Chair’s Corner

Dr. Starnes is a pioneer in the field of cardiothoracic surgery. He has conducted more living donor lung transplants in adults and children than any other surgeon in the United States.

Chair's Corner
Vaughn A. Starnes, MD
Chair, Department of Surgery
Chief, division of cardiothoracic surgery
H. Russell Smith Foundation Chair for Cardiovascular Thoracic Research
Director, Heart Institute at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
Director, USC Cardiovascular Thoracic Institute
Surgeon-in-chief, Keck Hospital of USC and USC Norris Cancer Hospital

Biography

Vaughn A. Starnes, MD, is chair of the Department of Surgery, surgeon-in-chief at Keck Medical Center of USC and the H. Russell Smith Foundation Chair for Cardiovascular Thoracic Research at the Keck School of Medicine of USC
He is also founding executive director of USC’s Cardiovascular Thoracic Institute and chief of cardiothoracic surgery at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.

Starnes is a recognized expert in heart and lung transplants — including heart surgery and congenital heart defect repair in children and newborns. He pioneered the living-related double-lobar lung transplant in 1993. Currently, he is investigating the use of gene therapy to prevent scarring following heart surgery. Starnes is also currently involved in a clinical trial for cardiothoracic surgery using robotic surgery technology.

About Vaughn A. Starnes, MD

Clinical Interests

Dr. Starnes has an ongoing interest in congenital heart disease, heart, lung, heart-lung and living related lung transplantation, coronary bypass grafting, and repair and replacement of the valves of the heart. He is also involved in research, helping develop gene therapy techniques to address the problem of restenosis following balloon angioplasty.

Current Research

NIH Sponsored Studies

  • Surgical Interventions for Moderate Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Co-investigator, 2010-present
  • Evaluation of Outcomes Following Mitral Valve Repair/Replacement in Severe Chronic Ischemic Mitral Regurgitation, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Co-investigator, 2008-present
  • Interagency Registry for Mechanically Assisted Circulatory Support, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), Co-Investigator, 2005-present

Sponsored Clinical Trials

  • Medtronic Evolut R – Corevalve, 2014-present
  • St. Jude medical (SJM) Portico Transcatheter Aortic Study, 2014-present
  • Transform Investigational Devices Exemption Trial, 2013-present
  • COMMENCE TRIAL, 2013-present
  • ABLATE Post Approval Study, 2013-present
  • Medtronic CoreValve U.S. Expanded Use Study, 2013-present
  • Medtronic CoreValve SURTAVI Trial, 2013-present
  • Medtronic CoreValve, Continued Access Study, 2013-present
  • Medtronic CoreValve, US Pivotal Trial, 2013-present
  • An Observational, Prospective Evaluation of the Trifecta™ Valve, 2012-present
  • St. Jude Medical BIOCOR Supra Valve, 2007-present