Department of Surgery welcomes new Division Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Scott Silvestry, MD

The University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson Department of Surgery is pleased to welcome Scott Silvestry, MD, FACS, as division chief of cardiothoracic surgery. Prior to joining the University of Arizona, Silvestry was at Advent Health Orlando where he served as co-executive medical director of the Heart, Lung and Vascular Institute and surgical director of Thoracic Transplant Programs. During his tenure at Advent Health, Silvestry developed a regional Shock/ECMO program, achieving Extracorporeal Life Support Organization Platinum designation while performing over 180 ECMO cases annually.  As co-executive medical director, he spearheaded strategy and logistic responsibilities for the Heart, Lung and Vascular Institute, contributing significantly to its growth and success in Central Florida. 

Previously, he was an associate professor and surgical director of Cardiac Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Assist Program at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University School of Medicine. Silvestry also held the role of associate professor and surgical director of Cardiac Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Assist Program at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.

Silvestry received his training in general and cardiothoracic surgery at Duke University Medical Center. He dedicated two years to a National Institutes of Health-funded physiology lab, under Don Glower, MD, and David Sabiston, MD, FACS, collaborating with the teams of Doris Taylor, PhD, and Robert Lefkowitz, MD, a subsequent Nobel Prize winner.

His clinical interests span surgical treatments for congestive heart failure, heart transplant, ventricular assist devices, valvular heart disease, valve replacement, valve repair and coronary artery disease. Silvestry has been involved in innovation in heart procurement and developing donor technology for deceased circulatory donors and extended transport of marginal donor hearts to increase utilization. Silvestry’s work has been published in the New England Journal of Medicine, and he has been quoted in the New York Times and on National Public Radio. 

Beyond surgical expertise, Silvestry is recognized for his strong patient advocacy and clinical dedication, empowering teams to achieve exceptional goals. He is eager to bring his experience and commitment to the UArizona, aligning with its legacy contributions and commitment to excellence in cardiac surgery and transplantation.