Baptist Health South Florida announced it has named Tom C. Nguyen, M.D. Chief Medical Executive and Barry T. Katzen Endowed Chair of Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute, effective this fall. 

Dr. Nguyen comes from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF), where he is the Charles Schwab Distinguished Professor of Surgery, Co-Director of the Heart and Vascular Center, and Professor and Chief of the Division of Adult Cardiothoracic Surgery.  At UCSF, he flourished in a productive practice with nearly 300 pump cases/year.  While at UCSF, Dr. Nguyen transformed the division of cardiothoracic surgery helping to double the volume in cardiac surgery and set milestones in quality, outcomes, and research.  He is an internationally recognized surgeon with expertise in performing high-risk heart operations through the smallest possible incision. He has a particular interest in minimally invasive mitral repair and aortic valve surgery, atrial septal defect (ASD) closures, septal myectomies for hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and robotic heart surgery. He is also an expert in transcatheter procedures.

Dr. Nguyen is active in research and creativity at a regional, national, and international level.  He has published nearly 300 peer-reviewed articles, serves on the editorial board for four academic journals and is editor of several textbooks on surgery.  Before turning 40, he received the Houston Business Journal's 40 Under 40 Award.  Dr. Nguyen leads research trials on treatments for valvular heart disease.  He has been principal investigator on landmark trials exploring transcatheter aortic and mitral valve replacements. He recently served as President of the 21st Century Cardiothoracic Surgery Society and is a Director of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS).  He also serves on the Board of Directors for the STS Thoracic Surgery Foundation, CTSNet, and the International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery (ISMICS).

“Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute is on the cutting edge of heart and vascular care across the region, and we are pleased to continue to attract and recruit nationally renowned physicians to lead our programs,” said Baptist Health President and CEO, Bo Boulenger. “Dr. Nguyen’s expertise and research will allow us to continue to advance Baptist Health’s cardiac and vascular services and help to train the next generation of luminary physicians.”

Nguyen will follow Barry T. Katzen, M.D., founder of Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute as Chief Medical Executive for the Institute. Katzen will remain with Baptist Health as Chief Medical Innovation Officer and emeritus Founding Chief Medical Executive.

“Dr. Katzen is a luminary physician who not only led Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute for more than 35 years, but also helped develop technologies and treatments that have changed the course of cardiovascular medicine worldwide,” said Jack Ziffer, M.D. Chief Medical Executive for Baptist Health. “We are extremely grateful to him for his leadership and dedication to Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute and are pleased to have Dr. Nguyen carry this important work forward as the Barry T. Katzen Medical Director Endowed Chair.”

“Dr. Nguyen shares our vision to ensure that Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute is a world-class center and leader in multidisciplinary care and innovation,” said Barry T. Katzen, M.D. “I am proud to know that he will continue to build upon the great work of the Institute.”

“Our institutes are the hallmark of the cutting-edge care that sets Baptist Health apart,” said Baptist Health Board Chair, Jay Hershoff, Esq. “Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute has helped to transform healthcare for our community and beyond since 1987, and we look forward to expanding on this legacy as we welcome Dr. Nguyen to our team.” 

“I am privileged and humbled to join the excellent team at Baptist Health and Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute. I strive every day to deserve the privilege of practicing and leading medicine. My philosophy is treating patients like family and making sure they have the best care possible with the fastest recovery.  I look forward to working with others to revolutionize healthcare in South Florida and beyond,” said Dr. Nguyen.  

Dr. Nguyen was born in Vietnam and as an immigrant, perseverance embodies his life philosophy.  He went to college at Rice University, medical school at the Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, general surgery residency at Stanford University, cardiothoracic fellowship at Columbia Presbyterian, and he completed a transcatheter fellowship at Emory University.  

About Baptist Health South Florida 
Baptist Health South Florida is the largest healthcare organization in the region, with 12 hospitals, more than 27,000 employees, 4,000 physicians and 200 outpatient centers, urgent care facilities and physician practices spanning across Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward and Palm Beach counties. Baptist Health has internationally renowned centers of excellence in cancer, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and sports medicine, and neurosciences. In addition, it includes Baptist Health Medical Group; Baptist Health Quality Network; and Baptist Health Care On Demand, a virtual health platform. A not-for-profit organization supported by philanthropy and committed to its faith-based charitable mission of medical excellence, Baptist Health has been recognized by Fortune as one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For in America and by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies. For more information, visit BaptistHealth.net/Newsroom and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.