find a physician or advanced practice clinician (APC)
Our experts at the Providence Swedish Neuroscience Institute offer comprehensive, progressive diagnosis and treatment for a wide range of spine, brain and central nervous system conditions. Telehealth options are available.
Whether you require an in-person visit or want to consult a doctor virtually, you have options. Contact Swedish Primary Care to schedule an appointment with a primary care provider. You can also connect virtually with your provider to review your symptoms, provide instruction and follow up as needed. And with Swedish ExpressCare Virtual you can receive treatment in minutes for common conditions such as colds, flu, urinary tract infections and more. You can use our provider directory to find a specialist or primary care physician near you.
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