Affiliation: The University of Texas Health Science Center, (UTHealth Houston) McGovern Medical School – USA

Anthony Lopez Estrera is an American cardiothoracic surgeon. He is professor and chair for the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, McGovern Medical School at The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth). He is also chief of Cardiac Surgery and Director of the Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit at the Memorial Hermann Heart & Vascular Institute in the Texas Medical Center in Houston.

Early life and education

Estrera was born on May 18, 1967, in the Philippines. Estrera earned a bachelor’s of arts in biochemistry from the University of Texas at Austin in 1989 and an MD from UT Southwestern Medical School in Dallas, Texas, in 1993. Later that year, he began postgraduate training with a surgical internship at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston. In 1997, he was named chief resident in general surgery there before starting his residency in cardiothoracic surgery in 1998.

Career

Estrera’s professional career began in 2000 as assistant professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery at the University of Texas Medical School at Houston (renamed McGovern Medical School at UTHealth in 2015). In 2007, he was promoted to associate professor and then professor in 2010.

In 2018, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China, named Estrera member and adviser to its Department of Cardiac Surgery. In 2019, he was awarded the Hazim J. Safi, MD, Distinguished Chair in Cardiovascular Surgery before being named chair of the McGovern Medical School’s Department of Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery. He is also a consultant for American manufacturing company W.L. Gore and Associates.

A renowned expert in all forms of cardiothoracic surgery, Estrera’s research and experience has led to specific refinements in the treatment of a number of maladies, including thoracic aortic aneurysms and aortic dissection. He has authored or co-authored more than 60 chapters and nearly 300 peer-reviewed articles. In addition, he remains a highly sought-after lecturer, presenting at more than 300 events across North America, Europe and Asia.

Among his many professional associations, Estrera is a fellow of The American College of Surgeons and a member of the DeBakey International Surgical Society, Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, American Association for Thoracic Surgeons, Society of Thoracic Surgeons and Cardiothoracic Surgery Network (CTSNET).

Awards and honors

In his 20-year career, Estrera has received dozens of awards. Highlights include:

• “Heroes of the Flood Award” by Hermann Memorial System (2001)
• Dean’s Teaching Excellence Award (2002, 2003, 2006-2010)
• American-Society of Neuroimaging: McKinney Award (2003)
• Texas Surgical Society: James Thompson Award: Best Paper by New Member (2006)
• H-Texas Top Docs for Women (2007)
• People Caring For the Community: Achievement Award (2008)
• Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN): Distinguished Surgeon Award (2009)
• Top Doctors, Houstonia magazine (2014-2016, 2018-2019)
• Clifford Van Meter President’s Award: 62^nd Annual Meeting of the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association—Best Scientific Paper Delivered (2015)
• Journal of Thoracic and Vascular Surgery, Outstanding Editorial Board Member (2015, 2016)
• Vitals Compassionate Doctor Award (2017, 2018), Patients’ Choice Award (2019) and On-Time Doctor Award (2019)