Dr. Abe DeAnda was born and raised in El Paso, Texas and completed his undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering at Stanford University. He stayed on at Stanford for his medical degree as well as postgraduate training in General Surgery, post-doctoral training in cardiovascular physiology, and a fellowship in Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery. After completion of his training at Stanford, he was recruited to help rebuild the cardiothoracic surgery program at Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA. Within 3 years, he had advanced to a position of tenured Associate Professor and led research initiatives in bloodless cardiac surgery and coagulopathies as well as developing a robust aortic surgery practice. He was then recruited to Albert Einstein School of Medicine in New York City as the Director of Aortic Surgery, and subsequently recruited to NYU as the Director of Aortic Surgery and Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the NYU affiliate Bellevue Hospital Center. During his time in New York, he was routinely recognized as a “Top Doctor” in NYC as well as being honored by the Marfan Foundation with their annual “Hero with a Heart” award for his work with the Marfan community.

He returned to Texas after accepting the position of Professor and Chief of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Sharing the vision of the Department of Surgery and the Academic Enterprise, and with collaboration with colleagues within the division, Department of Surgery, as well as throughout the hospital system, his goal is to create a Division that is clinically active, actively engaged in teaching, and performing innovative research. His own NIH funded research involves studies in the initiation, development, and progression of aortic dissections.

Dr. DeAnda is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a Fellow of the American Heart Association. He is actively involved in a number of national societies, including the American Heart Association, where he serves on the Surgical Council Leadership committee; the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. He also has committee responsibilities with the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and serves as Chairman of a Drug Safety Monitoring Board for a current FDA trial. He also currently sits on the editorial board of the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery.

Dr. DeAnda has welcomed the opportunity to return to his home state, and enjoys living on the island of Galveston.