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Sheila Champlin – (901) 448-4957

 

Four Cardiothoracic Surgeons Join

University of Tennessee Health Science Center Faculty

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Memphis, Tenn. (November 12, 2009) – Timothy C. Fabian, MD, chair of the Department of Surgery for the University of Tennessee Health Science Center (UTHSC) College of Medicine, announced the addition of four highly recognized cardiothoracic surgeons as full-time UTHSC faculty and to the UT Medical Group, Inc.  Joining the faculty are Phillip Schoettle, MD, UTHSC chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Methodist University Hospital; Jonathan J. Ellichman, MD; Charles Austin Hunt, II, MD, and Alim Khandekar, MD.
            UTHSC executive dean of the College of Medicine, Steve J. Schwab, MD, stated that these physicians, formerly of the Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery Association (TCVSA), are outstanding surgeons who have emerged as some of our most productive bedside teachers for surgical residents, cardiothoracic fellows, and medical students.  
      Historically, these surgeons were responsible for several "firsts" in the Methodist Hospital System (Memphis, Tenn.):
            1972 - First heart valve replacement;
            1987 - First Automatic Implantable Cardioverter Defibrillator and first

ventricular assist device placement;
            2005 - First Coronary Artery Bypass Graft performed off bypass pump.
             As the flagship statewide academic health system, the University of Tennessee Health Science Center is focused on a four-tier mission of education, research, clinical care and public service, all in support of a single goal: to improve the health of Tennesseans.  Offering a broad range of postgraduate training opportunities, the main campus, which includes six colleges, is located in Memphis.  UTHSC has additional College of Medicine and College of Pharmacy campuses in Knoxville and a College of Medicine campus in Chattanooga.  For more information, visit www.uthsc.edu.

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