Cardiac Surgery Research Group

cardiac

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.

line

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

Arman Kilic MDArman 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. H

Brett Welch 

Brett Welch, MBA, MHA

Program Manager

Michael Zhang PhD 

Ruoyu (Michael) Zhang, M.S.

Senior Research Associate

Andrew Wright 

Andrew Wright, M.S.

Research Associate

Filler headshot 

Dan Rich

Data Analyst

Filler headshot 

Jingwen Zhang

Biostatistician

Filler headshot 

Zachary Sollie, M.D.

Resident Researcher

Resident & Faculty Accomplishments - January 2023 – December 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 - January 2022 – December 2022

Jennie Kwon, MD 

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 

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 

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