Member News Summer 2024

Shanda Blackmon, MD, MPH, was named executive director of The Lung Institute at Baylor Medicine in Houston, TX. She also serves as a professor at the Baylor College of Medicine in the David J. Sugarbaker Division of Thoracic Surgery of the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery. 

David T. Cooke, MD, UC Davis Health, was honored as a 2024 Black Healthcare Leader to Know by Becker’s Hospital Review. He was selected for his contributions to shaping the patient experience, educating and training the next generation of healthcare providers, and furthering equity and inclusion. 

Lisa Brown, MD, also from UC Davis Health, earned the health system’s Outstanding Cardiothoracic Surgery Faculty Teaching Award for the second year in a row.

Inderpal Sarkaria, MD, is the new chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery and a professor in the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. 

Rian Hasson, MD, has taken on a first-of-its-kind role in the Department of Surgery at Brigham Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA—vice chair for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She also will serve as an associate surgeon in the Division of Thoracic Surgery. 

Christopher Salerno, MD, has been appointed chief of cardiac surgery and co-director of the Heart and Vascular Center at the University of Chicago. He will continue to serve as the director of adult cardiac surgery and surgical director of the Heart Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support Program.  

Lisardo Garcia-Covarrubias, MD, has joined Christus Health Heart and Vascular Institute in Longview, TX, as the chief of cardiothoracic surgery and clinical associate professor at Texas A&M University School of Medicine. He previously practiced at Baptist Health of South Florida and South Miami Hospital. 

Mehrdad Ghoreishi, MD, was named co-director of aortic surgery and medical director of cardiac surgery research at Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute. Previously, he was co-director of the Center for Aortic Disease at the University of Maryland Medical System and associate professor of cardiac surgery.

Nicholas Baker, MD, has joined the WVU Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery and the WVU Heart and Vascular Institute at United Hospital Center. A WVU School of Medicine graduate, he returns to his alma mater from the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where he served as the director of Robotic Thoracic Surgery. 

Mark Tawil, MD, was named medical director of the open-heart program at Adena Health. He will play a key role in expanding Adena’s cardiac services, including aortic aneurysm repair, carotid artery, coronary bypass surgery, heart valve repair and replacement, and the Maze procedure for atrial fibrillation.

Sai Yendamuri, MD, senior vice president of business development and outreach at Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, was elevated to chief strategy officer. In this new role, Dr. Yendamuri is responsible for supervising the $1.4 billion system’s overall strategic development and leading national and international growth.

Himanshu Patel, MD, was installed as the first Richard L. Prager Research Professor of Cardiac Surgery at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.      Dr. Patel also serves as section head of adult cardiac surgery and medical director of the Cardiovascular Network of West Michigan.

David Dean, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon, joined West Alabama Cardiac Surgery’s medical staff.  Dr. Dean received his medical degree from the UMDNJ – Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Jersey. Previously, he served on the medical staff at the Piedmont Heart Institute in Atlanta.

Eric Munoz, MD, has joined the medical staff at TidalHealth Cardiovascular Surgery in Salisbury, MD. He received his medical degree from Stanford University School of Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years.

Benny Weksler, MD, was named the first Eastridge-Cole Professor and chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery at the University of Tennessee Health Science Center. He also will serve as chief of Thoracic Surgery for UT Methodist Physicians. He will begin his new responsibilities in November 2024. 

Manisha Patel, MD, is now a cardiothoracic surgeon at The Christ Hospital Heart & Vascular Institute in Cincinnati, OH. Previously, she treated patients at Atrium Medical Center in Middletown, OH, as part of The Christ Hospital’s Heart and Vascular Institute’s partnership with Premier Health.

Naresh Trehan, MD, was honored as one of “Seven Legends” by the International Congress of Cardiac Surgery. The recognition acknowledges Dr. Trehan as one of India's top cardiothoracic surgeons. He founded the Medanta health system in 2007, where he serves as chairman, managing director, and chief cardiac surgeon. 

Stephenville, TX, native O.H. “Bud” Frazier, MD, director of cardiovascular surgery research at the Texas Heart Institute, returned to his hometown to receive a proclamation and key to the city. Dr. Frazier is best known for his work in mechanical circulatory support of failing hearts using left ventricular assist devices and total artificial hearts.

IN MEMORIAM: Alexander Wohler, MD, a cardiothoracic surgeon at Northwest Health in Bentonville, AR, passed away on April 17, 2024, at the age of 50. Dr. Wohler earned his medical degree from the University of Missouri School of Medicine and completed a general surgery internship/residency at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington, DC, and a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at Mount Sinai Hospital in Manhattan. He is survived by his wife and four children.