Awais Ashfaq, MD, FACC, FACS
- Congenital Cardiac Surgeon, Division of Cardiovascular Surgery
- Assistant Professor, UC Department of Surgery
- awais.ashfaq@cchmc.org
- Board Certified
About
Biography
I’m a pediatric cardiac surgeon specializing in heart failure, aortic valve problems and single ventricle patients. Combining care coordination, integrated care and attention to detail are hallmarks of my practice. I am honored to work with an upstanding talented group of individuals.
Great mentors and role models influenced my interest in medicine and cardiac surgery. I enjoy making a difference in someone’s life at an early age. I am also intrigued by the variations in pathologies that I see.
I like combining critical and artistic thinking as part of my patient approach. I respect the family’s needs and values and encourage open communication and knowledge-sharing for patient and family education.
As a researcher, I aim to discover innovative ways to utilize organs or parts of organs for transplant and improve and optimize approaches to aortic valve repair.
I am honored to have received the Vivien Thomas Early Career Investigator Award from the American Heart Association (2021) and the Mayo Brothers Distinguished Fellowship Award from the American Association of Thoracic Surgery.
When I’m not working, I enjoy spending time with my wife and two kids. When not with family, I like to watch Cricket and read biographies about founders and inventors.
MD: Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan, 2011
Residency: General Surgery, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, 2017
Fellowship: Cardiothoracic Surgery, Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, OR, 2019
Fellowship: Congenital Cardiac Surgery, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, 2020
Interests
Neonatal cardiac surgery; heart failure and transplantation; aortic valve repair
Interests
Ex-vivo perfusion; partial heart transplant
Research Areas
Insurance Information
Cincinnati Children's strives to accept a wide variety of health plans. Please contact your health insurance carrier to verify coverage for your specific benefit plan.
Publications
Human lung allografts experience persistent fibrogenic shift following acute cellular rejection. The Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation. 2026; 45(7):1149-1161.
Substantial Operative and Nonoperative Mortality Persists in Neonatal Ebstein Anomaly: A 20-Year Multi-Institutional Analysis. World journal for pediatric & congenital heart surgery. 2026; 21501351261445890.
Single-Ventricle Disease: Long-Term Outcomes and Global Morbidity in the Single Ventricle Reconstruction Trial. Journal of the American College of Cardiology. 2026; 87(22):3114-3133.
The Society of Thoracic Surgeons/World Society for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery/European Congenital Heart Surgeons Association 2026 Clinical Practice Guidelines on Indications and Timing of Pulmonary Valve Replacement in Repaired Tetralogy of Fallot. Annals of Thoracic Surgery. 2026.
Surgical and Catheter-Based Intervention in Pediatric Pulmonary Vein Stenosis. Pediatric Cardiology. 2026.
Ex Vivo Hydrodynamic Assessment of Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene Trileaflet Pulmonary Valves. ASAIO Journal. 2026; 72(4):333-340.
Increasing adoption of donation after circulatory death in high-risk heart transplant recipients: Insights into current practices in the United States. JTCVS Open. 2026; 30:101686.
Timing of Arterial Switch Operation in Dextro-Transposition of Great Arteries with Intact Septum: Factors Associated with Delay, Practice Variation, and Associated Outcomes. Pediatric Cardiology. 2026; 47(3):1317-1324.
Impact of Abdominal Surgery on Neonatal Cardiac Surgery Outcomes: Prevalence, Characteristics, and Associated Risks. World journal for pediatric & congenital heart surgery. 2026; 17(2):244-253.
Patent ductus arteriosus stenting complicated by iatrogenic aortic dissection requiring aortic repair. JTCVS Techniques. 2026; 35:102185.
From the Blog
Blueprint for Transplanting Heart Valves that Grow with the Child
Awais Ashfaq, MD, FACC, FACS12/19/2025
Stroke Risk Remains a Challenge for Neonatal Cardiac Surgery
Awais Ashfaq, MD, FACC, FACS10/15/2024
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