The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Wake Forest School of Medicine is a key component of our institution’s nationally recognized Heart and Vascular Center. Our specialists are devoted to cardiovascular, thoracic and congenital heart surgery.

In addition to our commitment to provide the most advanced and compassionate services to our patients, we offer a full five-year Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education-accredited Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Program.

Important dates in our department’s history include:

  • 1949: Training in thoracic surgery began under the chairmanship of Dr. H. H. Bradshaw
  • 1958: Open cardiac procedures began, including pediatric and adult patients
  • 1989: The Section on Cardiothoracic Surgery became the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery under Dr. A. Robert Cordell's chairmanship