Associate Professor
Associate Program Director, Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency

Areas of Interest
coronary artery bypass grafting, valve reconstructive surgery, robotic cardiac surgery, transcatheter valve therapies, arrhythmia surgery, surgical education and mentorship

Biography

Dr. Vardas is an Associate Professor in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at UAB. Dr. Vardas obtained his medical degree from the "La Sapienza" University of Rome School of Medicine in Italy before moving to the United States to pursue his graduate medical education. He completed two years of general surgery training at the University of Washington in Seattle, and then he transitioned to the integrated thoracic surgery residency program at the Indiana University School of Medicine in Indianapolis. Dr. Vardas subsequently completed an advanced fellowship in complex valve reconstructive and arrhythmia surgery at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois.

He practices the entire spectrum of adult cardiac surgery with specialized clinical focus in heart valve surgery, including complex valve repairs, minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery, percutaneous valve interventions, arrythmia surgery and coronary artery bypass grafting. 

Dr. Vardas has authored several publications in top medical and scientific journals and has been an active member of 15 professional societies. He has served in a number of national leadership roles, including as Vice-President of the Thoracic Surgery Residents Association (TSRA), and as a member on committees of national societies, such as Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS), American Association for Thoracic Surgery (AATS), Eastern Cardiothoracic Surgical Society (ECTSS), Association for Academic Surgery (AAS), Thoracic Surgery Directors Association (TSDA) and others. He was the recipient of the 2017 STS President’s Award for his national study on cardiothoracic surgical training. Dr. Vardas is certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.

Education

Medical School
University of Rome "La Sapienza" School of Medicine, Italy

Residency
University of Washington, Seattle
General Surgery

Residency
Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis
Thoracic Surgery (Integrated Program)

Fellowship
Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
Valve Reconstructive Surgery

Honors and Awards

• House Staff Recipient, AOA Honor Medical Society (2017)
• Best Poster Award, 21st Annual Meeting of the American College of Cardiology’s Indiana Chapter (2017)
• “Top Ten for Excellence in the Teaching of Medical Students” Award, Indiana University Department of Surgery (2017)
• Best Clinical Paper, 37th Annual Research Day, Indiana University Department of Surgery (2017)
• President’s Award, Society of Thoracic Surgeons (2017)
• Red Shoes Award in Congenital Cardiac Surgery, Indiana University (2017)
• “Top Gun Finalist” in Laparoscopic Skills Competition, University of Washington (2013)

Contact

Campus Address
THT 712

Phone
Patient Appointments and Questions: 205-996-7019
Academic Office: 205-996-7019

Email
pvardas@uabmc.edu