Biography

Dr. Hazim J. Safi earned his medical degree at the University of Baghdad College of Medicine and completed his general surgery internship at Medical City Teaching Hospital in Baghdad and St. James Hospital in London, England. He completed his general surgical followed by his cardiothoracic residency at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, studying under Dr. Michael DeBakey.

Board certified in surgery, vascular surgery and thoracic surgery, Dr. Safi specializes in cardiothoracic surgery, aortic surgery, thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms and vascular surgery. His clinical interests include abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, acute aortic dissection, aneurysms, aortic root, aortic valve preservation, aortic valve surgery, ascending and arch aneurysm, coronary artery bypass, marfan syndrome and thoracoabdominal  aneurysm repair.

Dr. Safi serves as professor and founding chair of the department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in Houston and chief of cardiothoracic and vascular surgery at Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute.

Listed as a Top Doctor by Houstonia magazine, Dr. Safi has authored or co-authored 30 book chapters and over 200 scientific articles in medical journals. His studies have helped improve surgical techniques that greatly improve outcomes. He lectures and gives workshops internationally to provide training for surgeons.

Education

Masters Degree
Baghdad University College of Medicine, 1970
Residency
General Surgery, Medical City Teaching Hospital, Baghdad, 1975
Fellowship
General Surgery, St. James Hospital, London, English, 1977
Fellowship
General Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 1981
Fellowship
Cardiothoracic Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, 1983

Additional Information

Dr. Safi has authored or co-authored 30 book chapters and over 200 scientific publications in medical journals. His studies have helped improve surgical techniques that greatly improve outcomes.
He lectures and gives workshops internationally to provide training for surgeons.

Board Certifications

  • American Board of Thoracic Surgery
  • American Board of Surgery – Special Qualifications in General Vascular Surgery
  • American Board of Surgery

Memberships

Fellow, American College of Surgeons
Fellow, Royal College of Surgery (England)
Fellow, American College of Chest Physicians
Fellow, American College of Cardiology
European Society of Vascular Surgery
Fellow, International Society for Heart Transplantation
Michael E. DeBakey International Cardiovascular Society
Society for Clinical Vascular Surgery
Society for Critical Care
Society for Vascular Surgery
Fellow, Society of Thoracic Surgery

Honors

Corresponding Member of the Academy of Athens
2015 Houstonia Magazine Top Doctors
2016 Houstonia Magazine Top Doctors

2019 Houstonia Magazine Top Doctors