David L.S. Morales, MD

I was recruited to Cincinnati Children’s in 2012 as the chief of Congenital Heart Surgery, later assuming my current roles as executive co-director of The Heart Institute and director of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Cincinnati Children’s. I have established an active research lab ranging from 3 RO-1 grants in re-vamping transplant allocation using AI, minimizing reperfusion injury, and anti-coagulation/inflammation with mechanical circulatory support devices—to tissue engineering, and development of a virtual surgery planning platform and metaverse.

Prior to joining Cincinnati Children’s I spent nine years at Texas Children’s Hospital, where I was initially recruited as the Emmett Augustus Jones Congenital Heart Surgery fellow. I played a significant role in the development of the field of VAD therapy in children and congenital heart surgery, performing several firsts in this field. I received the inaugural Mark A. Wallace Catalyst Leadership Award in 2012 for my ability to lead by example in the guiding principles of Texas Children’s, effecting change in those around me. I also established an active outcomes and animal lab there, the latter at Rice University where I was an adjunct professor in the biomedical department.

My clinical interests include biventricular repairs in heterotaxy syndrome, complex neonatal surgery, mechanical circulatory support and the failing Fontan circulation. I have contributed over 390 manuscripts (H-index 59) and more than 34 book chapters/reviews to the medical literature; have had 370 abstracts accepted to academic meetings; and have given more than 300 lectures nationally and internationally.

I am on the editorial board of five journals (e.g. Annals of Thoracic Surgery, Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Journal of Heart and Lung Transplantation). My three main initiatives presently are: the use of AI to improve the safety of surgical patients’ journeys through their hospital stay by creating predictive pathways; development of an international virtual surgical planning metaverse; and creation of a regional, national and international cardiac surgery network to improve access and quality of care for children with heart disease.