The Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery is led by Howard Song, M.D., Ph.D. Dr. Song arrived to OHSU in 2004 and has served as the Head of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Section Head for Adult Cardiac Surgery since 2012. Faculty members in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at OHSU specialize in the surgical treatment of advanced heart and lung disease. In order to provide the most advanced level of care, the Division is organized into three sections, Adult Cardiac Surgery, General Thoracic Surgery and Pediatric Cardiac Surgery. Faculty members in each of these sections are experts in their field and focus on patients with diseases in their subspecialty.

Adult Cardiac Surgery at OHSU specializes in the surgical treatment of patients with cardiovascular disease. Our surgeons have expertise in heart valve surgery, transcatheter techniques for heart valve repair and replacement, coronary artery bypass, heart transplantation, ventricular assist devices and aortic surgery. Our team is well-known throughout the region and acts as a regional center for the care of complex patients with advanced stages of disease.

General Thoracic Surgery at OHSU specializes exclusively in non-cardiac thoracic surgery with areas of expertise in lung cancer, esophageal cancer, mediastinal tumors, chest wall tumors, pleural disease (including mesothelioma), surgery for COPD, primary hyperhidrosis, pectus excavatum, alveolar proteinosis, airway stenting and esophageal perforation. Paul Schipper, M.D., serves as Section Head for General Thoracic Surgery. Our goal is to provide all of our patients and their families with the best possible care.

Pediatric Cardiac Surgery is headed by Ashok Muralidaran, M.D., and specializes exclusively on the surgical treatment of children and adults who have congenital heart disease. Pediatric cardiac surgeons collaborate closely with our team of pediatric cardiologists, intensivists and anesthesiologists to carefully discuss the best course of treatment for a patient's heart care. We have expertise in the treatment of patent ductus arteriosus, atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect, atrioventricular septal defect, tricuspid atresia, pulmonary atresia, transposition of the great arteries, tetralogy of Fallot, vascular ring anomalies, double outlet right ventricle, truncus arteriosus, coarctation of the aorta, aortic stenosis and hypoplastic left heart syndrome.

Fellowship opportunities

OHSU offers the only Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship in Oregon. Our program prepares residents for a well-rounded surgical career; our graduates have gone on to make substantial contributions to their medical communities and the field of cardiothoracic surgery.