Emory's division of cardiothoracic surgery has been responsible for a variety of firsts: Georgia's first "blue baby" open heart procedure in 1962, the state's first coronary artery bypass in 1970, Georgia's first adult heart transplant in 1985 (Emory's 500th adult heart transplant was performed in March 2008), the world's first minimally invasive triple off-pump bypass surgery using Mini-CABG instrumentation in 1997, and the 2006 implantation of Georgia's first ventricular assist device (VAD) as a form of destination therapy for those who are not eligible for or unwilling to undergo a heart transplant. In 2007, Emory cardiothoracic surgeons implanted an even smaller and lighter VAD for the same purpose that featured an automatic speed control mode designed to regulate pumping activity based on different levels of patient or cardiac activity.

The division's current research efforts include the development of devices and techniques for the minimally invasive treatment of aortic stenosis, evaluation of the use of percutaneous and transapical aortic valves and investigation of the mechanisms and treatment of surgical and non-surgical myocardial ischemia-reperfusion injury.

In 2007, the ACGME-approved cardiothoracic residency program transitioned from a two to three year program with elective rotations in the first and third year so that residents can focus on subspecialties in cardiothoracic surgery.