Baylor Scott & White Health
Adult Cardiac
Member Since: 2022
Biography:
Dr. William T. Brinkman graduated from Emory University School of Medicine in 1996 and completed his General Surgery Residency at Emory University, School of Medicine in 2004. In 2006, Dr. Brinkman completed his categorical cardiothoracic training at Brigham & Women's Hospital and Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School. In 2007, Dr. Brinkman completed additional fellowship training at the Hospital of the University of Penn in Complex Thoracic Aortic Surgery under the mentorship of Joe Bavaria, MD.
Dr. Brinkman is certified by the American Board of Surgery, the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and the National Board of Medical Examiners. Since 2008, Dr. Brinkman has served as the Director of the Thoracic Aortic Clinic at the Heart Hospital Baylor Scott and White Plano. Under his direction the Thoracic Aortic Clinic has become the most prolific aortic center in the metroplex of Dallas-Ft.Worth and North Texas. He is an active member in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), the Texas Surgical Society (TSS), and the American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS). He also serves as a prolific peer reviewer for the The Annals of Thoracic Surgery, JACC, JAMA, Am Journal of Cardiology, and Baylor University Proceedings.
Dr. Brinkman is active in research activities and has been a Principal Investigator for multiple industry and NIH sponsored trials through his work with the Baylor Research Institute. Along with his partner, Mike Mack, MD, Dr. Brinkman has been involved with the development of structural heart technologies such as TAVR (investigator for PARTNER 1, 2, and 3 trials, SURTAVI, PORTICO, EARLY TAVR, COAPT), and TMVR (CardiAQ, Cardioband).
Most importantly, by serving as PI trials such as DISSECTON Valiant MDT, Gore TBE Pivotal, TRIOMPHE Endospan and Gore ARISE EFS Dr. Brinkman has pushed the use of branch TEVAR technology to allow for the treatment of the ascending aorta, aortic arch and thoracoabdominal aorta with endovascular approaches. An active ongoing IDE led by Dr. Brinkman involves TEVAR technology in the ascending aorta for treating acute aortic syndromes. Dr. Brinkman also presented on the use of Thoracic Branched Endovascular Aortic Repair. Endo-Arch Osaka 2019, Rihga Royal Hotel, Osaka, Japan. June 1, 2019.
Dr. Brinkman has also focused on aortic valve repair and published on the reimplantation technique for tricuspid and bicuspid aortic valve pathology.
(Comparison of the Bentall Procedure Versus Valve-sparing Aortic Root Replacement. Bayl Univ Med Cent Proc. 2020 Jun 22; 33(4):524-528) T
Tran A, Shih E, Harrington KB, et al. Midterm durability of valve-sparing root replacement in bicuspid and tricuspid aortic valves. Baylor Univ Med Cent Proc. 2024;0(0):1-7. doi:10.1080/08998280.2024.2346445
Currently he is the PI of a single center prospective study using cardiac CTA and 3d TEE to improve preop planning prior to aortic valve repair procedure (AV Repair Imaging Study, Baylor Research Inst. CVRRC grant 2020).
In addition, Dr. Brinkman has been active in the performance and study of the supported Ross procedure in young candidates for whom aortic valve repair is not possible. Previously, Dr. Brinkman has published on the Ross (Ann Thorac Surg. 2012 May; 93(5): 1477-81; The Annals of Cardiothoracic Surgery (ACS-2021-RP-FS-28-R1 Long-term outcomes of the Ross procedure in adults - Ann Cardiothorac Surg 2021;10(4):499-508). Dr. Brinkman also recently presented on redo Ross procedures at the 2022 AATS Annual Meeting May 2022, Boston, MA. Outcomes of Redo Operations after Ross procedure, The Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (2022), doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcv....
Dr. Brinkman lives in Dallas, TX with his wife, Uta (Pediatrician - AAP member). They have 3 children, Sophia 22 yo, Peter 21 yo, and Andrew 17 yo. 3 cats and a dog too! Outside the hospital Dr. Brinkman enjoys spending time with his family. Now that his children are almost grown (and are a bit too cool to hang out with their dad), he's getting back to his old hobbies of golf and hiking.
What Does the AATS Mean to You:
Cutting edge investigation into improved care for the cardiothoracic surgery patient
My First Experience with AATS:
Dr. Larry Cohn telling me about the importance of this organization when I was a fellow.
Why I became an AATS member:
To be a part of the premier organization promoting excellence in CTS
The most impactful presentation I have seen at an AATS meeting:
Dr. Tyrone David's discussion of long term outcomes with the reimplantation technique
The first presentation I gave is:
Outcomes following reoperations in patients with prior Ross procedures; 2022 Boston
I plan on becoming more involved in the organization through:
However I may be of use. I would like to be involved with program coordination and mentorship
Advice for Trainees:
Learn all you can from your mentors, but realize that new approaches and ways of thinking are paramount to the development of a career."
My career in CT Surgery was inspired by:
Personal experiences with cardiac disease. Observation of the excellent care of CT patients at Emory University as a medical student. Specifically, Dr. Joe Craver and Dr. Robert Guyton encouraged me.
The biggest impact my mentor had on my career is:
Dr. Joe Bavaria showed me how a focus in aortic disease could be an excellent and rewarding career.
The topic most important to advancing the field of CT Surgery is:
Active clinical research to push the field forward.
The most pressing issues impacting CT surgery are:
Access to care for patients. Continued improvement in cardiac surgical care. Training new CT surgeons to be facile in newer approaches such as Robotics, transcatheter structural heart, and endovascular approaches to the aorta.
Advice for Trainees:
Learn all you can from your mentors, but realize that new approaches and ways of thinking are paramount to the development of a career.