Trailblazer Heart Surgeon Joins the Institute for Cardiovascular Health
Acclaimed cardiovascular surgeon George Arnaoutakis, MD, has joined the Institute for Cardiovascular Health, a clinical partnership between Ascension Texas and UT Health Austin
Sourced from: Dell Medical School Announcement
Written by: Ashley Lawrence
In a major step toward building a fully integrated array of heart and vascular services in Central Texas, acclaimed cardiovascular surgeon George Arnaoutakis, MD, has joined the Institute for Cardiovascular Health, a clinical partnership between Ascension Texas and UT Health Austin.
Dr. Arnaoutakis serves as the Director of Thoracic Aortic Surgery, Cardiovascular Surgery Quality and Outcomes, and the Transcatheter Valve Program for the Institute for Cardiovascular Health. He also serves as Physician Executive for Adult Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery for Ascension Texas. He currently resides on several national committees and is the Vice Chair of The Society of Thoracic Surgeons Workforce for Adult Cardiac and Vascular Surgery.
“This is a new day for complex cardiovascular care in Central Texas,” says internationally renowned congenital heart surgeon Charles D. Fraser, Jr., MD, who serves as both the Executive Director of the Institute for Cardiovascular Health and the Chief of Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery for the Texas Center for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Disease, a clinical partnership between Dell Children’s Medical Center and UT Health Austin. “As a highly accomplished aortic surgeon and the leader of several cutting-edge clinical trials, Dr. Arnaoutakis is a world-class clinician and medical researcher committed to providing whole-person, high-quality cardiovascular care here in Austin as a model for the nation.”
An academic leader and innovative scientific investigator with a focus on aortic disease, Dr. Arnaoutakis is an associate professor and serves as the Chief of the Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery for the Dell Medical School Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care. He has held leadership positions in numerous device trials, advancing the care of patients with aortic disease, has presented both nationally and internationally, and has authored 170 peer-reviewed journal articles and more than a dozen book chapters. He is a member of the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, the American College of Surgeons, the American Heart Association, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association.
“Attracting extraordinary physician leaders to Central Texas and building this kind of collaborative program exemplifies how Dell Med is advancing its mission to deliver excellent comprehensive clinical care grounded in innovative education and research,” adds Claudia Lucchinetti, MD, who serves as both the Dean of the Dell Medical School and the Senior Vice President for Medical Affairs for The University of Texas at Austin. “Programs like this allow patients and families to find the high-quality care they need right here at home.”
Dr. Arnaoutakis earned his bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and his medical degree from the University of Florida College of Medicine, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha medical honor society. He completed both a residency in general surgery and a postdoctoral research fellowship in cardiac surgery at The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, where he served as administrative chief resident. He also completed both a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery and a fellowship in advanced aortic procedures at the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine.
“This is a transformative opportunity in Austin, a vibrant and dynamic city with immense regional and national significance,” agrees Dr. Arnaoutakis. “I am excited to join UT Health Austin, Dell Med, and Ascension Texas, with the esteemed clinicians at Ascension Texas Cardiovascular, to build a comprehensive cardiovascular and thoracic program that will have an immediate impact in the region and beyond.”
Dr. Arnaoutakis’ clinical interests include aortic arch disease, aortic dissection, aortic valve repair, bicuspid aortic valve syndrome, coronary artery bypass graft, thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm, valve-sparing root replacement, and valvular heart disease. His research interests include aortic aneurysm and dissection, bicuspid aortic valve repair, cardiac surgery-related acute kidney injury, cerebral protection in aortic arch reconstruction, and national databases in cardiothoracic surgery.
“We are beyond excited about the expertise Dr. Arnaoutakis will bring to our integrated academic system of heart care,” shares Andy Davis, who serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Ascension Texas. “We look forward to collaborating with him as well as the growing team of top-notch physicians at the Institute for Cardiovascular Health as we continue to expand this joint program.”
“By coordinating clinical care services with innovative approaches to medical education and the state-of-the-art research at Dell Med and UT Austin, we’re on the road to making Central Texas a destination for highly specialized heart care,” says Dr. Fraser.
For more information about the Institute for Cardiovascular Health or to request an appointment, call 1-512-324-3028 or visit here.