Heart Transplant Program
The Scott & White Heart Transplant Program brings together the collective expertise of specialists with extensive experience in transplant surgery and medicine. Our multidisciplinary, integrated team approach to patient care is ideally suited to the complex problems presented by heart transplant patients.
Recently, the heart transplant program reached another milestone when it received certification from the Center for Medicare Services (CMS). This certification means that in addition to meeting CMS’s quality standards, Scott & White is now able to receive Medicare reimbursement for heart transplants. Throughout the survey, CMS found no issues that would prevent Scott & White’s heart transplant program from receiving certification. Scott & White performed its first heart transplant in March of 2010, and requested the CMS review in May of 2011, following the 10th transplant procedure. See full release.
In addition to developing an outstanding medical team for our Heart Transplant Program, Scott & White also built a brand new, state-of-the-art facility. Now Central Texas heart transplant patients can get the advanced level of care they need at a location that's close to home.
- Learn more about heart transplantation
- View an illustrated series on heart transplantation
- About heart failure: Causes, patient assessments and treatment options
Heart Transplant Program Team
Enrique Gongora, MD, Surgical Director
When the Scott & White administration decided to create a heart transplant program for its Central Texas patients, they knew they would need a highly-trained and experienced cardiothoracic surgeon to perform this important procedure. They found that person in Dr. Gongora.
Fellowship trained in cardiothoracic transplantation and advanced adult cardiac surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and a chief resident at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, Dr. Gongora has performed more than 40 heart transplants. He brings a level of skill that is not easily found even in cities like Dallas and Houston.
Nandini Nair, MD, PhD, Medical Director
Before transplantation becomes an option, a team of heart specialists, directed by Dr. Nair, will assess each patient and treat him according to the severity of his heart failure.
Dr. Nair was trained in advanced heart failure transplantation at Stanford University in California after completing fellowships in vascular medicine and cardiology. Her extensive training has helped her establish a program in advanced heart failure and cardiac transplantation at Scott & White.
Meet the rest of the heart transplant program team
