Tufts Medicine announced today that Dr. Panayotis (Panos) Vardas, has been named Division Chief of Cardiac Surgery at Tufts Medical Center (Tufts MC), with an academic appointment at Tufts University School of Medicine.
Dr. Vardas, an internationally recognized cardiac surgeon, will advance the clinical, academic and research mission of the Division of Cardiac Surgery and contribute to the growth of cardiovascular services across Tufts Medicine. Dr. Vardas will also promote patient-centered, multidisciplinary, collaborative, high-quality cardiac surgical care and ensure equitable access to advanced cardiothoracic surgical services across Tufts Medicine.
"Dr. Vardas joins us at an exciting time for cardiovascular services at Tufts Medical Center and across Tufts Medicine," said Erika Werner, MD, Chief Physician Executive of Tufts Medicine, President of the Tufts Medical Center Physicians Organization, and a Professor at Tufts University School of Medicine. "His proven track record in advancing surgical excellence and building high-performing programs, combined with his dedication to education and research, will be instrumental in strengthening our cardiac surgery program and expanding access to innovative cardiac care for the communities we serve."
Dr. Vardas practices the full spectrum of adult cardiac surgery with a specialized clinical focus on complex valve disease and structural heart interventions. His clinical expertise emphasizes durable valve repair, percutaneous and transcatheter valve interventions, arrhythmia surgery, surgical coronary revascularization and complex reoperative cardiac surgery. In addition to his clinical leadership, Dr. Vardas brings a strong academic profile and a commitment to innovation. He has been actively involved in clinical trials, outcomes research and guideline development, with a focus on valve disease, arrhythmia surgery and advanced surgical and transcatheter technologies. His scholarly work has been published in leading peer-reviewed journals, and he has served in leadership roles within several professional societies, including the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, American Association for Thoracic Surgery, Eastern Cardiothoracic Surgical Society and the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association.
Dr. Vardas joins Tufts MC from the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB), where he served as a Tenured Associate Professor in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Medical Director of the Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Units and Associate Program Director of the Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency and Fellowship. He has received multiple national honors, including the Society of Thoracic Surgeons President's Award, and was recently inducted into the American Association for Thoracic Surgery, one of the most prestigious professional societies in the field, in recognition of his contributions to cardiothoracic surgical education and research.
"Tufts Medical Center and Tufts University School of Medicine are nationally renowned for excellence in cardiovascular care and a unique opportunity for growth," said Dr. Vardas. "I'm honored to join this outstanding team and look forward to working collaboratively to build a leading cardiac surgery program focused on innovation, multidisciplinary care and exceptional patient outcomes.
Dr. Vardas earned his Medical Degree from the University of Rome "La Sapienza" School of Medicine. He completed general surgery training at the University of Washington, followed by an integrated thoracic surgery residency at Indiana University School of Medicine, and an advanced fellowship in complex valve reconstructive and arrhythmia surgery at Northwestern University. He is certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.
