Biography

Jorge D. Salazar, MD currently serves as the Executive Director of UTHealth Children’s Heart Institute.  He is the Professor and Chief of Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery at the McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston. He was also named the McGovern Distinguished Chair. Additionally, his appointments include Adjunct Professor of both Pediatrics and Anesthesiology.  He completed his residency training in both General Surgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland, including two years of dedicated scientific research. Following this, he completed his Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery fellowship at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF).  Dr. Salazar is board-certified in Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery, and Pediatric Congenital Heart Surgery.

Dr. Salazar specializes in surgery for pediatric and adults with both congenital heart disease and acquired heart conditions. He performs complex neonatal repairs of complex cardiac defects.  His extensive expertise allows him to provide advanced surgical care from the most complex diagnosis to patients requiring minimally invasive procedures.  He is passionate about his commitment to the care and treatment of patients with heart disease.

Along with an advanced team of experts and the use of advanced surgical techniques and technology Dr. Salazar continues to provide hope for patients and their families.  Dr. Salazar is a highly motivated physician with clinical and research interest related to congenital heart surgical for the best possible outcomes, transparency, and superior quality of care.   He has devoted his life to a mission of hope for each individual patient.

Referrals | Dr. Salazar accepts referrals and request for second opinions from patient families both nationally and internationally seeking solutions for even the most challenging cardiac heart defects.

 

 

Education

Bachelors of Science, Mathematical Sciences
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Medical Degree
University of Washington, Seattle, WA
Residency - General Surgery
Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
Residency - Cardiothoracic Surgery
Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD
Fellowship - Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery
University of California, San Francisco School of Medicine, San Francisco, CA

Areas of Interest

Clinical Interests

The following are conditions, but not limited to, in his surgical expertise.

  • Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome (HLHS) and other Complex Single Ventricle Patients
  • Heterotaxy Syndrome patients
  • Aortic Arch Reconstruction and Coarctation Repairs without Hypothermic Circulatory Arrest
  • Biventricular Conversions and Repairs for Single Ventricle Patients
  • Pulmonary Vein Stenosis (PVS) and Total Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Connections (TAPVC)
  • Neonatal complete repairs of:
    • Tetralogy of Fallot (TOF)
    • Ventricular Septal Defects (VSD) including Muscular and Apical VSDs
    • Pulmonary Atresia
    • Double Outlet Right Ventricle (DORV) including Taussig Bing
    • MAPCAS
    • Truncus Arteriosus
    • Transposition of the Great Arteries
  • Anomalous Coronary Arteries including ALCAPA, ARCAPA and AAOCA
  • Shone’s, Williams, and DiGeorge patients
  • Valve-sparing Aortic root surgery
  • Aortic Surgery for Connective Tissue Disorders such as Marfan, Loey-Dietz, and Ehler Danlos
  • Sub Aortic Membrane and stenosis with aortic valve repair and resuscitation
  • Mitral valve, Tricuspid valve, and Aortic valve repairs
  • Minimally Invasive Cardiac Surgery
  • Adult Congenital Heart Surgery
  • Heart Transplantation and Ventricular Assistance Devices (VAD)

Research Interests

Dr. Salazar is an accomplished investigator involved in numerous clinical trials evaluating novel therapies to treat the most complex congenital heart defects. In particular, Dr. Salazar specializes in protecting the brain during congenital heart repairs.