UT Health San Antonio Cardiothoracic Surgery

05/28/2026

Please help us congratulate our Benefits Coordinator, Annette Muela, who just graduated with her degree in Healthcare Management.

Congratulations Annette!

05/06/2026

We are truly grateful for our compassionate and wonderful Nurses
Thank you for all the love you put into everything you do!

HAPPY NURSES DAY🩺🫁💟

04/29/2026

Big Moves Happening
This is what dedication looks like!!
Every instrument, every tray, every detail matters as we move our Thoracic practice to a new hospital.

Stay Tuned

04/24/2026

Yesterday, our Residents participated in a Cannulation simulation.
Excellent observation and hands-on training!

04/22/2026

Happy Administrative Professional's Day to our Wonderful Team!
Nichole Carrera (L) Ruby Garza (M), and Lydia Boyd (R)

The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery thanks you for all that you do.

04/09/2026

Today we celebrated our time with Ruby Garza, who has served as our Assistant to the Chair and been with us since May 2023. Ruby has been an important part of the team, and we'll miss her! Good luck in your new role, Ruby.

04/03/2026

Congratulations Dr. Jason Gauthier, recently appointed Lung Transplant Surgical Director, and Dr. Ed Sako for your exemplary commitment and service to "making lives better!"

We are proud to share an important update about the leadership of our Lung Transplant Program—one that reflects both a legacy of excellence and an exciting path forward.

After decades of extraordinary service, Dr. Edward Sako, our Lung Transplant Surgical Director, will be transitioning into a part-time role. Dr. Sako has been a foundational leader in building our program and shaping its national reputation. His expertise in lung transplantation and cardiothoracic surgery, along with his dedication to patient care, education, and research, has made a lasting impact on our institution and the many lives he has touched.

Throughout his distinguished career, Dr. Sako has served in numerous leadership roles and has mentored generations of surgeons. His commitment and vision have strengthened our program in immeasurable ways, and we are deeply grateful that he will continue to share his experience and guidance in this next chapter.

At the same time, we are excited to welcome Dr. Jason Gauthier as the new Surgical Director of the Lung Transplant Program.

Dr. Gauthier is a highly skilled thoracic surgeon with expertise in lung transplantation, minimally invasive and robotic surgery, and complex thoracic and esophageal disease. With a strong background in research focused on transplant rejection and tolerance, and a patient-centered approach to care, he brings both innovation and compassion to this leadership role.

“I am honored to serve as Surgical Director for our lung transplant program,” said Dr. Gauthier. “University Health and UT Health San Antonio have a long and storied history in lung transplantation, always staying at the forefront of research and patient care. I’m grateful for the opportunity to build on that success and continue advancing the care we provide to our patients.”

As Surgical Director, Dr. Gauthier will build upon the strong foundation established by Dr. Sako while continuing to move the program forward through clinical excellence, collaboration, and innovation.

Please join us in celebrating Dr. Sako’s incredible legacy and in welcoming Dr. Gauthier into this important leadership role.

03/27/2026

On Thursday, March 26, 2026, the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery was pleased to welcome Dr. Syed Adil Husain to present at our weekly Grand Rounds. Dr. Husain, Professor and Chief of Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Utah School of Medicine, also collaborated on March 27 with Dr. John H. Calhoon on a specialized surgical case involving a Cone procedure for Ebstein's tricuspid valve repair at University Hospital, leveraging his expertise.

Program Director, John H. Calhoon, MD (left) presents visiting professor, Syed Adil Husain, MD (center) with a certificate of appreciation. Chair of CT Surgery, Lacy E. Harville, MD (right), presents Dr. Husain with an honorarium in recognition of his visit.

03/20/2026

We are happy to announce that Jatin Goyal is our match. UT Health San Antonio, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery welcomes you to the team!

03/11/2026

We are pleased to share with you the following Bioengineering publication:
Improved Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Maintenance by In-Line Mechanical Pulse

Our sincere thanks to Co-Authors Dr. John Calhoon and Dr. Daniel DeArmond from UT Health San Antonio, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery.

https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/13/3/279


In-line mechanical pulsing of peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs)—applying low-force, 60-beats-per-minute compression to upstream tubing—significantly improves maintenance by reducing bacterial growth and preventing complications. This method, which simulates physiologic pulse rates, clears debris and allows for easy, real-time assessment of catheter patency and identification of infiltration, enhancing overall PIVC function.

Key Benefits of In-line Mechanical Pulse Maintenance:

• Reduced Bacterial Growth: The pulsating flow, typically 1–3 mm of fluid displacement into the vein, inhibits bacterial colonization, reducing potential for catheter-related bloodstream infections.
• Enhanced Patency: Similar to traditional pulsatile flushing, this technique removes built-up fibrins, residues, and medications from catheter walls, preventing occlusions.
• Real-time Function Assessment: Successful transmission of the pulse into the vein acts as a diagnostic tool. Infiltrated or mal-placed catheters do not transmit this signal, allowing immediate identification of, and distinction from, properly functioning catheters.
• "Two-Factor Authentication": A computational, low-cost digital signal processing methodology can analyze this pulse to confirm non-infiltrated status, providing an automated, statistically based check for catheter integrity.
• Improved Safety: By ensuring better maintenance and early detection of failures (like infiltration), this method helps reduce the high failure rates and premature, uncomfortable replacements associated with PIVCs.