Thoracic Surgery Fellowship Program

Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Thoracic Surgery Fellowship Program

Introduction Welcome to the Thoracic Surgery Fellowship Program at the University of Colorado. Our program is a three-year fellowship which has been in continuous operation since 1977. Our mission is to provide a very wellrounded thoracic surgical education in all facets of our specialty. Our global objective is to prepare the graduates of our program to step into their careers prepared to meet the challenges of the profession, regardless of their ultimate career goals.

During the course of the three-year curriculum, fellows rotate through the University of Colorado Hospital, Children’s Hospital Colorado, and the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver. These rotations provide a robust and sophisticated experience in all facets of adult and congenital heart disease and general thoracic surgery. The first two years of the three-year curriculum are designed to provide an in-depth experience in each of these subspecialty areas and prepare the fellows for eligibility for the American Board of Thoracic Surgery examination process. The third year of the fellowship is designed in a manner to permit the fellow to focus in an area relevant to their ultimate career goals. For example, some of our fellows focus their activities in the arena of general thoracic surgery, and others in the arena of congenital heart surgery. Regardless of a fellows' career goal, the faculty is absolutely committed to helping all fellows achieve their goals.

The graduates of our program have established very successful careers across the country. Our graduates are established cardiac and thoracic surgeons in both academic medical centers and private practice.

Regardless of the particular area of clinical focus, the graduates of our programs have consistently provided feedback that they were more than ready to function independently upon completion of the fellowship program.

Thank you for your interest in our program.

Sincerely,

David A. Fullerton, MD Professor and John T.M. Wright Endowed Chair in Heart Valve Surgery Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship Program Director University of Colorado School of Medicine

Amber Camus Thoracic Surgery Fellowship Program Coordinator University of Colorado School of Medicine

Fellowship Program Educational Goals and Objectives The global objective of the thoracic surgery fellowship program is to teach fellows the skills necessary to become well-rounded cardiothoracic surgeons.

In addition, it is our interest to align our training program with modern career objectives. The rotation schedule for the fellowship is designed to achieve this global objective, while at the same time permitting enough flexibility within the program to accommodate the desire of the fellow to focus on a particular subspecialty, such as general thoracic or adult cardiac surgery. Throughout the fellowship, the fellow is given graded responsibility both in and outside the operating room. During the first year a fellows time will be divided between the adult cardiac service and the general thoracic service. The goals and objectives during the first year are:

Year 1 - Adult Cardiac Surgery    

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Medical management and indications for surgery of ischemic and valvular heart disease Preoperative evaluation of patients Risks of the operations and how to counsel patients appropriately Perioperative management of patients following complicated cardiac and general thoracic procedures ICU care, including ventilator management, nutritional support, inotropic management, and management of intra-aortic balloon pumps Acquire graded responsibilities as primary surgeon to perform operations for coronary revascularization, valve repair and replacement, and aortic disease Acquire graded responsibilities as primary surgeon for heart and lung procurements for transplantation

Year 1 - General Thoracic Surgery 

     

Evaluation and management of thoracic malignancies including lung, esophageal and mediastinal tumors Evaluation and management of surgical lung infections Staging of thoracic malignancies Utilize appropriate adjunctive protocols for chemotherapy and radiation therapy Intraoperative airway management and planning of major airway resections Evaluation, management, and operative treatment of patients undergoing lung transplantation Acquire graded intraoperative responsibility as surgeon for operations on the lung, chest wall, mediastinum and esophagus

Year 1- Related Specialties Acquire a working knowledge of echocardiography, nuclear cardiology, cardiac stress tests, pulmonary function studies, chest imaging (CT and MRI), and esophageal motility. The fellow will become sufficiently familiar with these to be able to independently interpret them.

By the end of the first year, it is the expectation of the Program Director that the fellow is fully capable of performing straightforward cardiac surgery with minimal assistance. Virtually all general thoracic cases are performed by the fellow with faculty assistance.

Year 2 - Adult Cardiac Surgery The second year is devoted to the practice of adult cardiac surgery at the University of Colorado Hospital, the VA Medical Center, as well as gaining exposure to pediatric cardiac surgery at Children’s Hospital Colorado. It is expected during the second year that fellows will develop an increased understanding of the following:    

Medical management of heart failure Indications and contraindications for heart transplantation Management of heart transplant recipients Indications for ventricular assist devices

In addition fellows will: Continue to assume more responsibilities as primary surgeon for operations for myocardial revascularization and valvular heart disease  Assume responsibility as primary surgeon on heart procurements  Assume graded responsibility as primary surgeon in the placement of ventricular assist devices 

Year 2 - Pediatric Cardiac Surgery    

Learn the pathophysiology of the common congenital heart anomalies Learn the fundamentals of cardiopulmonary bypass in infants and children Learn the perioperative hemodynamic management for pediatric cardiac surgical patients Acquire graded intraoperative responsibility as surgeon for operations to correct atrial septal defects, ventricular defects, patent ductus arteriosus, and coarctation of the aorta.

Fellowship Program Continued Year 3 - Adult Cardiac and/or General Thoracic Surgery By the beginning of the third year, the fellow is expected to have made a decision regarding his/her ultimate career goals and subspecialization.

Once this decision has been made and the fellow has demonstrated skills to be ABTS eligible, the fellows experience is focused in this area. This is typically for the final six to nine months of the fellowship. Such areas might include esophageal surgery, minimally invasive thoracic surgery, valve repair, etc. In addition, all fellows will assume responsibility as primary surgeon on heart and lung transplants as well as insertion of ventricular assist devices.

Educational Conferences It is our ultimate goal to prepare our fellows, not only to satisfactorily pass the ABTS certification examination, but to excel beyond that to a level of expertise that will allow the fellow to become a future leader in their area of specialty. To accomplish this endeavor we have many educational activities which include:

• • • • • • • •

Cardiac Catheterization Conferences Multidisciplinary general thoracic surgical oncology conference (held weekly with attendance of pulmonologists, oncologists, radiation oncologists, radiologists, as well as thoracic surgeons) Surgical Grand Rounds Morbidity and Mortality Conferences (monthly) Journal Club held with area cardiothoracic surgeons Teaching Conferences are held weekly and directed by the thoracic surgical fellows Research opportunities allowing fellows exposure to national meetings Case Conferences (monthly)

Fellowship Case Volume 2018 Grads

2018 Grads

2020 Grads 2021 Grads

Lungs, Pleura, Chest Wall, Diaphragm

178

178

217

249

270

281

298

314

Esophagus

33

33

30

38

22

44

43

25

Congenital Heart

91

91

88

107

34

58

64

123

Adult Cardiac Acquired Valvular Heart

169

169

133

99

108

128

126

107

Myocardial Revascularization

119

119

107

125

102

104

99

99

Total Major Procedures

871

871

769

962

825

941

902

1013

Anschutz Medical Campus The Anschutz Medical Campus (AMC) is a 500 acre campus located 15 minutes from Denver International Airport. AMC is home to the newly constructed University of Colorado Hospital, Children’s Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado School of Medicine and its associated research facilities. It will be the home of the new Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center.

The northern 225 acres of the campus are being developed as the Colorado Science & Technology Park at Fitzsimons, a biomedical industrial park. More than 30 biotech companies are currently housed within the more than six million square feet of corporate and bioresearch facility space. The Denver Regional Transportation District (RTD) has established light rail lines to run from downtown Denver to Denver International Airport with stops at AMC, further enhancing the connectivity of the Anschutz Medical Campus to the region.

Teaching Hospitals University of Colorado Hospital As the only academic medical center in the Rocky Mountain region, the University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) is one of the leading hospitals in the nation. Consistently ranked among the top hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report’s annual survey of "America’s Best Hospitals," the University of Colorado Hospital is internationally respected for its exceptional teams of medical specialists. UCH was recently named the Top-Performing Academic Hospital in Quality – Two Years in a Row by the University Health Systems Consortium.

Located on the Anschutz Medical Campus, the University of Colorado Hospital’s 700 bed hospital contains state of the art facilities including 2 hybrid operating rooms in which TAVR, aortic endovascular and structural heart cases are performed. The 17 bed CT Surgical ICU is located adjacent to the OR, with outpatients seen in the Cardiovascular Center and in the Cancer Center.

The CT Surgical service at the University of Colorado Hospital encompasses the surgical treatment of all forms of cardiac, aortic, pulmonary, esophageal and other thoracic diseases. The service includes a mature ventricular assist device component, as well as mature heart and lung transplant programs. All patient rooms are private and provide facilities for rooming of family members.

Children’s Hospital Colorado Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery

Children's Hospital Colorado (CHC) has been ranked for more than a decade as one of the best children's hospitals nationally in U.S. News & World Report and is located one block from the University of Colorado Hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus.

Its state-of-the-art facilities include a hybrid operating room and cardiac ICU. The pediatric cardiac surgical program at CHC encompasses all forms of complex congenital cardiac diseases including arterial switch procedures, Norwood procedures and pediatric cardiac transplantation.

The Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center The Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center serves as the tertiary care center for veterans in Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana. All aspects of adult cardiac and thoracic diseases are managed by the Denver VA for this veteran population. There are two half day clinics devoted to cardiac and thoracic surgery respectively. The thoracic surgery fellow rotating at the VA provides coverage at these clinics with our faculty. There are five operative days per week. The cardiac caseload is weighted towards coronary revascularization and valvular heart disease, although all aspects of cardiovascular surgery are performed by the cardiothoracic service, including thoracic aortic aneurysm surgery. The thoracic experience leans towards surgical management of lung and esophageal carcinomas, as well as surgical management of pleural infections. The VA experience is a unique and an integral part of the University of Colorado School of Medicine Thoracic Surgery Fellowship Program.

In 2018, the new state-of-the-art Denver VA Medical Center (VAMC) was completed includes a new 148-bed inpatient bed-tower with a complex of 12 buildings and the addition of a spinal cord injury center.

Teaching Hospitals Continued National Jewish Health National Jewish Health (NJH) is an accredited teaching affiliate of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. All of the physicians and scientists on staff at National Jewish Health have faculty appointments at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

NJH has been recognized as the best respiratory hospital in the nation since 1998, according to U.S. News & World Report. NJH has achieved this notable ranking by: 1) providing patient care that is thorough, multidisciplinary, and tailored to the individual needs of each patient, 2) “translating” the lessons of world-class basic science into improvements in patient care, and 3) actively promoting the continuing education of scientists, physicians, healthcare professionals, and the public. Patients treated medically at NJH are referred to the University of Colorado Hospital for thoracic surgical procedures.

Saint Joseph Hospital St. Joseph Hospital was founded in 1873 by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth and was the first private hospital in Colorado. Today it is recognized as one of the top hospitals in the nation. The facility is a modern, 365-bed hospital that recently underwent a $623 million reconstruction. St Joseph and National Jewish Health recently formed a joint operating agreement that provides both inpatient and outpatient care.

Our Faculty David A. Fullerton, MD

Professor of Surgery John T.M. Wright Endowed Chair in Heart Valve Surgery Chief, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship Program Director Director, Cardiothoracic Surgical Research Vice Chair for Research, Department of Surgery Co-Medical Director, CT Surgical ICU University of Colorado School of Medicine Clinical Interests: Myocardial revascularization, valve repair, valve replacement and TAVR. Medical School: University of Missouri-Columbia, Magna Cum Laude Surgery Residency: University of Washington, Seattle Thoracic Surgery Residency: University of Colorado Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, American Board of Surgery —Critical Care, American Board of Thoracic Surgery David Fullerton, MD was born in Texas and received his undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist University. He then graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Missouri School of Medicine where he was a member of Alpha Omega Alpha. He completed a residency in general surgery at the University of Washington including one year of research in coronary physiology. He then moved to the University of Colorado for a residency in thoracic surgery completed in 1990. He remained on the faculty at the University of Colorado for the next six years during which time he helped establish the adult and pediatric heart and lung transplant programs. He continued his interest in research and became an NIH-funded investigator in the area of pulmonary hypertension.

During this time he was Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Denver VA. In 1996, he was recruited to Northwestern University as Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Program Director for the thoracic surgery residency program. He was recruited back to the University of Colorado as Head of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery in 2003.

Dr. Fullerton has received funding from the NIH and has served as a member of the Surgery, Anesthesia, and Trauma Study Section of NIH. He has published over 300 papers in peer-reviewed journals. He has served on the Editorial Board of The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, The Journal of Surgical Research and the Journal of Cardiac Surgery.

He is a member of major surgical societies including the Society of University Surgeons, the American Surgical Association, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, the Western Thoracic Surgical Association, the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, the European Association of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery, the Halsted Society and the Society of Clinical Surgery. He is a past member of the Board of Governors of the American College of Surgeons. He is a member of the Residency Review Committee for Thoracic Surgery and is a past-Chair of that committee. He has served as a Director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and served as the Cardiac Exam Chair. His clinical expertise is recognized by his being listed on numerous “Best Doctors Lists” over the past two decades. He has served on the Board of Directors of the joint Council for Thoracic Surgical Education, and CTSNet, the Thoracic Surgical Foundation, the AATS Leadership Academy, and the Council of EACTS. He is past-president of the TSDA, The Western Thoracic Surgical Association and The Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He currently serves on the European Board of Cardiothoracic and Thoracic Surgery and is the Executive Director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.

Muhammad Aftab, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine Clinical Interests: Adult cardiac surgery, thoracic aortic surgery, endovascular aortic surgery, thoraco abdominal aortic aneurysm, aortic dissection, heart valve surgery, minimally invasive cardiac surgery and coronary revascularization. Dr. Aftab’s research interests encompass endorgan protection during cardiac surgery, clinical outcomes research, surgical education and innovations in endovascular interventions.

Medical School: King Edward Medical University Surgery Residency: Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine Thoracic Surgery Residency: Baylor College of Medicine / Texas Heart Institute Advanced Aortic Surgery Fellowship: Cleveland Clinic Foundation Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, American Board of Thoracic Surgery Dr. Aftab earned his medical degree from King Edward Medical University. He received his initial training in general surgery and cardiac surgery at the Mayo Hospital. He then performed his basic science research training at the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at the Baylor College of Medicine from 2004 - 2006. This was followed by a residency in general surgery at the Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine from 2006 - 2011. He completed his cardiothoracic surgery residency at the Baylor College of Medicine/Texas Heart Institute in 2014. Afterwards, Dr. Aftab undertook an advanced aortic/endovascular surgery fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic, where he also served as a clinical associate in cardiothoracic surgery.

Dr. Aftab joined our faculty in January 2016. His clinical interests in cardiac surgery include surgery for thoracic aortic aneurysms, endovascular aortic repair, minimally invasive cardiac surgery, heart valve surgery, percutaneous valve treatment and coronary artery revascularization. Throughout his formal education, Dr. Aftab engaged in research training as a basic science research fellow and then as a clinical investigator. Dr. Aftab has authored several book chapters and more than 60 peer-reviewed research articles. He regularly presents at national meetings and has received numerous teaching and research awards. Dr. Aftab has received awards for his basic science and clinical research from the American Association of Thoracic Surgery, American College of Surgeons, American Association of Cancer Research and the American Gastroenterology Association. He has been actively involved in the mentorship and training of medical students and residents. He received the Excellence in Teaching Award from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine during his residency. In 2019, two of clinical outcomes research projects in which Dr. Aftab mentored a surgery resident and fellow were selected for the Best Cardiac Surgical Critical Care Paper Award by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) and Hawley H. Seiler Resident’s Award by the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association (STSA).

Dr. Aftab has served as a member of the executive committee of the Thoracic Surgery Residents Association (TSRA). He is the co-editor of the surgical textbook Operative Dictations in Cardiothoracic Surgery. He is the regular faculty reviewer of numerous cardiac and endovascular surgery journals including the Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Journal of Surgical Research, Journal of Cardiac Surgery and Vascular and Endovascular Surgery.

Dr. Aftab is an active member of many professional organizations including the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, the Eastern Cardiothoracic Surgical Society, the Association of Academic Surgery, the Michael E. DeBakey International Surgical Society and the Cooley Hands Society. He is also a Fellow of American Cardiology (FACC) and American College of Surgeons (FACS).

David N. Campbell, MD

Professor of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine Director, Pediatric Cardiac Transplantation Program, Children’s Hospital Colorado Medical School: Rush Medical College, Chicago Surgery Residency: University of Colorado Thoracic Surgery Residency: University of Colorado Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery, American Board of Thoracic Surgery- Subspecialty Certification in Congenital Cardiac Surgery.

Dr. Campbell holds the academic rank of Professor of Surgery at the University of Colorado. He received his medical degree from Rush Medical College. He then completed residencies in general surgery and thoracic surgery at the University of Colorado. Dr. Campbell undertook formal fellowship training in pediatric cardiac surgery at Children’s Hospital Boston. Subsequently, he joined the faculty in the Department of Surgery at the University of Colorado in 1981.

Dr. Campbell’s major interests include congenital heart surgery, both pediatric and adult, repair of congenital tracheal diseases, thoracic transplantation in infants, children and adults, and mechanical circulatory assistance.

Dr. Campbell founded the Heart Transplantation Programs at the University of Colorado Hospital and at Children’s Hospital Colorado. He continues his leadership in these fields as the Surgical Director of the Children’s program. Under his leadership more than 650 heart transplants have been performed in these programs. He is co-founder of the Pediatric Lung Transplant Program at Children’s Hospital Colorado. He also founded the Mechanical Circulatory Support Program at the University of Colorado Hospital.

Dr. Campbell is certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, and holds a Specialty Certificate in Congenital Heart Surgery. He is a member of 18 professional societies including the American Association of Thoracic Surgery, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the Western Thoracic Surgical Association, the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, American College of Surgeons, and the Congenital Heart Surgeons Society. Dr. Campbell is active in the leadership of several local medical organizations, as well as regional and national organizations.

Dr. Campbell has authored more than 25 book chapters and has authored or coauthored more than 120 scientific papers published in peer-reviewed journals. Dr. Campbell is widely regarded as an influential surgical educator and is the Director of the ACGME-approved Congenital Cardiac Surgery Residency Program.

Joseph C. Cleveland, Jr, M.D.

Professor of Surgery Frederick and Carol Grover Endowed Chair in Surgery Vice-Chair Faculty Affairs Surgical Director of Heart Transplantation & MCS Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery University of Colorado, School of Medicine Medical School: University of Washington, Seattle Surgery Residency: University of Colorado Thoracic Residency: University of Colorado Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, American Board of Thoracic Surgery Dr. Cleveland joined the Cardiothoracic Surgery faculty at the University of Colorado in July 2001 where he is a Professor of Surgery. While attending medical school at the University of Washington, he was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha and graduated with High Honors in 1991. He completed an internship, surgery residency and thoracic surgery residency at the University of Colorado from 1991– 2001.

He is the Surgical Director for Adult Cardiac Transplantation at the University of Colorado Hospital and is a nationally recognized expert of ventricular assist devices (VAD). Dr. Cleveland is the Surgical Co-Principal Investigator of the Momentum 3 Trial.

Dr. Cleveland’s research interests concern myocardial responses to cardiopulmonary bypass and obligatory ischemia associated with heart surgery. He completed a two-year trauma surgical research fellowship under the mentorship of Alden H. Harken, M.D. from 1994 to 1996. During that time he worked on cellular signaling during myocardial preconditioning. He is the Principal Investigator/Co-Principal Investigator on numerous clinical research studies and has authored or co-authored over 150 publications and 15 book chapters.

Dr. Cleveland is the Assistant Program Director of the Thoracic Surgery Residency Program. He received the Outstanding Clinical Teacher award for 2002-2003, the first annual School of Medicine Professionalism Award in 2007, in 2009 was a co-recipient of the 5th Annual Dwight McGoon National Teaching Award presented at the AATS, and in 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 was recognized in 5280: Denver’s Mile High Magazine as one of Denver’s Top Doctors.

Dr. Cleveland is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, the American College of Surgeons and numerous other societies. He is on workforces for the STS, is treasurer of the Western Thoracic Surgical Association, and serves on numerous other society and local committees Dr. Cleveland is an STS Rep to the AMA Physician Consortium for Performance Improvement. He serves on the RUC Committee Panel (AMA) and was requested by the STS to provide testimony regarding CPT codes for ventricular assist devices. Dr. Cleveland served on the UNOS Thoracic Transplantation Committee from 2011 to 2014 as well as serves on the UNOS Region 8 Heart Review Board. Dr. Cleveland serves as a Director-At-Large for the STS. He was the 2018 recipient of the Socrates Teaching Award presented by the TSRA.

Elizabeth A. David, M.D.

Associate Professor of Surgery University of Colorado School of Medicine Medical School: Georgetown University Surgery Residency: Georgetown University Thoracic Residency: University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, American Board of Thoracic Surgery Dr. David will be joining the faculty in April 2022. Prior to joining the Cardiothoracic Surgery faculty at the University of Colorado, Dr. David served as a faculty member and thoracic surgeon at UC-Davis and the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California.

Dr. David specializes in General Thoracic Surgery, with a particular interest in the management of advanced stage lung cancer. She is interested in minimally invasive thoracic surgery, including robotic surgery; tracheal and airway procedures; esophageal resection and stenting; palliative oncologic procedures and other procedures for benign conditions of the thoracic cavity.

Dr. David’s research interests include er research includes surgical outcomes/health services research, patient-centered outcomes research, and decision-making. Dr. David's research goals are focused on surgical outcomes of treatment for patients with stage IIIA, IIIB, IV lung cancer and treatment decisions for advanced stage lung cancer patients.

Frederick L. Grover, MD

Professor Emeritus, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Past Chair, Department of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Anschutz Medical Campus Clinical Interests: Adult cardiac surgery, lung transplantation, adult heart transplantation.

Medical School: Duke University Surgery Residency: Duke University & University of Colorado Thoracic Surgery Residency: University of Colorado Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, American Board Thoracic Surgery From 1991 to 2003, Dr. Grover was Head of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and Chief of Surgical Services at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Denver. From August 2002 until May 2012, Dr. Grover was Chair of the Department of Surgery at the University of Colorado, School of Medicine. He is a graduate of Duke University School of Medicine. He obtained his residency training at Duke University and the University of Colorado. Following two years of military service in the U.S. Navy in San Diego, Dr. Grover spent 19 years of his career in San Antonio at the University of Texas Health Science Center in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Dr. Grover has a major interest in general and cardiothoracic residency training. He has actively participated in the training and mentoring of over 50 thoracic surgery residents over his career.

In addition to clinical interests in the areas of acquired adult cardiac surgery and lung and heart transplantation, Dr. Grover has a major interest in risk-adjusted outcomes analyses and quality improvement in the field of cardiothoracic surgery. He chaired the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Work Force on National Databases from 1995 to 2004. In addition, he was the Medical Director of the Continuous Improvement in Cardiac Surgery Program for the Department of Veterans Affairs and in that capacity helped organize the VA Cardiac Surgery Database. He chaired the United Network for Organ Sharing Thoracic Committee and has served on the UNOS Board of Directors. He was the Co-Principal Investigator of a large VA multi-center clinical trial comparing off-pump to on-pump coronary artery bypass, which was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.

Dr. Grover belongs to numerous professional organizations including the American College of Surgeons, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, American Surgical Association, Western Thoracic Surgical Association, European Association for Cardiothoracic Surgery, Society of University Surgeons, international Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, American Medical Association and is a past-president of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association. Dr. Grover served as President of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons from 2006 – 2007. He has served on the National Quality Forum Board of Directors, and as Chair of the STS Council on Quality, Research, and Patient Safety. He served 6 years from 2011-2017 of the STS/ACC TVT Registry Steering Committee, including 3 years as Vice Chair.

Dr. Grover has been very involved in healthcare policy at a national level and is an advocate for physician involvement and leadership in this effort. He has authored or co-authored over 330 scientific papers, many of which are in the area of utilizing surgical databases for quality improvement. He was honored in 2005 by receiving the Duke University Distinguished Medical Alumnus Award, the 2010 ACS Gibbon Lecturer, the American College of Cardiology Distinguished Fellowship Award, the University of Colorado Faculty Professionalism and Jefferson Awards, the Association of VA Surgeons Distinguished Service Award, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Distinguished Service Award, the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association Inspiration Award, and the STS Earl Bakken Award for Scientific Achievement and is an American Heart Association Fellow. In 2019 Dr. Grover was honored to receive the John P. McGovern Compleat Physician Award for excellence in surgery, teaching, and service to the community. Dr. Grover has served on two national not-for-profit boards and has an interest in international medicine and medical missions in developing countries, particularly Nepal.

James Jaggers, MD

Professor of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine Program Director, Congenital Cardiac Fellowship Barton-Elliman Chair and Chief of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery Children’s Hospital Colorado Clinical Interests: Complex congenital heart defects in newborns and infants, adult congenital cardiac surgery, pediatric cardiac transplantation, surgery for Marfan Syndrome.

Medical School: University of Nebraska Surgery Residency: Oregon Health Sciences University Thoracic Surgery Residency: University of Colorado Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Congenital Cardiac Surgery A native of Nebraska, Dr. Jaggers is a graduate of the University of Nebraska School of Medicine. Following a residency in surgery at the University of Oregon, he completed a residency in thoracic surgery at the University of Colorado in 1996. He then joined the faculty at Duke University Medical School In early 2010, Dr. Jaggers was recruited from Duke, where he served as a faculty member in the Department of Surgery since 1996 and Chief of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery since 2001.

Dr. Jaggers is the Barton-Elliman Chair in Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery and CoMedical Director of the Heart Institute at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Dr. Jaggers specializes in repairing complex congenital heart defects in babies and newborns and is also among the first to receive a new subspecialty certification in congenital cardiac surgery designated by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. He is also a leading authority in neonatal heart surgery. In addition to his skill as a clinical surgeon, Dr. Jaggers is a highly respected researcher whose work has appeared in nearly 100 scientific publications and books. Dr. Jaggers’ interests include clinical research in the performance and quality of Congenital Heart Surgery, as well as basic science research in mechanisms of development for Left Heart Obstruction Defects.

Dr. Jaggers is a member of 12 professional organizations including the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, the American College of Surgeons, the Congenital Heart Surgeons Society, the International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the European Association of Cardiothoracic Surgery, and the World Society of Pediatric Cardiac Surgeons.

Robert A. Meguid, MD, MPH, FACS Associate Professor of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine Director, Adult Chest Wall Disorder Clinic Director, Surgical Outcomes & Applied Research Director, Thoracic Robotic Surgery

Dr. Meguid received his undergraduate degree in biochemistry from Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island and graduated with honors in 1997. He received his medical degree in 2002 from Brown University School of Medicine. He performed his internship and residency in general surgery at the Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland between 2002 and 2010. Following completion of his general surgery residency, he undertook his cardiothoracic surgery residency at the University of Washington, Seattle, Washington.

He obtained a Master of Public Health with a focus in epidemiologic and biostatistics at the Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland in 2008, during which time he completed a thoracic surgery research fellowship. Throughout his formal education, he has engaged in research training as a research fellow in the Surgical Nutrition and Metabolism Laboratory at the SUNY Health Science Center in Syracuse, New York, the Center for Surgical Research at the Brown University School of Medicine in Providence, Rhode Island, and in the Surgical Oncology Research Laboratory at Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, in Boston, Massachusetts.

Dr. Meguid joined our faculty in July 2012. His clinical interests include benign and malignant diseases of the chest wall, lung, esophagus, airway, diaphragm and mediastinum; chest wall reconstruction; surgery for end-stage lung disease and lung transplantation; and robotic, thoracoscopic and laparoscopic minimally invasive thoracic procedures.

Dr. Meguid is the surgical director of the Surgical Outcomes and Applied Research (SOAR) program, a research collaborative between the Department of Surgery and the University of Colorado Adult and Child Center for Health Outcomes Research and Delivery Science. His research is in developing structures and processes of care which lead to improved outcomes for surgical patients, in order to improve patient care and shape health care policy. This includes directing clinical trials on implementation of these processes of care. Dr. Meguid is a member of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the Western Thoracic Surgical Association, the American College of Surgeons, the Society of University Surgeons, the Association for Academic Surgery, the Surgical Outcomes Club and the President of the Thoracic Surgery Outcomes Research Network. He is engaged in medical student and resident training and mentorship. He is an editor-in-chief of The Johns Hopkins ABSITE Review, author of several chapters and numerous research articles in the field of thoracic surgery, for which he has received national recognition.

John D. Mitchell, MD

Professor of Surgery Courtney C. and Lucy Patten Davis Endowed Chair in Thoracic Surgery Chief, Section of General Thoracic Surgery University of Colorado School of Medicine

of Thoracic Surgery

Medical Degree: University of Michigan, Ann Arbor Surgery Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Thoracic Surgery Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston Board Certification: American Board of Surgery, American Board

A native of Colorado, Dr. Mitchell received his undergraduate degree in molecular biology at the University of Colorado Boulder, graduating Magna Cum Laude in 1983. He subsequently attended the University of Michigan Medical School on an Armed Forces Scholarship, graduating in 1987 with honors and as a member of Alpha Omega Alpha. He then moved to Boston, where over the following decade he completed residencies in both General and Cardiothoracic Surgery at Massachusetts General Hospital. During his residency, Dr. Mitchell also served as a Registrar in Cardiothoracic Surgery in Liverpool, England, and was a research fellow at Harvard Medical School from 1990 to 1992. Following a four year period on active duty in the United States Navy, Dr. Mitchell joined the faculty at the Stanford University School of Medicine. In 2002, he was recruited to the University of Colorado to become the Chief of General Thoracic Surgery. Since his arrival in Colorado, he has been recognized repeatedly by his peers as one of the best thoracic surgeons in the Rocky Mountain region. In 2006, Dr. Mitchell was awarded the Courtenay C. and Lucy Patten Davis Endowed Chair in the Department of Surgery, and in 2008 was presented the Donald B. Doty Educational Award at the 34th Annual Western Thoracic Surgical Association.

Dr. Mitchell is the Chief of General Thoracic Surgery within the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. His primary clinical responsibilities are at the University of Colorado Hospital and National Jewish Health. As a consultant for National Jewish, Dr. Mitchell has extensive experience in the surgical treatment of lung infection. His research interests focus on lung cancer, surgical treatment of lung infection, and lung transplantation. His clinical interests include all thoracic oncology, surgery of the airway, surgery for infectious lung disease, esophageal surgery, adult lung transplantation, and robotic/minimally invasive approaches to thoracic surgical procedures.

Dr. Mitchell is a member of numerous national and international professional groups. He cur groups. He currently serves as a Director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, as well as a Director on the American Board of Surgery and the Complex General Surgical Oncology Board. He just completed two terms on the Board of Governors of the American College of Surgeons. He is a Past President of the Western Thoracic Surgical Association.

Simran Randhawa, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine Clinical Interests: Lung cancer, tracheal diseases, esophageal cancer and other benign foregut pathologies, mediastinal surgery, infectious lung disease, lung transplant surgery, minimally invasive thoracic surgery and robotic surgery Medical School: Dayanand Medical College Surgery Residency: Albert Einstein Medical Center Thoracic Surgery Residency: Washington University Board Certification: American Board of Surgery Dr. Randhawa joined the faculty in 2021 after completing her thoracic surgery fellowship at Washington University School of Medicine. During her fellowship, she received a teaching award for resident and medical student education. She also received the Mohan B. Das Award for Outstanding performance as Chief Resident in Surgery and Robert G. Somers Award for Outstanding performance as a Resident Educator in General Surgery during her residency.

Dr. Randhawa’s clinical interests include lung cancer screening and prevention, lung cancer surgery, esophageal cancer surgery, esophageal reflux disease surgery, endoscopy for diagnosis and management of dysphagia, airway surgery for tracheal tumors, bronchoscopy for diagnosis and therapeutic interventions, lung volume reduction surgery for COPD and lung transplantation, mediastinal tumor surgery such as for thymomas, surgery for hyperhidrosis, robotic thoracic surgery, and advanced thoracoscopic surgery including VATS lobectomy/segmentectomy for lung cancer or Infectious lung disease.

Jessica Rove, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine Section Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Rocky Mountain Regional VAMC Clinical Interests: minimally-invasive and open approaches to aortic valve replacement, mitral valve repair, mitral valve replacement, septal myectomy, Cox-Maze procedure for treatment of atrial fibrillation, coronary artery bypass surgery, arterial grafting, aortic aneurysms, transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) Medical School: Oregon Health and Science University Surgery Residency: University of Colorado Thoracic Surgery Residency: Washington University Board Certification: American Board of Thoracic Surgery Following her undergraduate education at Stanford University, Dr. Rove completed medical school at Oregon Health and Science University where she was elected into Alpha Omega Alpha. She then completed her surgical residency at the University of Colorado. As a surgical resident, she also completed a two-year research fellowship, during which she won numerous prestigious awards for her basic scientific research.

She completed her residency in Thoracic Surgery at Washington University in St. Louis and spent an additional year in St. Louis at St. Luke’s Hospital as a cardiac surgeon while her husband finished his fellowship.

Dr. Rove joined our faculty in August 2018. She is a nationally recognized expert in adult cardiac surgery. She serves as Assistant Professor of Cardiac Surgery at the University Hospital and the Section Head of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the Rocky Mountain Regional VA Medical Center.

Dr. Rove’s clinical interests include coronary artery bypass surgery and arterial grafting, minimally-invasive and open approaches to aortic valve replacement, mitral valve repair, mitral valve replacement, septal myectomy, Cox-Maze procedure for treatment of atrial fibrillation, treatment of aortic aneurysms and TAVR. Her research interests include enhanced recovery after cardiac surgery, perioperative atrial fibrillation and kidney injury, advancing research and improving outcomes in women with heart disease.

Matthew L. Stone, MD PhD

Assistant Professor of Surgery, University of Colorado School of Medicine Surgical Director, Pediatric Heart Transplantation Program Clinical Interests: neonatal congenital heart surgery, single ventricle congenital heart disease palliation, pediatric heart transplantation, pediatric mechanical circulatory support, repair of congenital coronary artery anomalies, repair of complex aortic anomalies, pediatric ECMO support, adult congenital heart disease Medical School: ETSU James H. Quillen College of Medicine Surgery Residency: The University of Virginia Thoracic Surgery Residency: The University of Virginia Congenital Cardiac Surgery Fellowship: University of Colorado Matthew Stone graduated from the University of Tennessee and the James H. Quillen College of Medicine prior to enrolling at the University of Virginia for surgical residency in 2008. While at the University, he completed an NIH research fellowship and successfully defended a PhD thesis in physiology with a focus on immunotherapy in transplantation.

He went on to complete a cardiothoracic surgical fellowship at the University of Virginia in 2018. Dr. Stone became a member of the faculty upon completing his congenital cardiac surgical training at Children’s Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado.

His current research interests are focused on defining novel preservation strategies and cellular-based immunotherapies for heart transplantation and organ rehabilitation.

Additionally, he has partnered with investigators at Children’s Hospital Colorado exploring the application of 4D-MRI and 3D-CT for anatomic modeling and flow analysis across a spectrum of congenital heart disease pathologies. .

Former Fellows

With the teaching system instituted by Dr. David Fullerton, fellows are able to spend more of their fellowship in the area they intend to practice while still obtaining the index case requirements of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. All areas of cardiothoracic surgery are experienced in our fellowship program. Adult cardiac, pediatric cardiac, general thoracic, and transplant are well covered in the three-year program. Our well-rounded program has enabled fellows to be independStan Carson, MD - 1977 Private Practice, Denver, CO David Campbell, MD - 1979 Professor, Children’s Hospital of Colorado, Aurora, CO Richard Phillips, MD - 1980 Volunteer, Washington State University Frank Manart, MD - 1981 Private Practice, Vail, CO Lawrence Patzelt, MD - 1982 Private Practice, Grand Rapids, MI John C. Heiser, MD - 1983 Private Practice, Grand Rapids, MI Thomas Cain, MD - 1984 Private Practice, Green Bay, WI Douglas Cowgill, MD - 1985 Dean Clinic/St. Mary’s Hospital, Madison, WI Fred Woelfel, MD - 1986 Private Practice, Pittsburgh, PA Mark Ammons, MD - 1987 Private Practice, Denver, CO Glenn Whitman, MD - 1988 Professor, Johns Hopkins University Mike See, MD - 1989 Private Practice, Columbia, MO David Fullerton, MD - 1990 Professor, University of Colorado John C. St. Cyr, MD - 1991 Medical Consultant, Minnesota James Albert, MD - 1992 Private Practice, Colorado Springs, CO Michael Grosso, MD - 1993 Research, Philadelphia, PA James Brown, MD - 1994 Associate Professor, University of Maryland Steve Jones, MD - 1995 Private Practice, Boise, ID James Jaggers, MD - 1996 Professor, Children's Hospital of Colorado, Aurora, CO Mary Wollerming, MD - 1997 Skaggs Medical Center, Branson, MO Max Mitchell, MD - 1998 Professor, Children's Hospital of Colorado, Aurora CO Irving Shen, MD - 1999 Private Practice, Falls Church, VA Peter Seirafi, MD - 2000 Private Practice, Sebastian, FL Joseph Cleveland, Jr., MD - 2001 Associate Professor, University of Colorado Brett Sheridan, MD - 2002 Associate Professor, University of North Carolina

Craig Selzman, MD - 2003 Associate Professor, University of Utah Larry Brinckerhoff, MD - 2004 Assistant Professor, Tufts University Tim Sherwood, MD - 2005 Private Practice, Frederick, MD Aditya Kaza, MD - 2006 Assistant Professor, Primary Children’s Medical Center, University of Utah Sunil Malhotra, MD - 2007 Assistant Professor, New York University Gonzalo Carrizo, MD - 2008 Instructor, University of Florida T. Brett Reece, MD - 2009 Assistant Professor, University of Colorado John Charles Dugal, Jr., MD - 2010 Assistant Professor, Tulane Medical Center, New Orleans Ramesh Singh, MD - 2011 Assistant Professor, University of Louisville Ashok Babu, MD - 2012 Assistant Professor, University of Colorado Sagar Damle, MD - 2013 Private Practice, Nebraska Heart Institute David Mauchley, MD - 2015 Fellow, Congenital Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's Hospital Colorado Justin Reeves, MD - 2016 Private Practice, Spokane, WA Ryan Shelstad, MD - 2016 Private Practice, Lincoln, NE Edward Bergeron, MD - 2017 Private Practice, Traverse City, MI Giorgio Zanotti, MD - 2017 Private Practice, Indianapolis, IN Charles Cole, MD - 2018 Private Practice, Fayetteville, AR Brendan Dewan, MD - 2018 Private Practice, Austin, TX Marshall Bell, MD - 2019 Private Practice, Oklahoma City, OK Jordan Hoffman, MD - 2019 Assistant Professor, Cardiac Surgery, Vanderbilt University Christopher Holley, MD - 2020 Private Practice, St. Louis Park, MN Andrew Mesher, MD - 2020 Private Practice, Boise, ID Vicente Valero III, MD - 2021 LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine Neil Venardos , MD- 2021 Fellow, Congenital Cardiothoracic Surgery, Children's

Our Thoracic Surgery Fellows Yihan Lin, MD Chief Fellow General Surgery Residency: University of Colorado Medical School: University of Colorado

Brandon Wojcik, MD Chief Fellow General Surgery Residency: Massachusetts General Hospital Medical School: University of Michigan Medical School Michael Cain, MD 2nd Year Fellow General Surgery Residency: Medical College of Wisconsin Medical School: Medical College of Wisconsin

Lauren Taylor, MD 2nd Year Fellow General Surgery Residency: Northwestern University Medical School: University of Wisconsin Hospital and Clinics Mohamed Eldeiry, MD 1st Year Fellow

General Surgery Residency: University of Colorado Medical School: University of Colorado

Jeremy Leonard, MD 1st Year Fellow General Surgery Residency: New York Presbyterian - Weill Cornell Medical Center Medical School: State University of New York Downstate Medical Center College of Medicine

Our Congenital Cardiac Surgery Fellow Neil Venardos Thoracic Surgery Residency: University of Colorado General Surgery Residency: University of Colorado Medical School: Texas Tech University

Incoming Thoracic Surgery Residents July 2022 Alison Mungo, MD General Surgery Residency: University of Colorado Medical School: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Jason Zakko, MD General Surgery Residency: Ohio State University Medical School: University of Florida

Mechanical Circulatory Support at the University of Colorado Hospital The Mechanical Circulatory Support (MCS) Program at the University of Colorado Hospital provides access to life-sustaining devices that are used to treat patients with acute and end-stage heart failure. Patients are managed by the Cardiothoracic Surgery Service while they are inpatients and followed on an outpatient basis by the Heart Failure Service. There is a Mechanical Support Coordinator on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week available to patients and staff. We currently have over 60 patients supported on longterm devices.

The MCS Program grew from a longstanding partnership with our surgical program for advanced surgical therapies in conjunction with an active heart failure cardiology service. Dr. Andreas Brieke serves as the Medical Director. Dr. Cleveland also serves nationally on the INTERMACs Adverse Event Adjudication Committee.

Devices are placed for three different indications: Recovery, Bridge to Transplant (BTT), and Destination Therapy (DT). Currently at UCH we implant the CentriMag, Impella 5.0, Thoratec IVADs and PVADs, Thoratec HeartMate II, and the HeartWare HVAD. UCH has been an active participant in both Heartmate II and the HeartWare BTT and DT Clinical Trials.

On July 23, 2008, the University of Colorado Hospital was awarded Joint Commission Disease Specific Certification for DT Ventricular Assist Device Therapy, the 14th hospital in the country to be awarded this certification. We recently received our fourth Joint Commission Re-Certification for DT VAD. There is a multi-disciplinary team that participates in the evaluation and management of these patients. Our CT Surgery Residents are actively involved in the evaluation, implantation, and post-implantation care The Mechanical Circulatory of our VAD patients.

Support Program at UCH has

earned the Joint Commission's Gold Seal of ApprovalTM for health care quality and diseasespecific certification for VADs for Destination Therapy. The Joint Commission is the nation's oldest and largest standardssetting and accrediting body in health care.

ECMO Program at University of Colorado Hospital The ECMO program at UCH has been rapidly growing over the past several years both in the area of acute cardiogenic shock as well as in acute respiratory failure and bridge to lung transplantation. We are currently performing about 50plus cases per year for various indications. Our outcomes have been excellent and have bolstered volumes for durable LVAD, heart transplant, and lung transplant by turning these critically ill patients into candidates for those therapies. We are developing a model for ECMO transfer and are developing a program to allow ECMO transport in the region. The residents gain significant experience in cannulation for VA ECMO, VV ECMO, use of the Avalon cannula, and left ventricular venting as well as in the management of these complex patients. The program is recognized as an ECMO Center of Excellence by ELSO.

Thoracic Aortic Program at University of Colorado Hospital The Thoracic Aortic Program at the University of Colorado has developed into a nationally recognized entity. Since 2009, the program has grown from isolated dissection cases with a smattering of elective procedures to a true multidisciplinary program offering the full spectrum of open and endovascular interventions from the root through the iliac arteries. The Thoracic Aortic Clinic facilitates the evaluation of patients with Marfans Syndrome, interstitial vascular disease, and familial aneurysmal syndrome. The care of these patients is shared among cardiothoracic surgery, vascular surgery, and cardiology. This collaboration has expanded the aortic root procedures being done and allowed for the volume to push Aortic Valve repair and Valve sparing root or David procedures. The aggressive approach towards ascending aneurysmal disease has led to >50 hypothermic circulatory arrest cases per year. The program participates in the IRAD and represents in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Advanced TEVAR symposia. The endovascular program has grown from a few stent grafts a year to more than 40 per year. In conjunction with vascular surgery, the thoracoabdominal endovascular program has begun with physician modified endografts. Essentially, there is no aortic procedure that is not done at the University of Colorado. Residents will learn a simple, safe approach to these complex anatomic repairs. Graduating fellows have essentially done an aortic super-fellowship after three years at the University of Colorado.

TAVR Program at the University of Colorado The TAVR program at the University of Colorado is very active and currently performs approximately 3-4 cases per week. It is a multi-disciplinary program in all regards. The procedures are performed in the hybrid operating room by a team from cardiac surgery and interventional cardiology. Patients referred for consideration of TAVR are evaluated in the Valve Clinic jointly by surgeons and cardiologists. The TAVR program in an active participant in clinical trials pertaining to TAVR, including the Partner II trial and the SAVR vs TAVR Trial for Low Risk Patients.

Treatment of End Stage Lung Disease The University of Colorado Hospital is the only center in the region that performs comprehensive treatment of end stage lung disease. The lung transplant program performs approximately 30-40 lung transplants per year. The cardiothoracic surgery residents participate in all levels of this program including performing implantation of organs and procurement procedures. We are also one of the few centers in the United States performing ex-vivo lung perfusion as a modality to improve and identify additional lung donor organs. The program actively engages in the use of the available mechanical lung assist devices such as venovenous and arteriovenous ECMO. Lastly we are the only designated referral center in the region that performs lung volume reduction surgery.

Thoracoscopic (Minimally Invasive) Lung and Esophageal Resection at University of Colorado Hospital Introduced in the mid to late 1990s, thoracoscopic techniques (video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery or VATS) have become the standard of care for anatomic lung resection in North America. As such, it is imperative that trainees in cardiothoracic surgery gain significant experience in these techniques. At the University of Colorado, approximately 75% of anatomic lung resections (segmentectomy, lobectomy, bilobectomy) are performed via a minimally invasive approach. Exposure to these skills begins with the resident’s first rotation on the Thoracic Service, and continues to the completion of the training program. The high volume of cases typically leads to proficiency quickly, and it is expected that finishing residents be comfortable performing these cases in an independent fashion.

In addition to resections performed for malignancy, additional experience is gained through our Infectious Lung Disease Program run jointly with clinicians at National Jewish Health. Through this program, patients from across the United States come to Denver for evaluation regarding treatment for bronchiectasis, cavitary lung disease and other related disorders. Patients for whom surgery (anatomic lung resection) may be beneficial are seen at presentation, then scheduled for surgery at the University of Colorado. As a result, residents gain experience in a large volume of VATS resections, often intricate in nature – segmentectomy or removal of multiple segments, with routine use of thoracoscopic muscle flap transposition. Of course, not all of these patients are eligible for minimally invasive surgery, and this same program allows for exposure to the most complex and difficult types of lung resection – often with concomitant thoracoplasty or Eloesser flap creation.

Similar to the VATS program, our residents gain considerable experience in minimally invasive esophagectomy techniques, largely for malignant disease. The majority of esophageal resections at our institution have been performed utilizing this approach, with excellent results. Again, the large number of cases assures residents of sufficient exposure to perform these cases in an independent manner by completion of the training program.

Airway Surgery Program at University of Colorado Hospital Due to our geographic location, faculty interest, and collaboration with National Jewish Health, the University of Colorado serves as a major referral center for airway disease in the central United States. Trainees within the Thoracic Surgery program gain considerable experience in both endoscopic and open surgical approaches in the management of these challenging patients. Mastery of the basic surgical techniques used in airway surgery is expected of our finishing residents, and these techniques serve as the foundation for successful completion of any airway procedure as they move into independent practice.

A variety of endoscopic therapies for both benign and malignant disease are emphasized throughout the training program. Residents gain appreciable experience in both flexible and rigid bronchoscopy, and become expert in complex airway management. Additional experience, if desired, may be arranged with rotations with our interventional pulmonology staff.

In addition to the standard bronchial sleeve resection techniques utilized with lung malignancies, residents see and operate on a considerable number of patients with benign tracheal and laryngotracheal stenosis. Indeed, over the last decade laryngotracheal resection and reconstruction for subglottic stenosis has become the most common airway procedure performed at our institution. Experience with these airway surgical techniques, although common within our program, remains rare in the majority of thoracic residencies nationwide.

Beyond endoscopic therapies and airway resection, a third component of our airway program involves surgical correction of central airway collapse, or tracheobronchial malacia. Patients who are found to have symptomatic airway malacia by bronchoscopic and dynamic CT imaging are given a trial of airway stenting; if the symptoms are relieved, they are offered surgical tracheobronchoplasty. Our program to address airway malacia, coordinated with colleagues at National Jewish, is one of the largest in the country.

Heart Transplant Program The University of Colorado's Adult Heart Transplant Program, one of the oldest and most established programs in the country, has been in existence since 1986 and is the only Medicare-certified heart transplant program in Colorado. This program has consistently achieved high patient and graft survival rates. A multidisciplinary approach is used for patient management in all phases of care from selection through post-operative follow-up. Patient care, both before and after transplantation is orchestrated by the advanced heart failure/transplant cardiologists at University of Colorado Hospital (currently six faculty members are part of this group) in close partnership with the cardiothoracic surgical faculty.

Advanced heart failure/transplant physicians have special expertise in heart failure, heart transplantation, and the use of temporary mechanical circulatory assist devices. Care is coordinated with the patient's referring physician and communication is maintained with the referring physicians on each visit. The transplant coordinators, transplant cardiologists, transplant surgeons, pharmacologists, social workers and transplant financial coordinators are always available to patients during their visits to clinic or during their hospital stay. The program has considerable experience with left ventricular assist devices (LVAD) as both bridge-to-transplant and as destination therapy. Over 500 heart transplants have been performed at University of Colorado Hospital, and we anticipate that 30-40 heart transplants and 40-50 LVAD implants will be performed this coming year.

Clinical Research Activities Members of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery play an active role in clinical research at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Surgical Outcomes and Applied Research (SOAR) is a formal commitment by the Department of Surgery in collaboration with the University of Colorado Adult and Child Center for Health Outcomes Research and Delivery Science to establish a leading program in surgical outcomes research. Members engage in weekly research meetings with ongoing projects and grant applications to achieve self-supported research. In addition to formal meetings, SOAR provides drop-in office hours to help with project design and provide statistical guidance.

Clinical Trials Research In addition, the members of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery are involved in clinical trials research, ranging from:

• • • • • •

Contribution to the Lung Cancer Tumor Bank SPORE The PARTNER Trial of TAVR (vs) Surgical AVR The Endurance Trial (Heartware HVAD ) Sorin Perceval Valve Trial

VA grant for long term follow up of on and off pump patient groups RADIANT Trial: A Multi-center, Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo controlled, Phase 3 Study of Single-agent Tarceva (erlotinib) Following Complete Tumor Resection with or without Adjuvant Chemotherapy in Patients with Stage IB-IIIA Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma who have EGFRpositive Tumors.

•

SWOG-CALGB 140503 A phase III randomized trial of lobectomy versus sublobar resection for small (2 cm or less) peripheral non-small cell lung cancer.

•

ACOSOG Z4051: A Phase II Study of Neoadjuvant Therapy with Cisplatin, Docetaxil, Panitumumab Plus Radiation Therapy Followed by Surgery in Patients with Locally Advanced Adenocarcinoma of the Distal Esophagus.

•

COAPT Mitral Clip NOVEL trial: Ex-vivo lung perfusion for lung transplantation PERIGON Valve Multi-Institutional Trail Momentum 3 Trial of HeartMate 3 LVAD SURPAS (Surgical Risk Preoperative Assessment System) clinical implementation trial

• • •

Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Laboratory The Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery Research Laboratory is located in the State-of-the-art Research Complex II adjacent to our physician office building. Dr. Fullerton is the Director of the Cardiothoracic Surgical Research Lab and Dr. Shin Meng oversees the laboratories. Dr. Meng is an independently funded investigator from the NIH. Both are invaluable in the conduct of basic scientific research activities of the clinical faculty. Our laboratory is staffed at all times by professional research associates, surgical residents and medical students.

Several lines of basic scientific investigation are currently ongoing in our laboratory. Examples include: 1.

The mechanisms of gastroduodenal reflux-induced histological changes in esophageal morphology

1.

The pathogenesis of calcific aortic stenosis

2.

The role of Toll-like receptors in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion

3.

The mechanisms of macrophage differentiation into foam cells and dendritic cells

4.

Mechanisms of spinal cord dysfunction following ischemia/reperfusion

5.

Age-related changes in myocardial function

6.

Genetic markers of aortopathology

7.

The role of sPLA2 in lung and esophageal cancer

8.

Mechanisms of myocardial dysfunction in sepsis

The Division has numerous research grants, thus offering a unique opportunity for both general and thoracic residents to perform and be exposed to research. An important strength of this laboratory arises from the synergy of combining research training with surgical research. Surgical research trainees not only are recognized as important resources in the design and conduct of the research, but also add fresh viewpoints to the research projects. Thoracic surgery residents are invited to participate in basic and clinical research activities of the Division.

CT Faculty Publications 2019 - 2021 Optimizing Nicorandil for Spinal Cord Protection in a Murine Model of Complex Aortic Intervention. Ikeno Y, Ghincea CV, Roda GF, Cheng L, Aftab M, Meng X, Weyant MJ, Cleveland JC Jr, Fullerton DA, Reece TB. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2021 Jan 11:S1043-0679(21)00011-3. doi: 10.1053/ j.semtcvs.2021.01.003. Online ahead of print.

PMID: 33444762 Discussion. Reece TB. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2021 Jan 5:S0022-5223(20)33152-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2020.09.149. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33419545 No abstract available.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Transit-Time Flow Measurement: Graft Patency and Clinical Outcomes. Quin JA, Noubani M, Rove JY, Krstacic JE, Hattler B, Collins JF, Grover FL, Almassi GH, Shroyer AL; Veterans Affairs Randomized On/Off Bypass Follow-up Study (ROOBY-FS) Group. Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Dec 22:S0003-4975(20) 32150-0. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2020.12.011. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33359134 Outcomes After Converted Minimally Invasive to Open Esophagectomy in Patients with Esophageal Cancer. Gergen AK, Halpern AL, Helmkamp L, Torphy RJ, White AM, Mitchell JD, Meguid RA, Scott CD, Gleisner AL, McCarter MD, Weyant MJ. Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Dec 14:S0003-4975(20)32113-5. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2020.11.025.

Online ahead of print. PMID: 33333084 Commentary: Selecting the right cardiac donor. Cleveland JC Jr. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 Dec 4:S0022-5223(20)33233-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2020.11.140. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33431214 No abstract available.

Statins Inhibit Toll-Like Receptor 4-Mediated Growth of Human Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Cells. Gergen AK, Kohtz PD, Halpern AL, White AM, Meng X, Fullerton DA, Weyant MJ. J Surg Res. 2020 Nov 30:S0022-4804(20)30754-X. doi: 10.1016/ j.jss.2020.11.016. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33272595 Secretory Phospholipase A2 Inhibition Attenuates Adhesive Properties of Esophageal Barrett's Cells. Gergen AK, Jarrett MJ, Li A, White AM, Meng X, Fullerton DA, Weyant MJ. J Surg Res. 2020 Nov 28:S0022-4804(20)30743-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2020.10.018.

Online ahead of print. PMID: 33261858

Commentary: Preparing for the worst, expecting the worst can make it better. Reece TB, Aftab M. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 Nov 19:S0022-5223(20)33067-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2020.11.020. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33341275 A novel technique of robotic preperitoneal approach for Morgagni hernia repair. Gergen AK, Frankel JH, Weyant MJ, Pratap A. Asian J Endosc Surg. 2020 Nov 16. doi: 10.1111/ ases.12897. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33200531 Wnt Signaling Mediates Pro-Fibrogenic Activity in Human Aortic Valve Interstitial Cells.

Jarrett MJ, Houk AK, McCuistion PE, Weyant MJ, Reece TB, Meng X, Fullerton DA.

Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Nov 12:S0003-4975(20)31891-9. doi: 10.1016/ j.athoracsur.2020.08.068. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33189669 2019 STS/Intermacs Annual Report Writing Committee's Response. Pagani FD, Teuteberg J, Cleveland J, Atluri P, Kirklin J, Habib R. Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Oct 31:S00034975(20)31836-1. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2020.07.102. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33144112 No abstract available.

A Pilot Study of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Across a Broad Sample of Surgical Patients. Henderson WG, Meguid RA, Lambert-Kerzner A, Bronsert MR, Hammermeister KE. J Surg Res. 2020 Oct 22:S0022-4804(20)30691-0. doi: 10.1016/ j.jss.2020.09.025. Online ahead of print. PMID: 33268056

Simple Surveillance Is Not So Simple. Venardos N, Aftab M, Reece TB. Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Oct 17:S0003-4975(20)31715-X. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2020.07.080.

Online ahead of print. PMID: 33080232 No abstract available.

Training for Multiple Arterial Grafting: A Thoracic Surgery Resident Survey. Venardos N, Reece TB, Cleveland JC Jr, Aftab M, Pal J, Fullerton DA, Rove JY. Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Oct 14:S0003-4975(20)31665-9. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2020.08.017.

Online ahead of print. PMID: 33068541 Monocytes enhance the inflammatory response to TLR2 stimulation in aortic valve interstitial cells through paracrine up-regulation of TLR2 level. Zhang P, The E, Nedumaran B, Ao L, Jarrett MJ, Xu D, Fullerton DA, Meng X. Int J Biol Sci. 2020 Oct 3;16(15):3062 -3074. doi: 10.7150/ijbs.49332. eCollection 2020. PMID: 33061818 Surgery for limited stage small cell lung cancer. Gergen AK, Scott CD, Mitchell JD. J Thorac Dis. 2020 Oct;12(10):6291-6297. doi: 10.21037/jtd.2020.03.79. PMID: 33209467 Review.

Activation of Toll-Like Receptor 2 Promotes Proliferation of Human Lung Adenocarcinoma Cells. Gergen AK, Kohtz PD, Halpern AL, Li A, Meng X, Reece TB, Fullerton DA, Weyant MJ. Anticancer Res. 2020 Oct;40(10):5361-5369. doi: 10.21873/ anticanres.14544. PMID: 32988855 Relationships between predischarge and postdischarge infectious complications, length of stay, and unplanned readmissions in the ACS NSQIP database. Aasen DM, Bronsert MR, Rozeboom PD, Colborn KL, Henderson WG, Lambert-Kerzner A, Hammermeister KE, Meguid RA. Surgery. 2021 Feb;169(2):325-332. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2020.08.009.

Epub 2020 Sep 12. PMID: 32933745 A comparison of the new, parsimonious tool Surgical Risk Preoperative Assessment System (SURPAS) to the American College of Surgeons (ACS) risk calculator in emergency surgery. Rozeboom PD, Bronsert MR, Velopulos CG, Henderson WG, Colborn KL, Hammermeister KE, Lambert-Kerzner A, Hall MG, McIntyre RC Jr, Meguid RA. Surgery. 2020 Dec;168(6):1152-1159. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2020.07.029. Epub 2020 Sep 6. PMID: 32900494

Patient Safety Over Power Hierarchy: A Scoping Review of Healthcare Professionals' Speaking-up Skills Training. Kim S, Appelbaum NP, Baker N, Bajwa NM, Chu F, Pal JD, Cochran NE, Bochatay N. J Healthc Qual. 2020 Sep/Oct;42(5):249-263. doi: 10.1097/ JHQ.0000000000000257. PMID: 32149868 Geographic and temporal patterns of growth in the utilization of donation after circulatory death donors for lung transplantation in the United States. Hirji SA, Halpern AL, Helmkamp LJ, Roberts SH, Houk AK, Osho A, Okoh AK, Meguid RA, Seese L, Weyant MJ, Rinewalt DE. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2020 Aug 29:S1053-2498(20)31705-8. doi: 10.1016/ j.healun. 2020.08.015. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32921583 Clinical predictors of in-hospital mortality in venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Vigneshwar NG, Kohtz PD, Lucas MT, Bronsert M, J Weyant M, F Masood M, Itoh A, Rove JY, Reece TB, Cleveland JC, Pal JD, Fullerton DA, Aftab M. J Card Surg. 2020 Oct;35(10):2512-2521. doi: 10.1111/jocs.14758. Epub 2020 Aug 13. PMID: 32789912.

Letter to the Editor: How Accurate Are the Surgical Risk Preoperative Assessment System (SURPAS) Universal Calculators in Total Joint Arthroplasty? Henderson WG, Meguid RA, Hammermeister KE, Colborn KL, Rozeboom PD, Bronsert MR, LambertKerzner A. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2020 Aug;478(8):1946-1947. doi: 10.1097/ CORR.0000000000001371. PMID: 32732581 No abstract available.

The value of the "Surgical Risk Preoperative Assessment System" (SURPAS) in preoperative consultation for elective surgery: a pilot study. Bronsert MR, Lambert-Kerzner A, Henderson WG, Hammermeister KE, Atuanya C, Aasen DM, Singh AB, Meguid RA. Patient Saf Surg. 2020 Jul 25;14:31. doi: 10.1186/s13037-020-00256-4. eCollection 2020. PMID: 32724336 Factors associated with long-term survival in patients with stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting. Wagner BD, Grunwald GK, Hossein Almassi G, Li X, Grover FL, Shroyer ALW. J Int Med Res. 2020 Jul;48(7):300060520920428. doi: 10.1177/0300060520920428. PMID: 32723120 Cardiac Emergencies in Patients with Left Ventricular Assist Devices. Pal JD, Cleveland J, Reece BT, Byrd J, Pierce CN, Brieke A, Cornwell WK 3rd. Heart Fail Clin. 2020 Jul;16 (3):295-303. doi: 10.1016/j.hfc.2020.02.003. PMID: 32503753 Review.

Incidence and Prognostic Impact of Incomplete Revascularization Documented by Coronary Angiography 1 Year After Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting. Hattler B, Grover FL, Wagner T, Hawkins RB, Quin JA, Collins JF, Bishawi M, Almassi H, Shroyer AL; Veterans Affairs Randomized On/Off Bypass Follow-up Study (ROOBY-FS) Group. Am J Cardiol. 2020 Sep 15;131:7-11. doi: 10.1016/j.amjcard.2020.06.047. Epub 2020 Jun 30.

PMID: 32718555 Clinical Trial.

Creatinine elevations from baseline at the time of cardiac surgery are associated with postoperative complications. Griffin BR, Bronsert M, Reece TB, Pal JD, Cleveland JC, Fullerton DA, Faubel S, Aftab M. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 Jun 26:S0022-5223 (20)31393-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2020.03.174. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32739165

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons General Thoracic Surgery Database: 2020 Update on Outcomes and Research. Servais EL, Towe CW, Brown LM, Broderick SR, Block MI, Burfeind WR, Mitchell JD, Schipper PH, Raymond DP, David EA. Ann Thorac Surg.

2020 Sep;110(3):768-775. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2020.06.006. Epub 2020 Jun 20.

PMID: 32569670 Postdischarge Pain Management After Thoracic Surgery: A Patient-Centered Approach.

Abrams BA, Murray KA, Mahoney K, Raymond KM, McWilliams SK, Nichols S, Mahmoudi E, Mayes LM, Fernandez-Bustamante A, Mitchell JD, Meguid RA, Zanotti G, Bartels K. Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Nov;110(5):1714-1721. doi: 10.1016/ j.athoracsur.2020.04.048. Epub 2020 Jun 1. PMID: 32497643 New insights into resting and exertional right ventricular performance in the healthy heart through real-time pressure-volume analysis. Cornwell WK, Tran T, Cerbin L, Coe G, Muralidhar A, Hunter K, Altman N, Ambardekar AV, Tompkins C, Zipse M, Schulte M, O'Gean K, Ostertag M, Hoffman J, Pal JD, Lawley JS, Levine BD, Wolfel E, Kohrt WM, Buttrick P. J Physiol. 2020 Jul;598(13):2575-2587. doi: 10.1113/JP279759. Epub 2020 May 18. PMID: 32347547 Right Thoracoscopic Aberrant Right Subclavian Artery Division and Subclavian-Carotid Transposition. Ghincea CV, Ikeno Y, Weyant MJ, Mitchell JD, Aftab M, Reece TB. Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Nov;110(5):e431-e433. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2020.03.106. Epub 2020 May 11. PMID: 32407854 Improving postoperative outcomes in esophagectomy for cancer-what is the role of institutional data? Rozeboom PD, Dyas AR, Bronsert MR, Bhagat R, Meguid RA. J Thorac Dis. 2020 May;12(5):1750-1753. doi: 10.21037/jtd-20-1681. PMID: 32642077 Noteworthy Cardiac Literature 2019: Cerebral Protection, Zone 2 Arch, Intravascular Ultrasonography in Dissection, Heart Allocation, and Mitral Durability. Ghincea CV, Reece TB, Aftab M, Cleveland JC Jr, Pal JD. Semin Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2020 Jun;24 (2):187-191. doi: 10.1177/1089253220920146. Epub 2020 Apr 28. PMID: 32342759 Commentary: Beauty, and durability, is in the eye of the needle holder. Mesher AL, Aftab M, Reece TB. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2021 Feb;161(2):479-480. doi: 10.1016/ j.jtcvs.

2020.03.134. Epub 2020 Apr 11. PMID: 32387161 No abstract available.

Commentary: Dissection in the elderly-do the right thing, fix them! Reece TB, Aftab M. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 Apr 11:S0022-5223(20)30842-4. doi: 10.1016/ j.jtcvs.2020.03.136. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32362387 No abstract available.

Secretory Phospholipase A2 IIa Mediates Expression of Growth Factor Receptors in Esophageal Adenocarcinoma. Halpern AL, Kohtz PD, White AM, Houk AK, Rehring JF, Hanson L, McCarter MD, Joshi M, Meng X, Fullerton DA, Weyant MJ. Dig Dis Sci. 2020 Apr 10. doi: 10.1007/s10620-020-06241-2. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32277371 COVID-19 guidance for triage of operations for thoracic malignancies: A consensus statement from Thoracic Surgery Outcomes Research Network. Thoracic Surgery Outcomes Research Network, Inc, Antonoff M, Backhus L, Boffa DJ, Broderick SR, Brown LM, Carrott P, Clark JM, Cooke D, David E, Facktor M, Farjah F, Grogan E, Isbell J, Jones DR,

Kidane B, Kim AW, Keshavjee S, Krantz S, Lui N, Martin L, Meguid RA, Meyerson SL, Mullett T, Nelson H, Odell DD, Phillips JD, Puri V, Rusch V, Shulman L, Varghese TK, Wakeam E, Wood DE. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 Aug;160(2):601-605. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2020.03.061. Epub 2020 Apr 9. PMID: 32689703 COVID-19 Guidance for Triage of Operations for Thoracic Malignancies: A Consensus Statement From Thoracic Surgery Outcomes Research Network. Thoracic Surgery Outcomes Research Network, Inc, Antonoff M, Backhus L, Boffa DJ, Broderick SR, Brown LM, Carrott P, Clark JM, Cooke D, David E, Facktor M, Farjah F, Grogan E, Isbell J, Jones DR, Kidane B, Kim AW, Keshavjee S, Krantz S, Lui N, Martin L, Meguid RA, Meyerson SL, Mullett T, Nelson H, Odell DD, Phillips JD, Puri V, Rusch V, Shulman L, Varghese TK, Wakeam E, Wood DE. Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Aug;110(2):692-696. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2020.03.005. Epub 2020 Apr 9. PMID: 32278755

Randomized Trials in Cardiac Surgery: JACC Review Topic of the Week. Gaudino M, Kappetein AP, Di Franco A, Bagiella E, Bhatt DL, Boening A, Charlson ME, Flather M, Gelijns AC, Grover F, Head SJ, Jüni P, Lamy A, Miller M, Moskowitz A, Reents W, Shroyer AL, Taggart DP, Tam DY, Zenati MA, Fremes SE. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Apr 7;75(13):1593-1604. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.01.048. PMID: 32241376 Review.

Use of Surgical Risk Preoperative Assessment System (SURPAS) and Patient Satisfaction During Informed Consent for Surgery. Wiesen BM, Bronsert MR, Aasen DM, Singh AB, Lambert-Kerzner A, Henderson WG, Hammermeister KE, Meguid RA. J Am Coll Surg. 2020 Jun;230(6):1025-1033.e1. doi: 10.1016/j.jamcollsurg.2020.02.049. Epub 2020 Apr 3. PMID: 32251847

Association of Clinical Outcomes With Left Ventricular Assist Device Use by Bridge to Transplant or Destination Therapy Intent: The Multicenter Study of MagLev Technology in Patients Undergoing Mechanical Circulatory Support Therapy With HeartMate 3 (MOMENTUM 3) Randomized Clinical Trial. Goldstein DJ, Naka Y, Horstmanshof D, Ravichandran AK, Schroder J, Ransom J, Itoh A, Uriel N, Cleveland JC Jr, Raval NY, Cogswell R, Suarez EE, Lowes BD, Kim G, Bonde P, Sheikh FH, Sood P, Farrar DJ, Mehra MR. JAMA Cardiol. 2020 Apr 1;5(4):411-419. doi: 10.1001/jamacardio.2019.5323.

PMID: 31939996 Clinical Trial.

Evaluation for Heart Transplantation and LVAD Implantation: JACC Council Perspectives.

Guglin M, Zucker MJ, Borlaug BA, Breen E, Cleveland J, Johnson MR, Panjrath GS, Patel JK, Starling RC, Bozkurt B; ACC Heart Failure and Transplant Member Section and Leadership Council. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Mar 31;75(12):1471-1487. doi: 10.1016/ j.jacc.2020.01.034. PMID: 32216916 Review.

2020 AHA/ACC Key Data Elements and Definitions for Coronary Revascularization: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Data Standards (Writing Committee to Develop Clinical Data Standards for Coronary Revascularization). Dehmer GJ, Badhwar V, Bermudez EA, Cleveland JC Jr, Cohen MG, D'Agostino RS, Ferguson TB Jr, Hendel RC, Isler ML, Jacobs JP, Jneid H, Katz AS, Maddox TM, Shahian DM. J Am Coll Cardiol. 2020 Apr 28;75(16):1975-2088. doi: 10.1016/j.jacc.2020.02.010. Epub 2020 Mar 23. PMID: 32217040 No abstract available.

2020 AHA/ACC Key Data Elements and Definitions for Coronary Revascularization: A Report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Data Standards (Writing Committee to Develop Clinical Data Standards for Coronary Revascularization). Dehmer GJ, Badhwar V, Bermudez EA, Cleveland JC Jr, Cohen MG, D'Agostino RS, Ferguson TB Jr, Hendel RC, Isler ML, Jacobs JP, Jneid H, Katz AS, Maddox TM, Shahian DM. Circ Cardiovasc Qual Outcomes. 2020 Apr;13 (4):e000059. doi: 10.1161/HCQ.0000000000000059. Epub 2020 Mar 23. PMID: 32202924 Review. No abstract available.

Impact of left ventricular assist device implantation on mitral regurgitation: An analysis from the MOMENTUM 3 trial. Kanwar MK, Rajagopal K, Itoh A, Silvestry SC, Uriel N, Cleveland JC Jr, Salerno CT, Horstmanshof D, Goldstein DJ, Naka Y, Bailey S, Gregoric ID, Chuang J, Sood P, Mehra MR. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2020 Jun;39(6):529-537. doi: 10.1016/j.healun. 2020.03.003. Epub 2020 Mar 20. PMID: 32279919 Left ventricular assist systems and infection-related outcomes: A comprehensive analysis of the MOMENTUM 3 trial. Patel CB, Blue L, Cagliostro B, Bailey SH, Entwistle JW, John R, Thohan V, Cleveland JC Jr, Goldstein DJ, Uriel N, Su X, Somo SI, Sood P, Mehra MR. J Heart Lung Transplant. 2020 Aug;39(8):774-781. doi: 10.1016/ j.healun.2020.03.002. Epub 2020 Mar 20. PMID: 32276809 Analysis of Outcomes in 8304 Patients Undergoing Lead Extraction for Infection. Aleong RG, Zipse MM, Tompkins C, Aftab M, Varosy P, Sauer W, Kao D. J Am Heart Assoc.

2020 Apr 7;9(7):e011473. doi: 10.1161/JAHA.118.011473. Epub 2020 Mar 20. PMID: 32192410

Systematic Review of Preoperative Risk Discussion in Practice. Aasen DM, Wiesen BM, Singh AB, Piper C, Harnke B, Prochazka AV, Fink AS, Hammermeister KE, Meguid RA. J Surg Educ. 2020 Jul-Aug;77(4):911-920. doi: 10.1016/j.jsurg.2020.02.008. Epub 2020 Mar 16. PMID: 32192884 Early Results of a Novel Single-Stage Hybrid Aortic Arch Replacement Technique to Reduce Bypass and Circulatory Arrest Duration. Bhamidipati CM, Pal JD. Heart Surg Forum. 2020 Mar 9;23(2):E107-E113. doi: 10.1532/hsf.2831. PMID: 32364893 Postoperative Thrombocytopenia: A Novel Prognostic Factor: Reply. Griffin BR, Reece TB, Aftab M. Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Aug;110(2):752-753. doi: 10.1016/ j.athoracsur.2020.01.068. Epub 2020 Mar 5. PMID: 32147417 No abstract available.

The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Intermacs 2019 Annual Report: The Changing Landscape of Devices and Indications. Teuteberg JJ, Cleveland JC Jr, Cowger J, Higgins RS, Goldstein DJ, Keebler M, Kirklin JK, Myers SL, Salerno CT, Stehlik J, Fernandez F, Badhwar V, Pagani FD, Atluri P. Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Mar;109(3):649-660. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2019.12.005. PMID: 32115073 Utility of neuromonitoring in hypothermic circulatory arrest cases for early detection of stroke: Listening through the noise. Ghincea CV, Anderson DA, Ikeno Y, Roda GF, Eldeiry M, Bronsert MR, Aunkst K, Fullerton DA, Reece TB, Aftab M. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 Feb 19:S0022-5223(20)30455-4. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2020.01.090.

Online ahead of print. PMID: 32204911

TLR4 Stimulation Promotes Human AVIC Fibrogenic Activity through Upregulation of Neurotrophin 3 Production. Yao Q, The E, Ao L, Zhai Y, Osterholt MK, Fullerton DA, Meng X. Int J Mol Sci. 2020 Feb 14;21(4):1276. doi: 10.3390/ijms21041276. PMID: 32074942 Commentary: Redo root surgery: Complicated, but feasible. Reece TB. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 Feb 7:S0022-5223(20)30307-X. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2020.01.074. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32171481 No abstract available.

Mechanistic Roles of Matrilin-2 and Klotho in Modulating the Inflammatory Activity of Human Aortic Valve Cells. The E, Yao Q, Zhang P, Zhai Y, Ao L, Fullerton DA, Meng X. Cells. 2020 Feb 7;9(2):385. doi: 10.3390/cells9020385. PMID: 32046115

Traumatic tricuspid valve rupture associated with pericardial rupture and cardiac herniation. Heelan Gladden AA, Bell MT, Cohen MJ, Cleveland J Jr, McIntyre RC Jr. J Trauma Acute Care Surg. 2020 Feb;88(2):e96-e97. doi: 10.1097/TA.0000000000002535.

PMID: 31688785 No abstract available.

Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) and Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) reporting standards for type B aortic dissections. Lombardi JV, Hughes GC, Appoo JJ, Bavaria JE, Beck AW, Cambria RP, Charlton-Ouw K, Eslami MH, Kim KM, Leshnower BG, Maldonado T, Reece TB, Wang GJ. J Vasc Surg. 2020 Mar;71(3):723-747. doi: 10.1016/ j.jvs.2019.11.013. Epub 2020 Jan 27. PMID: 32001058 Society for Vascular Surgery (SVS) and Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Reporting Standards for Type B Aortic Dissections. Lombardi JV, Hughes GC, Appoo JJ, Bavaria JE, Beck AW, Cambria RP, Charlton-Ouw K, Eslami MH, Kim KM, Leshnower BG, Maldonado T, Reece TB, Wang GJ. Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Mar;109(3):959-981. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2019.10.005. Epub 2020 Jan 27. PMID: 32000979 Review.

Transcriptome signature of ventricular arrhythmia in dilated cardiomyopathy reveals increased fibrosis and activated TP53. Haywood ME, Cocciolo A, Porter KF, Dobrinskikh E, Slavov D, Graw SL, Reece TB, Ambardekar AV, Bristow MR, Mestroni L, Taylor MRG. J Mol Cell Cardiol. 2020 Feb;139:124-134. doi: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2019.12.010. Epub 2020 Jan 18. PMID: 31958463 Rectal prolapse surgery in males and females: An ACS NSQIP-based comparative analysis of over 12,000 patients. Vogel JD, de Campos-Lobato LF, Chapman BC, Bronsert MR, Birnbaum EH, Meguid RA. Am J Surg. 2020 Sep;220(3):697-705. doi: 10.1016/ j.amjsurg.2020.01.017. Epub 2020 Jan 17. PMID: 31987495 Commentary: Obviously Malperfusion in Dissection Is Bad, But Severe Acidosis May Be Unsurmountable. Lin Y, Aftab M, Reece TB. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 Winter; 32(4):681-682. doi: 10.1053/j.semtcvs.2020.06.019. Epub 2020 Jun 29. PMID: 32610189 No abstract available.

MicroRNA-204 Deficiency in Human Aortic Valves Elevates Valvular Osteogenic Activity.

Song R, Zhai Y, Ao L, Fullerton DA, Meng X. Int J Mol Sci. 2019 Dec 20;21(1):76. doi: 10.3390/ijms21010076. PMID: 31861929

Thrombocytopenia After Cardiopulmonary Bypass Is Associated With Increased Morbidity and Mortality. Griffin BR, Bronsert M, Reece TB, Pal JD, Cleveland JC, Fullerton DA, Gist KM, Jovanovich A, Jalal D, Faubel S, Aftab M. Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Jul;110(1):50 -57. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2019.10.039. Epub 2019 Dec 6. PMID: 31816284 Postoperative Complications Are Not Elevated in Well-Compensated ESRD Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: End-Stage Renal Disease Cardiac Surgery Outcomes. Griffin BR, Kohtz PD, Bronsert M, Reece TB, Cleveland JC Jr, Fullerton DA, Faubel S, Aftab M. J Surg Res. 2020 Mar;247:136-143. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2019.10.032. Epub 2019 Nov 27. PMID: 31785887 Stage 1 acute kidney injury is independently associated with infection following cardiac surgery. Griffin BR, Teixeira JP, Ambruso S, Bronsert M, Pal JD, Cleveland JC, Reece TB, Fullerton DA, Faubel S, Aftab M. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2019 Nov 25:S00225223(19)33070-3. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2019.11.004. Online ahead of print. PMID: 32007252 Simvastatin down-regulates osteogenic response in cultured human aortic valve interstitial cells. Jarrett MJ, Yao Q, Venardos N, Weyant MJ, Reece TB, Meng X, Fullerton DA. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2019 Oct 31:S0022-5223(19)32381-5. doi: 10.1016/ j.jtcvs.2019.10.081. Online ahead of print. PMID: 31924353 Reply: Accurate preoperative prediction of unplanned 30-day postoperative readmission using 8 predictor variables. Henderson WG, Meguid RA, Hammermeister KE, Singh AB. Surgery. 2020 Mar;167(3):676. doi: 10.1016/j.surg.2019.08.016. Epub 2019 Oct 31.

PMID: 31679796 No abstract available.

Identification of postoperative complications using electronic health record data and machine learning. Bronsert M, Singh AB, Henderson WG, Hammermeister K, Meguid RA, Colborn KL. Am J Surg. 2020 Jul;220(1):114-119. doi: 10.1016/j.amjsurg.2019.10.009.

Epub 2019 Oct 9. PMID: 31635792 Conversion to open surgery during minimally invasive esophagectomy portends worse short-term outcomes: an analysis of the National Cancer Database. Halpern AL, Friedman C, Torphy RJ, Al-Musawi MH, Mitchell JD, Scott CD, Meguid RA, McCarter MD, Weyant MJ, Gleisner AL. Surg Endosc. 2020 Aug;34(8):3470-3478. doi: 10.1007/ s00464-019-07124-y. Epub 2019 Oct 7. PMID: 31591657 Analysis of Discharge Destination After Open Versus Minimally Invasive Surgery for Lung Cancer. Bhagat R, Bronsert MR, Henderson WG, Scott CD, Weyant MJ, Mitchell JD, Fullerton DA, Meguid RA. Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Feb;109(2):375-382. doi: 10.1016/ j.athoracsur.2019.08.059. Epub 2019 Sep 30. PMID: 31580860 First Database Comparison Between the United States and Japan: Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting. Nawata K, D'Agostino RS, Habib RH, Kumamaru H, Hirahara N, Miyata H, Motomura N, Takamoto S, Shahian DM, Grover FL. Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Apr;109 (4):1159-1164. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2019.07.095. Epub 2019 Sep 17.PMID: 31539515

TEE for Lung Transplantation: A Case Series and Discussion of Vascular Complications.

Abrams BA, Melnyk V, Allen WL, Subramaniam K, Scott CD, Mitchell JD, Seres T, Martin AK. J Cardiothorac Vasc Anesth. 2020 Mar;34(3):733-740. doi: 10.1053/ j.jvca.2019.09.005. Epub 2019 Sep 10. PMID: 31570240 No abstract available.

A Comparison of Frailty Measures at Listing to Predict Outcomes After Lung Transplantation. Halpern AL, Boshier PR, White AM, Houk AK, Helmkamp L, Mitchell JD, Meguid RA, Low DE, Fullerton DA, Weyant MJ. Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Jan;109(1):233-240. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2019.07.040. Epub 2019 Aug 31. PMID: 31479636 Commentary: Steps toward understanding the root of the issue. Mesher A, Aftab M, Gleason TG, Reece TB. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 May;159(5):1764-1765. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2019.07.081. Epub 2019 Aug 22. PMID: 31530370 No abstract available.

Comparison of accuracy of prediction of postoperative mortality and morbidity between a new, parsimonious risk calculator (SURPAS) and the ACS Surgical Risk Calculator.

Khaneki S, Bronsert MR, Henderson WG, Yazdanfar M, Lambert-Kerzner A, Hammermeister KE, Meguid RA. Am J Surg. 2020 Jun;219(6):1065-1072. doi: 10.1016/ j.amjsurg.2019.07.036. Epub 2019 Jul 29. PMID: 31376949 American Board of Thoracic Surgery 10-Year Maintenance of Certification Exam Improves and Validates Knowledge Acquisition. Colson YL, Putnam JB, Yang SC, Fann JI, Vaporciyan AA, Dearani JA, Jones DR, Allen MS, Meyers BF, Wright CD, Shemin RJ, Baumgartner WA, Fullerton DA. Ann Thorac Surg. 2019 Dec;108(6):1895-1900. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2019.05.074. Epub 2019 Jul 20. PMID: 31336069 Commentary: Fixing broken hearts-A supply-side proposition. Cleveland JC Jr. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 Apr;159(4):1342. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2019.07.006. Epub 2019 Jul 18. PMID: 31399236 No abstract available.

Commentary: We have the opportunity to be above average. Cleveland JC Jr. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 May;159(5):1792-1793. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2019.05.008. Epub 2019 May 23. PMID: 31227178 No abstract available.

Heart Transplantation in Patients With Loeys-Dietz Syndrome: Is It a Novel Cardiomyopathy? Aftab M, Reece TB, Svensson LG. Ann Thorac Surg. 2020 Jan;109(1):306. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2019.03.107. Epub 2019 May 8. PMID: 31077663 Proposed classification of endoleaks after endovascular treatment of Stanford type-B aortic dissections. Sharafuddin MJ, Reece TB, Papia G, Pozeg ZI, Peterson BG, Shafi B, Man J, Milner R. Vascular. 2019 Dec;27(6):585-594. doi: 10.1177/1708538119847394.

Epub 2019 May 8. PMID: 31067206 Review. No abstract available.

Predictors of Acute Kidney Injury Following Aortic Arch Surgery. Ghincea CV, Reece TB, Eldeiry M, Roda GF, Bronsert MR, Jarrett MJ, Pal JD, Cleveland JC Jr, Fullerton DA, Aftab M. J Surg Res. 2019 Oct;242:40-46. doi: 10.1016/j.jss.2019.03.055. Epub 2019 May 4. PMID: 31063910

Commentary: NO matter what you call it, "conditioning" the spinal cord preventing paraplegia is worthwhile. Aftab M, Reece TB. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 Mar;159 (3):825-826. doi: 10.1016/j.jtcvs.2019.04.026. Epub 2019 Apr 24. PMID: 31126640 Improved Mortality Associated With the Use of Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation.

Halpern AL, Kohtz PD, Helmkamp L, Eldeiry M, Hodges MM, Scott CD, Mitchell JD, Aftab M, Pal JD, Cleveland JC, Reece TB, Meguid RA, Fullerton DA, Weyant MJ. Ann Thorac Surg. 2019 Aug;108(2):350-357. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2019.03.057.

Epub 2019 Apr 19. PMID: 31009629 The Buffalo Trunk Technique for Aortic Arch Reconstruction. Eldeiry M, Aftab M, Bergeron E, Pal J, Cleveland JC Jr, Fullerton D, Reece TB. Ann Thorac Surg. 2019 Sep;108(3):680-686. doi: 10.1016/j.athoracsur.2019.03.034. Epub 2019 Apr 11. PMID: 30981849 Commentary: Doing what is right-We are all in this together. Grover FL, Cleveland JC Jr. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020 Feb;159(2):554-555. doi: 10.1016/ j.jtcvs.2019.01.090. Epub 2019 Jan 31. PMID: 30853221 No abstract available.