CTVS - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Medical Director for Vascular Surgical Services at Heart Hospital of Austin

Bradley A. Boone, M.D., F.A.C.S. was born in Dallas and grew up in Meridian, Mississippi. He is a graduate of Tulane Medical School and completed his general surgery residency at UT-Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas, followed by vascular surgery fellowship at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. He returned to Meridian to practice for 12 years and joined Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons in January 2014. Dr. Boone is board certified in general and vascular surgery by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He has extensive leadership experience, having served two terms as President of the East Mississippi Chapter of the Mississippi State Medical Society and Chief of Staff of two hospitals in Meridian. He also served as Medical Director of a Level III Trauma Center as well as a Wound Healing and Limb Salvage Center that maintained an amputation rate of less than 2%. His special interests include carotid artery disease, thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms and critical limb ischemia. He is committed to the comprehensive management of both arterial and venous disease using both open surgical and endovascular techniques. Dr. Boone currently serves as the Medical Director for Vascular Surgical Services at Heart Hospital of Austin at St. David's Round Rock Medical Center. He is an active member of the American College of Surgeons, Society for Vascular Surgery, The American Venous Forum, Parkland Surgical Society, Southern Association for Vascular Surgery, Texas Medical Association and Travis County Medical Society.

Brannon R. Hyde, M.D., F.A.C.S. is originally from Austin, Texas and received his medical degree from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston. Dr. Hyde completed his general surgery residency and cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at The University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. He has practiced with Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons since 2012. Dr. Hyde is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery as well as the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and specializes in cardiothoracic surgery for adult valvular, coronary, and aortic disease. He has a special interest in valve sparing aortic root replacement, aortic aneurysm and dissection repair with new off-pump and aortic stenting techniques, mitral valve repair, hybrid minimally invasive revascularization, and minimally invasive surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation. He is an active member in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons as well as a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Hyde has also presented and published many peer-reviewed articles as well as book chapters in the field of cardiothoracic surgery. In addition, he has been named by his peers to the Super Doctors ® Rising Stars 2013 and 2014 list.

Brendan P. Dewan, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a native of Austin, Texas. He completed his undergraduate degree at Duke University, where he played football and was named captain during his senior year. He moved back to Texas to earn his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio where he graduated with Alpha Omega Alpha Honors. He completed his general surgery training at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, followed by cardiothoracic surgery training at the University of Colorado in Denver. In 2018, Dr. Dewan moved back to Austin and joined Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons. Dr. Dewan is board-certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and specializes in adult cardiothoracic surgery. His clinical areas of interest include adult acquired valvular heart disease including aortic root surgery, minimally invasive mitral and aortic valve operations, transcatheter valve replacement, thoracic aortic aneurysm and dissection repair, coronary revascularization and arrhythmia surgery. He is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation, American College of Cardiology, Texas Medical Association, and Travis County Medical Society. He has presented and lectured at various conferences and grand rounds as well as published articles in various surgical journals.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Dr. Hoenicke is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation, William S. Pierce Surgical Society, International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery, Texas Medical Association and Travis County Medical Society. He was recently listed as a top cardiothoracic surgeon in Austin Monthly's 2013 list of Top Doctors based on peer endorsements, experience, education, training, research, publishing, and awards.

Erin Mitchell is originally from Lampasas, Texas. She earned her Bachelors of Science degree in Molecular Biology from The University of Texas at Austin in 1999. Erin worked in a biological lab for five years before attending PA school at East Carolina University where she earned her Masters of Physician Assistant Studies in 2006. She has worked in cardiothoracic surgery since 2007 and joined CTVS in March 2013. In addition, she is a member of the Central Texas Physician Assistant Society.

Job Titles:

• Member of the American Medical Association

Hunter Q. Kirkland, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a native Texan originally from Austin. He earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and completed his residency in general surgery at Greenville Memorial Hospital in South Carolina. He then completed his fellowship at Texas Heart Institute in Houston. Dr. Kirkland has practiced with Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons since 2005. Dr. Kirkland is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. He specializes in adult cardiac and thoracic surgery including ventricular assist device therapy and heart transplantation. Dr. Kirkland is an active member of the American Medical Association, fellow in the American College of Surgeons, Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society, Houston Surgical Society, Texas Medical Association and Travis County Medical Society.

Job Titles:

• Fellow of the American College of Surgeons

Jeffrey D. McNeil, M.D., F.A.C.S., grew up in the Houston suburb of Cypress, Texas. He attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas for his undergraduate education and earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA). Dr. McNeil received an Air Force Health Professions Scholarship for medical school and then completed his general surgery residency on active duty with the U.S. Air Force at UTHSCSA before moving to Winston-Salem, North Carolina for his cardiothoracic surgery residency at Wake Forest University and North Carolina Baptist Medical Center. In 2004, he traveled back to Texas to begin his military practice at San Antonio Military Medical Center (SAMMC). During his military career, Dr. McNeil deployed twice to the 332nd Air Force Theatre Hospital at Balad Air Base, Iraq and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal with one Oak Cluster for his service and outstanding achievements. He served as Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at SAMMC from 2014-2016 when he retired from the U.S. Air Force after twenty years of service. Dr. McNeil joined Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons in July 2016. Dr. McNeil is board-certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and specializes in adult cardiac and thoracic surgery. His cardiac surgery interests include aortic valve and aortic root surgery, all-arterial myocardial revascularization, mitral valve repair surgery, and minimally invasive trans-catheter valve replacement surgery. He also performs surgeries utilizing less-invasive techniques such as video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) for treatment of lung cancer and other thoracic diseases. Dr. McNeil is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, J. Bradley Aust Surgical Society, Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, Texas Medical Association, and Travis County Medical Association. He has received numerous research and teaching awards and has published several papers and textbook chapters in the field of cardiothoracic surgery. While working in San Antonio, he was a clinical assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and is frequently invited to speak at medical conferences throughout the United States. He is currently serving as Chief of Surgical Services at Seton Medical Center Hays where he was voted the 2018 Physician of the Year. Medical mission work is one of his passions, and he has participated in numerous international trips to provide medical care to underserved populations. Recently, through his involvement with VOOM Foundation, he has traveled to the University of Nigeria Teach Hospital in Enugu, Nigeria to facilitate the development of a cardiac surgery program and to perform cardiac surgical procedures for the local population. He has received the Edwards Life Sciences Every Heart Beat Matters Award from the Thoracic Surgery Foundation in 2018 and 2019 to help fund his work in Nigeria.

Job Titles:

• Member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society

Jeffrey M. Apple, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a native Texan originally from Dallas. He earned his medical degree at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and completed his general surgery residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. His vascular surgery fellowship was completed at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. Dr. Apple has practiced with Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons since 2009. He currently serves as past president of the Travis County Medical Society. Dr. Apple is board-certified in general and vascular surgery by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He served four years in the United States Navy where he served as a staff surgeon at the Naval Medical Center San Diego. During his time in the Navy he was deployed twice to the Persian Gulf in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. His special interests include the endovascular treatment of thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms, the treatment of varicose vein disease and catheter-based procedures for arterial disease and deep vein thrombosis (DVT). He has extensive experience with the treatment of DVT and Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Dr. Apple is an active member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, the Society of Vascular Surgery, Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society, Parkland Surgical Society, Texas Medical Association and Travis County Medical Society. He has also received numerous teaching awards and published several papers in the field of vascular surgery. In addition, he has been listed in Texas Monthly as a Super Doctor.

Jeffrey S. Jobe, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a native Texan originally from Corsicana. He received his medical degree from Texas Tech University School of Medicine and completed his general surgery residency and vascular surgery fellowship at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. Dr. Jobe has practiced with Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons since 1999. Dr. Jobe is board-certified in vascular surgery by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons.

Joe K. Wells, III, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a native Texan originally from Austin. He earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, where he also completed his residency in general surgery. He completed his fellowship in vascular surgery at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. He has practiced with Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons since 2000. Dr. Wells is board-certified in general and vascular surgery by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Wells specializes in carotid and lower extremity revascularization as well as the minimally invasive treatment of thoracic and abdominal aortic aneurysms and dissections. He is a frequent medical missionary to Guatemala. He is an active member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, the Society for Vascular Surgery, Parkland Surgical Society, Texas Medical Association and Travis County Medical Society. Dr. Wells has been listed multiple times as a Texas Monthly Super Doctor ®.

John K. Politz, M.D., F.A.C.S. is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. He earned his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and his fellowship in vascular surgery at Baylor University Medical Center in Dallas. Dr. Politz has practiced with Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons since 1996. Dr. Politz is board-certified in general and vascular surgery by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Dr. Politz specializes in all aspects of open vascular surgery, particularly complex mesenteric revascularization and endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. He also has extensive experience in exposure of the thoracic and lumbar spine. He has served as the program director for vascular surgery for the general surgery residency at The University of Texas at Austin. In addition, Dr. Politz is an active member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, the Southern Association for Vascular Surgery, Parkland Surgical Society, Texas Medical Association and Travis County Medical Society.

Jonathan A. Yang, M.D., M.P.H. is originally from New York and attended Harvard College in Cambridge, Massachusetts, followed by Tufts University School of Medicine in Boston. During his general surgery residency at Columbia University Medical Center in New York, he earned his Master's in Public Health from the Mailman School of Public Health at Columbia University. In addition, he completed his cardiothoracic surgery residency at Columbia University Medical Center before joining Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons in 2016. Dr. Yang is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and fluent in Mandarin Chinese. His special interests include mechanical circulatory support (VAD and ECMO), heart transplantation, and aortic surgery. He currently serves as surgical director of the advanced heart failure program at Heart Hospital of Austin. He has presented and published extensively in the field of cardiovascular surgery where he has received many awards and accolades. Dr. Yang is also a member of the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation, Texas Medical Association, and Travis County Medical Society.

Mark C. Felger, M.D. is a native Texan originally from Austin and earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He completed his general surgery internship and residency at Emory University in Atlanta and his cardiothoracic surgery residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio. He has practiced with Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons since 1997 and is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery as well as the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Felger specializes in all areas of adult cardiac and thoracic surgery including mitral valve repair, endovascular thoracic aneurysm repair and coronary artery bypass surgery. He currently serves as Director of Surgical Services at Heart Hospital of Austin. He is an active member of Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society, the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, Texas Transplant Society, Texas Medical Association and Travis County Medical Society. Dr. Felger has also composed and published numerous research articles in his specialty. He was recently listed as a Top Doctor in Austin Monthly based on peer endorsements, experience, education, training, research, publishing, and awards.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons

Matthew A. Gaudet, M.D., F.A.C.S. was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana and received his medical degree from Louisiana State University Medical School in Shreveport. He completed his general surgery residency at Ochsner Clinic Foundation followed by a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Duke University Hospital. Dr. Gaudet practiced with Ochsner Medical Center and was a clinical instructor at Tulane University School of Medicine as well as senior lecturer at the University of Queensland School of Medicine for 6 years prior to joining Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons in 2021. He is board certified in thoracic surgery by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. His special interests include benign and malignant diseases of the lung, esophagus, diaphragm, chest wall and mediastinum, and lung cancer screening. Dr. Gaudet is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, American College of Surgeons, The International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer, and the American Medical Association. He is a published author and peer reviewer of multiple works on the subject of thoracic surgery.

Job Titles:

• Member of the American College of Physicians

Nicolas Zea, M.D., R.P.V.I., F.A.C.S., was born and raised in Colombia and received his medical degree from Louisiana State University School of Medicine in New Orleans. He completed his general surgery internship and residency followed by a vascular surgery fellowship at Ochsner Clinic Foundation in New Orleans. He practiced with LSU Health Sciences Center and Tulane Medical Center for 5 years prior to joining Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons in 2021. He is board certified in vascular surgery by the American Board of Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI). Dr. Zea's special interest include dialysis work, peripheral arterial disease, limb preservation and amputation prevention, carotid disease, aortic aneurysms, and surgical spine exposures. Dr. Zea is a member of the American College of Physicians, Vascular and Endovascular Surgical Society, and Surgical Vascular Society. He is a frequent speaker at national conferences and has published numerous works on the subject of vascular surgery. Additionally, he is a native Spanish speaker due to his heritage and upbringing in South America.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Parkland Surgical Society

Phillip J. Church, M.D., F.A.C.S. is originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas and completed his general surgery residency at the University of Texas Health Science Center in Dallas. His fellowship in vascular surgery was completed at the University of California in San Francisco. Dr. Church has practiced with Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons since 1981. Dr. Church is board-certified in vascular surgery by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. Since his arrival in Austin, Dr. Church has been appointed to numerous academic assignments including Clinical Instructor in Surgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Dallas and San Antonio. He formerly served as Chief of Staff and President of the medical staff at Seton Medical Center Austin. He has also served as President of the Travis County Medical Society. Dr. Church was recently recognized as one of Austin's top vascular surgeons in Austin Monthly magazine's 2013 list of Top Doctors. Dr. Church is an active member of the Parkland Surgical Society, Peripheral Vascular Surgery Society, San Antonio Vascular Society, Southern Association for Vascular Surgery, Society for Vascular Surgery, Texas Medical Association and Travis County Medical Society.

Rachel L. Medbery, M.D., is originally from Birmingham, Alabama. She received her medical degree from Emory University where she graduated cum laude. Upon graduation, she continued her general surgery residency training at Emory University followed by a fellowship in thoracic surgery. In 2019, she moved to Austin and joined Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons. Dr. Medbery is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and specializes in general thoracic surgery. Her clinical areas of interest include minimally invasive thoracic surgery, lung and esophageal cancer, benign esophageal disease, diaphragm and chest wall disorders. She is an active member of Women in Thoracic Surgery, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Association of Women Surgeons, American College of Surgeons, and the Travis County Medical Society. In addition to publishing numerous book chapters, abstracts, and peer-reviewed publications, Dr. Medbery has been invited to present and lecture across the United States.

Robert C. Neely, M.D. is originally from San Francisco, California and earned his undergraduate degree from Princeton University and his medical degree from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons in New York. He completed his cardiothoracic surgery residency at New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center. Additionally, he completed a research fellowship in surgical outcomes at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. He joined Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons in 2017 and is board-certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Neely specializes in adult cardiac and thoracic surgery with a special focus on adult acquired valvular heart disease, minimally invasive mitral and aortic valve operations including transcatheter aortic and mitral valve therapies such as TAVR and Mitraclip. He is also interested in treatment for aortic aneurysms including valve-sparing procedures. He is an affiliate faculty member at The University of Texas Dell Medical School, active member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, Texas Medical Association, and Travis County Medical Society. He has published numerous peer review research papers and chapters in the field of cardiothoracic surgery.

Ryan S. Turley, M.D. is a native Texan originally from Amarillo. He received his medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, North Carolina followed by his general surgery internship, residency, and vascular fellowship at Duke University Medical Center. He has practiced in Austin since 2017. Dr. Turley is board-certified in vascular surgery by the American Board of Surgery and specializes in all areas of endovascular and vascular surgery. His special interests include advanced endovascular techniques for limb salvage and complex aortic aneurysm repair. He also has a special interest in clinical outcomes research. He is a member of the Society of Vascular Surgery, the Southern Association for Vascular Surgery, Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery, and Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society, as well as the Travis County Medical Society. In addition, Dr. Turley has authored more than 50 manuscripts and has presented at several national surgical meetings.

Sarah George is a Texas native. She received a Bachelors of Science in Biology from Emory University. Following graduation, she joined CTVS as a clinical assistant for 2.5 years before attending PA school at Weill Cornell Medical College. Prior to joining CTVS in 2009, Sarah practiced as a physician assistant at the Cornell Heart Center in New York. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants and the Central Texas Physician Assistant Society.

Scott A. Seidel, M.D., F.A.C.S., R.V.T., is a native Texan who was born in Houston. After graduating from Texas A&M University, he earned his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas. He completed his general surgery residency at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, his vascular surgery fellowship at UT Southwestern Medical Center and his endovascular fellowship at Stanford University Medical Center in 2001. Dr. Seidel has practiced with Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons since 2006. Dr. Seidel is board-certified in general and vascular surgery by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He is also a Registered Vascular Technologist. His professional interests include all areas of vascular and endovascular surgery with a special interest in catheter-based minimally invasive interventions. He is an active member of the Society for Vascular Surgery, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society, Society for Vascular Ultrasound, Southern Association for Vascular Surgery, Texas Medical Association and Travis County Medical Society. Dr. Seidel has authored numerous articles in the field of general and vascular surgery.

Sejal Patel was born in New Jersey and grew up in Atlanta, Georgia. She attended the University of Georgia where she received her Bachelors of Science in Biological Sciences with a minor in religion. In 2012, she earned her Masters in Medical Science and Physician Assistant Studies at Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Prior to joining CTVS in 2016, she was a practicing physician assistant in the areas of emergency medicine, inpatient cardiothoracic surgery, as well as trauma. Sejal is an active member of the Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiovascular Surgery and Central Texas Physician Assistant Society.

Stephen M. Settle, M.D., F.A.C.S. is a native Texan originally from Wellington. He received his medical degree from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School in Dallas and completed his general surgery internship and residency at St. Paul Medical Center/SWMS in Dallas. He completed his vascular surgery residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. He has practiced in Austin since 1992. Dr. Settle is board-certified in general and vascular surgery by the American Board of Surgery and is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons. He specializes in all areas of endovascular and vascular surgery. He is a member of the Society for Vascular Surgeons, Texas Surgical Society, Texas Medical Association and Travis County Medical Society. Dr. Settle has authored various articles and publications in his specialty.

Job Titles:

• Member of the Southern Association for Vascular Surgery

Taylor A. Smith, M.D., F.A.C.S., R.P.V.I., is a Louisiana native and received his medical degree from Louisiana State University Health Science Center in New Orleans. He completed his general surgery residency at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Hospital in Dallas followed by a vascular and endovascular surgical fellowship at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Smith returned to Louisiana where he practiced 9 years before joining Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons in 2019. He is board certified in vascular surgery by the American Board of Surgery, a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, and a registered physician in vascular interpretation (RPVI). His special interests include surgical and endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysms, peripheral and cerebrovascular disease, endovascular treatment of deep vein thrombosis and treatment of infected aortic and peripheral grafts. Dr. Smith is an active member of the Southern Association for Vascular Surgery, Society for Vascular Surgery, Vascular and Endovascular Surgery Society, Society for Vascular Ultrasound, American Medical Association, and Travis County Medical Society. Additionally, Dr. Smith has presented and published numerous manuscripts, book chapters, and posters in the field of vascular surgery.

Tyler Ingram is originally from Ruston, Louisiana. He received a Bachelors of Science in Biology from Louisiana Tech University in 2010. Tyler earned his Masters of Physician Assistant Studies at LSU Health Sciences Center Shreveport in 2014. Prior to joining CTVS in 2016, Tyler practiced as a physician assistant in Shreveport, Louisiana. He is an active member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, Texas Association of Physician Assistants, Central Texas Physician Assistant Society, and Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiovascular Surgery.

Job Titles:

• Medical Director for Cardiothoracic Surgical Services at Heart Hospital of Austin

W. Chance Conner, M.D., is a native Texan originally from Houston. He attended the United States Military Academy at West Point, New York and received his medical degree from The Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences in Bethesda, Maryland. After graduation he completed his one year surgery internship at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. He then served with the 10th Mountain Division, U.S. Army as a general medical officer for two years before returning to his surgery residency at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Upon graduation he entered his thoracic surgery residency at SUNY Upstate Medical University in Syracuse, New York. After graduation he was assigned to Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio, Texas where he served as the Assistant Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgery prior to assuming the Chief role in 2011. During his tenure he oversaw the integration of the U.S. Army and Air Force Cardiothoracic Surgery programs. In 2013 he directed the integration of the Department of Defense and Veteran's Administration integrated Cardiothoracic Surgery programs in San Antonio, Texas. During his twenty five year plus service in the U.S. Army, Dr. Conner was deployed three times in support of combat operations, serving as a thoracic surgeon with the 28th Combat Support Hospital in the Middle East. Dr. Conner retired from the United States Army in April 2014 having achieved the rank of Colonel before joining Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons. Dr. Conner is board-certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. His interests are focused on patient safety with a special focus on achieving quality outcomes in cardiothoracic surgery through program development. Dr. Conner strives to serve his community in the full spectrum of diseases of the chest to include cardiac, vascular, and thoracic oncology. Dr. Conner currently serves as the Medical Director for Cardiothoracic Surgical Services at Heart Hospital of Austin at St. David's Round Rock Medical Center as well as adjunct associate professor at Texas A&M Medical School. He is an active member of the Texas Medical Association, Travis County Medical Association, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons where he serves on the Work Force for Patient Safety and Task Force for Military Affairs. He is thrilled to be apart of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons. He looks forward to establishing a Cardiothoracic Center of Excellence in Round Rock, Texas.

Job Titles:

• Director of the Cardiac Transplantation and Circulatory Support Program at Seton Medical Center

William F. Kessler, M.D., F.A.C.S. is originally from Houston, Texas. After graduating with a degree in Biology with honors from The University of Texas at Austin, he attended Baylor College of Medicine where he received his medical degree and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha honor society. Dr. Kessler then completed a residency in general surgery at The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School and Parkland Hospital in Dallas, Texas. He then completed a fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery at Southwestern followed by a cardiac transplantation and mechanical circulatory support fellowship at UCLA. Dr. Kessler is the Director of the Cardiac Transplantation and Circulatory Support program at Seton Medical Center which he has been a part of for over fifteen years. He has served in the past as the Co-director of the Transplant Program and the Director of Mechanical Circulatory Support and presently serves as the Surgical Director of the Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) program. Development of programs to treat advanced heart failure continues to be his main focus. An extremely diverse interest in advanced cardiac surgery includes: 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. Dr. Kessler is interested in minimally invasive techniques of valve replacement and is a surgical director of TAVR, or transcatheter aortic valve replacement, which includes transfemoral, transapical and transaortic approaches to the aortic valve. He is also the Principal Investigator of the Perceval S Trial, an evaluation of a sutureless aortic valve now in trials in the United States. Investigation of improvement in outcomes for mechanical circulatory support facilitated the implementation of advanced analysis of coagulation abnormalities in central Texas, in which Dr. Kessler was a key figure. He lectures frequently on the use of Thromboelastography and platelet mapping, which has led to a dramatic decrease in the blood transfusion usage in Austin, Texas. In 2002, Dr. Kessler was awarded the prestigious Cardiac Care Provider of the Year Award. Nominated by his patients, the annual award is given by the American Heart Association. Dr. Kessler was again recognized in 2013, by Texas monthly as one of Texas Monthly's Top Doctors. He was nominated by operating room staff for the 2014 best operating surgeon, and has been the recipient of the prestigious Carnegie Hero Award which is awarded to those who risk their own life to save another's. He is an active member of Alpha Omega Alpha, the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation, the Texas Transplant Society, the Parkland Surgical Society, American Medical Association, Texas Medical Association and Travis County Medical Society. Dr. Kessler remains involved in clinical research and lectures frequently on topics of complex cardiac surgery.