Physicians 

All of the highly skilled surgeons at Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons are board certified in their area of specialty and keep their knowledge and skills current with continuing medical education. Many of our doctors have added skills in various areas of specialization.
 
Individually and collectively, the physicians of CTVS have amassed a record of medical "firsts" for Central Texas including performing the first kidney and heart transplants in the area. From our founding in 1958, our physicians together with the clinical team of physician assistants, nurses and technicians have shared a common commitment to people and their health as well as to the community. Outside of medicine, our physicians have various interests and are involved in numerous civic and community organizations.

NOTICE: Staton L. Awtrey, M.D. is no longer with Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons, having resigned from the group effective March 9, 2009.

Surgery By Surgeons

A fully trained surgeon is a physician who, after medical school, has gone through years of training in an accredited residency program to learn the specialized skills of a surgeon. One good sign of a surgeon’s competence is a certification by a national surgical board approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties. All board certified surgeons have satisfactorily completed an approved residency training program and have passed a rigorous specialty examination.

When a physician is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, F.A.C.S, it is a further indication of his/her qualifications. Surgeons who become Fellows of the College have passed a comprehensive evaluation of their surgical training and skills; they also have demonstrated their commitment to high standards of ethical conduct. This evaluation is conducted according to national standards that were established to ensure patients receive the best possible surgical care.

**All Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons physicians are board certified and approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

**All Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons physicians are Fellows or Candidates of the American College of Surgeons.

Physician Assistants

CTVS employs Physician Assistants (PAs) to participate in a wide array of clinical duties. PAs are medical professionals licensed by the state of Texas to practice medicine with physician supervision. PAs receive post graduate education in intensive medical programs accredited by The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) and are certified by The National Commission on Certification of PAs (NCCPA).

Our experienced PAs are credentialed at each hospital and work closely with the surgeons to assist with preoperative consults, postoperative hospital care, surgical assisting, minor procedures and office follow-up, with a focus on patient education. They are a vital liaison in the medical team to ensure comprehensive care for all of our patients.