William F. Kessler, MD, FACS

Clinical Biography

William F. Kessler, MD, FACS, is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon in the Institute for Cardiovascular Health, a clinical partnership between Ascension Seton and UT Health Austin. He specializes in cardiac transplantation, implantation of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), complex mechanical circulatory support and transport strategies, surgery for congestive heart failure, adult congenital heart surgery, aortic root surgery, complex valve replacement and repair, coronary revascularization procedures, arrhythmia surgery, and surgical electrophysiologic procedures, including minimally invasive lead placement. Additionally, Dr. Kessler is an assistant professor in the Dell Medical School Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care.

Dr. Kessler earned his bachelor’s degree in biology with honors from The University of Texas at Austin and his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. He completed both a residency in general surgery and a residency in cardiothoracic surgery at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and Parkland Hospital and a fellowship in cardiac transplantation and mechanical circulatory support at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Dr. Kessler currently serves as both the Director of the Cardiac Transplantation and Circulatory Support Program and the Surgical Director of the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Program at Ascension Seton Medical Center. His clinical interests include developing programs to treat advanced heart failure. He is involved in clinical research and lectures frequently on topics of complex cardiac surgery. He is also an active member of Alpha Omega Alpha, the American Medical Association, the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation, the Parkland Surgical Society, the Texas Medical Association, the Texas Transplant Society, and the Travis County Medical Society.

Dr. Kessler is a cardiothoracic surgeon with UT Health Austin.