With great sadness, the UAB Department of Surgery shares the news of the passing of Dr. Enrique Gongora, who died Tuesday after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

Dr. Gongora, who joined the UAB family in 2019, was an associate professor in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery and the surgical director of the UAB Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) Program. He modernized and renovated the entire ECMO program and led it through the difficult COVID-19 pandemic, providing exceptional care to the entire state of Alabama and region.

Prior to coming to UAB, Dr. Gongora was already an accomplished surgeon with years of academic and clinical experience. Throughout his entire career, Dr. Gongora was dedicated to providing the best possible care for his patients and continually pushing medicine forward in the field of transplantation.

Dr. Gongora was also a dedicated surgical teacher. In his honor, the cardiothoracic surgery resident teacher award is now named to reflect his legacy - as the Enrique Gongora, M.D., Resident Achievement Award.

To express condolences or learn about arrangements, please visit the Dignity Memorial page here.

We are grateful for the immense privilege it was to work alongside Dr. Gongora and will strive to carry on his memory in all we do.