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Best Cardiothoracic Surgeons in Birmingham

Written by Andrew Le, MD

Updated December 24, 2024

Introduction to Cardiothoracic Medicine in Birmingham

Definition and scope of cardiothoracic medicine

Cardiothoracic medicine is a specialized field that focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the heart, lungs, and chest. This medical specialty encompasses a wide range of procedures and treatments, from complex heart surgeries to minimally invasive thoracic interventions.

Patients seeking cardiothoracic care often present with conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart valve disorders, lung cancer, and congenital heart defects. The complexity of these conditions underscores the need for highly trained specialists in this field.

Specialized care in cardiothoracic medicine is essential due to the intricate nature of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Practitioners in this field must possess a deep understanding of these systems and stay current with the latest advancements in surgical techniques and medical technologies.

Birmingham's reputation in cardiothoracic medicine

Birmingham, Alabama, has established itself as a hub for excellent cardiothoracic care. The city is home to several renowned medical institutions, including the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Hospital, which is recognized for its comprehensive cardiovascular services.

The presence of these institutions has attracted top-tier cardiothoracic surgeons and specialists to Birmingham. For instance, our data shows that highly rated physicians such as Dr. Sara Pereira and Dr. James Donahue practice in the city, bringing their expertise to local patients.

Birmingham offers a wide array of cardiothoracic services, ranging from advanced heart failure treatments to minimally invasive thoracic surgeries. The city's medical facilities are equipped with state-of-the-art technology, enabling physicians to perform complex procedures such as heart transplants, valve repairs, and robotic-assisted surgeries.

Patients in Birmingham have access to comprehensive care teams that include not only cardiothoracic surgeons but also specialized nurses, anesthesiologists, and support staff dedicated to cardiac and thoracic health.


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List of Cardiothoracic Surgeons in Birmingham

PV

Dr. Panayotis Vardas

5.0

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Greek, Italian

Phone

(205) 934-4672

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Indiana University / School of Medicine|University Of Washington (Residency Hospital, 2018)

Sapienza University Of Rome (Medical School, 2006)

English

Greek

Italian

Ascension St. Vincent's Birmingham

Saint Vincent's East

Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery

JO

Dr. John Odell

5.0

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(205) 934-3411

Mayo Grad School Med/Mayo Fndn (Residency Hospital)

FAIRFIELD UNIVERSITY / GRADUATE SCHOOL OF EDUCATION AND ALLIED PROFESSIONS (Medical School, 1996)

English

Cardiothoracic Surgery

JK

Dr. James Kirklin

5.0

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(205) 934-3411

HARVARD Medical School (Medical School, 1973)

English

Cardiothoracic Surgery

LR

Dr. Lee Riggins

5.0

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(205) 780-8980

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

University of Alabama at Birmingham (Medical School, 1975)

English

Baptist Memorial Hospital-Golden Triangle

Cardiothoracic Surgery

WJ

Dr. Wade Lamberth Jr

5.0

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(205) 877-2627

University of Alabama at Birmingham (Medical School, 1968)

English

Vascular Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

PH

Dr. Phillips Harrington

5.0

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(813) 321-6580

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

University of Florida (Medical School, 2009)

English

St. Joseph's Hospital

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Sara Pereira

Dr. Sara Pereira

5.0

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Female

Languages

English, Spanish

Phone

(801) 587-8368

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

University Alabama (Fellowship Hospital, 2004)

University Cincinnati Medical Center (Residency Hospital, 2002)

University of Cincinatti Medical Center (Internship Hospital, 1998)

University of California, Irvine School of Medicine (Medical School, 1997)

University of California at Berkeley (Undergraduate School, 1992)

English

Spanish

UAB Hospital

Cardiothoracic Surgery

General Surgery

DC

Dr. David Cleveland

5.0

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(205) 934-2419

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Hospital For Sick Children (Medical School, 1991)

English

Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

DM

Dr. David McGiffin

5.0

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(205) 934-3411

UNIVERSITY OF QUEENSLAND MEDICAL SCHOOL (Medical School, 1975)

English

Vascular Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

RD

Dr. Robert Dabal

5.0

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(205) 934-4011

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHARLOTTE (Medical School, 1995)

English

Children's Of Alabama

Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Enrique Gongora

Dr. Enrique Gongora

4.9

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Spanish

Phone

(205) 934-4011

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital, 2009)

Mayo Clinic (Fellowship Hospital, 2007)

Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (Fellowship Hospital, 2007)

Washington Hospital Center (Residency Hospital, 2003)

Universidad Del Rosario (Medical School, 1992)

English

Spanish

Memorial Regional Hospital

Advanced Heart Failure & Transplant Cardiology

Transplant Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. James Donahue

Dr. James Donahue

4.9

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(205) 934-4011

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Mayo Clinic-Rochester (Fellowship Hospital, 2008)

Massachusetts General Hospital (Residency Hospital, 2005)

HARVARD Medical School (Medical School, 1998)

English

East Alabama Medical Center

Baptist Medical Center South

Saint Vincent's East

Thoracic Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. John Casterline

Dr. John Casterline

4.8

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(205) 939-0023

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

University of Alabama Hospital (Fellowship Hospital)

University of Kansas Hospital (Residency Hospital)

University of Kansas School of Medicine (Medical School, 1988)

English

Grandview Medical Center

Saint Vincent's East

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. William McAlexander

Dr. William McAlexander

4.8

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(865) 647-3350

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

University of Tennessee College of Medicine (Medical School, 2004)

English

Brookwood Baptist Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery

General Surgery

JD

Dr. James Davies

4.8

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(205) 996-9256

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Mayo Clinic (Fellowship Hospital, 2008)

UAB Hospital (Residency Hospital, 2005)

UAB Hospital (Internship Hospital, 1999)

University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine (Medical School, 1998)

English

UAB Hospital

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

RC

Dr. Robert Cerfolio

4.8

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Mayo Clinic Rochester (Fellowship Hospital)

Cornell New York Hospital (Residency Hospital, 1991)

University Conn (Internship Hospital, 1990)

University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry (Medical School, 1988)

English

NYU Langone Hospitals

Thoracic Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

General Surgery

BW

Dr. Benjamin Wei

4.8

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(205) 934-3411

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (Medical School, 2005)

English

North Mississippi Medical Center-Iuka

Baptist Medical Center East

Southeast Health Medical Center

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Clifton Lewis

Dr. Clifton Lewis

4.7

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Spanish

Phone

(205) 934-3338

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

St Lukes Episcopal-Texas Hart Institute (Residency Hospital, 1990)

Texas Medical Center Houston-Texas Heart Institute|University of Alabama at Birmingham (Residency Hospital, 1990)

University of Alabama Hospital (Residency Hospital, 1988)

University of Alabama Hospital (Internship Hospital, 1984)

University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine (Medical School, 1983)

English

Spanish

Princeton Baptist Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery

General Surgery

Dr. Lev Khitin

Dr. Lev Khitin

4.5

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Russian

Med University of South Carolina (Fellowship Hospital)

Lahey Clinic Massachusetts (Residency Hospital)

University Of California Stanford (Internship Hospital)

Russian State Medical University (Rsmu), Faculty Of Medicine (Medical School)

English

Russian

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Thoracic Surgery

General Surgery

Vascular Surgery

Phlebology

Dr. Kyle Eudailey

Dr. Kyle Eudailey

4.3

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(205) 934-3338

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

New York-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital)

Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons (Medical School)

Brown University (Undergraduate School)

English

UAB Hospital

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Carlton Randleman

Dr. Carlton Randleman

4.1

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(205) 592-1800

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Emory University (Fellowship Hospital)

Mayo Clinic (Internship Hospital)

Mayo Clinic Alix School of Medicine (Internship Hospital)

Samford University (Undergraduate School)

University of Alabama at Birmingham (Medical School, 1983)

University of Alabama at Birmingham Heersink School of Medicine (Medical School, 1983)

English

East Alabama Medical Center

Northeast Alabama Regional Medical Center

Vascular Surgery

Thoracic Surgery

Phlebology

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Kevin Landolfo

Dr. Kevin Landolfo

4.1

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(904) 674-3443

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Duke University Medical Center (Fellowship Hospital)

University of Manitoba Faculty of Medicine (Medical School)

English

Mayo Clinic In Florida

Transplant Surgery

Thoracic Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

CA

Dr. Constantine Athanasuleas

3.9

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English, Greek

Phone

(205) 934-3411

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Stanford University (Residency Hospital, 1982)

Stanford University (Internship Hospital, 1976)

University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine (Medical School, 1975)

University of Chicago (Undergraduate School, 1971)

English

Greek

North Alabama Medical Center

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

CH

Dr. Charles Hoopes

3.7

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English, French

Phone

(205) 801-8000

American Board of Surgery

Duke University (Medical School, 1992)

English

French

UAB Hospital

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Dr. Russell Ronson

Dr. Russell Ronson

3.3

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(205) 877-2627

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

University Of Virginia Health System (Fellowship Hospital, 2003)

Emory University Hospital (Residency Hospital, 2001)

Emory University Hospital (Internship Hospital, 1995)

Dartmouth College (Medical School, 1994)

University of Texas at Austin (Undergraduate School, 1990)

English

Brookwood Baptist Medical Center

Cardiothoracic Surgery

HN

Dr. Hallie Neal

N/A

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Female

Languages

English

Phone

(843) 723-3441

American Board of Anesthesiology

Medical University of South Carolina (Medical School, 2010)

English

Anesthesiology

Cardiothoracic Surgery

CN

Dr. Chikashi Nakai

N/A

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(518) 262-9777

English

Cardiothoracic Surgery

WH

Dr. William Holman

N/A

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English, German

Phone

(205) 934-3853

American Board of Surgery

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

CORNELL UNIVERSITY / NEW YORK STATE STATUTORY COLLEGES (Medical School, 1978)

English

German

UAB Hospital

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

WK

Dr. Wesley Kim

N/A

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(614) 566-3500

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

UNIVERSITY OF CINCINNATI / MEDICAL CENTER (Medical School)

English

Riverside Methodist Hospital

General Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

WG

Dr. William Gray

N/A

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(205) 934-4011

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

English

Los Angeles General Medical Center

Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

DM

Dr. David Mauchley

N/A

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(206) 520-5000

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

University of Washington / Harborview Medical Center (Medical School, 2004)

English

UW Medical Center-Montlake

Congenital Cardiac Surgery

Cardiothoracic Surgery

EG

Dr. Evan Garner

N/A

Birmingham, AL

Sex

Male

Languages

English

Phone

(662) 377-7170

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Augusta University Medical College of Georgia (Medical School, 2013)

English

North Mississippi Medical Center-Tupelo

Cardiothoracic Surgery

Choosing a Cardiothoracic Specialist in Birmingham

Factors to consider when selecting a doctor

Board certifications and specializations

  • Review American Board of Thoracic Surgery certifications
  • Consider additional certifications like American Board of Surgery

Experience and education

  • Examine fellowship and residency experiences
  • Note prestigious institutions like Mayo Clinic, Harvard, and UAB

Hospital affiliations

  • Consider doctors affiliated with top hospitals like UAB Hospital
  • Look for multiple hospital affiliations for broader expertise

Patient ratings and reviews

  • Analyze star ratings and number of reviews
  • Pay attention to consistent feedback patterns

Importance of personalized care

Communication and language considerations

  • Check for doctors who speak multiple languages if needed
  • Assess communication style through patient reviews

Availability and accessibility of the doctor

  • Consider location of practice and hospital affiliations
  • Look for information on appointment wait times and emergency availability

Top-Rated Cardiothoracic Surgeons in Birmingham

Dr. Sara Pereira

Background and Qualifications

  • Education: University of California, Irvine School of Medicine
  • Fellowship: University of Alabama
  • Board Certifications: American Board of Surgery, American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Expertise and Practice

  • Specializes in Cardiothoracic Surgery and General Surgery
  • Languages: English and Spanish
  • Hospital Affiliation: UAB Hospital

Patient Satisfaction

  • 5.0 star rating based on 21 reviews
  • Highly regarded for surgical skills and patient care

Dr. James Donahue

Professional Background

  • Education: Harvard Medical School
  • Fellowship: Mayo Clinic-Rochester
  • Board Certifications: American Board of Surgery, American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Areas of Expertise

  • Specializes in Thoracic Surgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • Hospital Affiliations: East Alabama Medical Center, Baptist Medical Center South, Saint Vincent's East

Patient Feedback

  • 4.9 star rating based on 46 reviews
  • Recognized for surgical expertise and patient outcomes

Dr. Robert Cerfolio

Credentials and Experience

  • Education: University of Rochester School of Medicine & Dentistry
  • Fellowship: Mayo Clinic Rochester
  • Board Certifications: American Board of Surgery, American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Specializations

  • Expertise in Thoracic Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, and General Surgery
  • Hospital Affiliation: NYU Langone Hospitals

Patient Satisfaction

  • 4.8 star rating based on 164 reviews
  • Highly recommended for complex cardiothoracic procedures

Dr. Benjamin Wei

Educational Background

  • Education: Columbia University Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
  • Board Certifications: American Board of Surgery, American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Clinical Focus

  • Specializes in General Surgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery
  • Hospital Affiliations: North Mississippi Medical Center-Iuka, Baptist Medical Center East, Southeast Health Medical Center

Patient Reviews

  • 4.8 star rating based on 135 reviews
  • Praised for surgical skills and patient care approach

Dr. David McGiffin

Professional Experience

  • Education: University of Queensland Medical School
  • Specializes in Vascular Surgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery

Practice Information

  • Languages: English
  • Affiliated with UAB Hospital

Patient Feedback

  • 5.0 star rating based on 10 reviews
  • Recognized for expertise in complex cardiothoracic cases

Additional Resources for Finding Cardiothoracic Specialists

Online directories and review platforms

Healthgrades

  • Comprehensive doctor profiles
  • Patient ratings and reviews
  • Specialization and certification information

Hospital websites

  • Lists of affiliated cardiothoracic surgeons
  • Information on specialties and procedures offered
  • Contact details for appointments

Professional medical associations

American Board of Thoracic Surgery

  • Verification of board certification
  • Resources on cardiothoracic specialties

Society of Thoracic Surgeons

  • Educational materials on cardiothoracic procedures
  • Patient resources for finding qualified surgeons

Local medical resources in Birmingham

UAB Medicine

  • Cardiothoracic Surgery Department information
  • List of surgeons and their specialties

Birmingham Healthcare Directory

  • Comprehensive list of cardiothoracic specialists
  • Information on local hospitals and clinics