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Cardiac Surgery Research Group

The MUSC Cardiac Surgery Research Group is actively involved in research and educational efforts to help improve patient care. We conduct outcomes research that support clinical decision-making.

Meet the Team of AI Scientists, Data Managers, & Students

Arman Kilic, M.D., cardiothoracic surgeon and director of the Innovation Center, leads the Cardiac Research Group.

John Del Gaizo, Ph. D. is the Lead AI Scientist. He leads the AI team for cardiac surgery research.

Brett Welch, MBA, MHA

Program Manager

Ruoyu (Michael) Zhang, M.S.

Senior Research Associate

Andrew Wright, M.S.

Research Associate

Dan Rich

Data Analyst

Jingwen Zhang

Biostatistician

Zachary Sollie, M.D.

Resident Researcher

Resident & Faculty Accomplishments 2023

July 28, 2023
Published in Journal of Transplantation:
“Donor Utilization in Heart Transplantation with Donation after Circulatory Death in the United States”

October 26, 2023
Won Best Presentation in the Health Services Category at MUSC Department of Surgery Research Recognition Day 2023
“Waitlist and Transplant Outcomes in Organ Donation After Circulatory Death: Trends in the United States” 

December 12, 2023
Published in Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation 
“Outcomes of Combined Heart-Kidney Transplantation in Older Recipients”

July 19, 2023
Published in Annals of Thoracic Surgery
“Risk Factors for Mortality Following Heart Transplantation in Obese Patients Bridged with an LVAD”

February 5, 2024
Published in Journal of Surgical Research
“Heart Transplantation for Adults with Congenital Heart Disease Can Be Performed at Adult or Pediatric Hospitals with Comparable Outcomes”

January 29, 2024
Won ‘Best Poster Award’ at the STS 2024 Annual Meeting
“Outcomes of Status 2 Listing for Heart Transplantation by Qualifying Metric

Resident & Medical Student Research Accomplishments 2022

July 28, 2023
Published in Journal of Transplantation:
“Donor Utilization in Heart Transplantation with Donation after Circulatory Death in the United States”

October 26, 2023
Won Best Presentation in the Health Services Category at MUSC Department of Surgery Research Recognition Day 2023
“Waitlist and Transplant Outcomes in Organ Donation After Circulatory Death: Trends in the United States” 

December 12, 2023
Published in Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation
“Outcomes of Combined Heart-Kidney Transplantation in Older Recipients”

Annals of Thoracic Surgery

  • Outcomes of Over 1,000 Heart Transplants Using Hepatitis C Positive Donors in the Modern Era
  • Prolonged Ischemic Times for Heart Transplantation for Heart Transplantation: Impact of 2018 Allocation Change
  • Heart Transplantation for Peripartum Cardiomyopathy: Outcomes Over Three Decades
  • Nine-Year Experience with the Arterial Switch Operation with Closed Coronary Transfer

Circulation: Heart Failure

  • Early Outcomes of Heart Transplantation Using Donation after Circulatory Death Donors in the United States

Journal of Cardiac Surgery

  • Outcomes of Combined Heart Kidney Transplantation in Older Recipients
  • Risk of Recipient Age of One-Year Mortality after Simultaneous Heart-Lung Transplantation

Paul Brocklebank, Medical Student

Annals of Thoracic Surgery

The Impact of Changes in Renal Function During Waitlist Times on Outcomes after Heart Transplantation

Morgan Hill, Medical Student

Journal of Cardiac Surgery

Waitlist and Transplantation Outcomes for Patients Bridges to Heart Transplantation for Impella 5.0 and 5.5 Devices