Faculty

The 12 distinguished faculty of the Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery are fellowship trained and certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Learn more about our faculty below, or visit our Faculty Directory to search all faculty at UT Southwestern. 

Michael E. Jessen, M.D.
Professor and Chair
Frank M. Ryburn, Jr. Distinguished Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery and Transplantation
Director, Thoracic Surgery Residency Program

Brian T. Bethea, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Associate Director, Thoracic Surgery Residency Program

J. Michael DiMaio, M.D.
Associate Professor
Director, Lung Transplant Program
Director, Surgical Research
Laurence and Susan Hirsch/Centex Distinguished Chair in Heart Disease

Aaron S. Estrera, M.D.
Professor

Joseph Forbess, M.D.
Professor and Chairman, Division of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery
Chief, Clinical Service for Cardiothoracic Surgery at Children’s Medical Center

Kristine Guleserian, M.D.
Assistant Professor and Director, Pediatric Heart Transplant
Associate Director, Thoracic Surgery Residency Program

Kemp Kernstine, M.D., Ph.D.
Professor and Chairman, Division of Thoracic Surgery
Robert Tucker Hayes Foundation Distinguished Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery

Matthias Peltz, M.D.
Assistant Professor
Director, Heart Transplant Program

Dan M. Meyer, M.D.
Professor
Director, Mechanical Circulatory Assist Device Program
Sarah M. and Charles E. Seay Distinguished Chair in Thoracic Surgery
           
W. Steves Ring, M.D.
Professor and Former Chair

Michael A. Wait, M.D.
Professor