PDF of Dr. Vega's CV

Academic Appointment

• Associate Professor of Surgery, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine

Clinical Appointments

• Surgical Director, Heart Transplant Program, Emory University Hospital
• Chief, Cardiothoracic Surgery, Atlanta VA Medical Center

Telephone
404.778.5289

Affiliations

• Emory University Hospital
• Atlanta VA Medical Center

Board Certification

• American Board of Surgery
• American Board of Thoracic Surgery

Medical School
University of Michigan, Class of 1986

Postgraduate Training

• General Surgery Internship (1986-1987) and General Surgery Residency (1987-1988, 1990-1993), University of Texas Health Science Center
• Research Fellowship in Cardiothoracic Surgery (1988-1990), Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Residency (1993-1995), Texas Heart Institute
• Fellowship in Cardiopulmonary Transplantation, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (1995-1996)

Honors and Awards

• Woodruff Fund Clinical Teaching Support Award in Cardiothoracic Surgery, Emory, September 2002
• The George P. Waldron Award, Outstanding General Surgery Chief Resident, University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston, TX, 1993

Current Organizational Memberships

• American College of Surgeons: Fellow; Advisory Council for Cardiothoracic Surgery (American Society of Transplant Surgeons representative)
• American Society of Transplant Surgeons, Thoracic Organ Transplantation Committee
• American Association for Thoracic Surgery
• LifeLink Foundation, Board of Governors
• Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Clinical Education Resource Group
• United Network for Organ Sharing: Chairman, OPTN/UNOS Thoracic Organ Transplantation Committee; Heart Sequence Task Force
• Health Resources and Service Administration, Advisory Committee on Organ Transplantation
• American College of Chest Physicians
• American Society for Artificial Internal Organs
• Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society, Executive Committee
• International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation

Clinical Interests

• Cardiac transplantation
• Cardiopulmonary transplantation
• Heart failure/heart transplantation
• Lung transplantation

Research Interests

• Dr. Vega's research focuses on the surgical treatment of advanced heart failure, encompassing high-risk coronary bypass, mitral valve repair, heart transplantation and the use of mechanical circulatory support devices as a bridge to transplant or for destination therapy. Dr. Vega finds that these treatment options and the underlying disease process offer opportunities for collaboration with basic scientists and participation in clinical trials to advance understanding of the basic pathophysiology and how these treatment methods impact survival and quality of life.

Year Joined Emory as a Faculty Member
1996

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