David Haybron

Currently, David Haybron is one of six physicians at Pittsburgh CardioThoracic Associates. He is a cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon. Cardiothoracic surgery involves many difficult, life-saving procedures such as coronary bypass surgery, heart valve surgery, inserting defibrillators and more. He is also a highly regarded speaker and often travels to speak on topics that are related to his field of cardiovascular and thoracic surgeries. These topics regularly include new procedures to help save lives as well as improvements on older procedures.

One issue that David Haybron deals with on a regular basis is arterial fibrillation. This is a medical issue that causes the heart to quiver instead of pump, making it less effective. There are a couple of different types of arterial fibrillation, one that fluctuates, one that is controlled by medication and one that cannot be treated with medication. In a case where medication does not improve the condition, a surgeon may have to perform a procedure such as the Maze procedure. Dr. Haybron prefers the Mini-Maze procedure because it is less invasive and complex.

The most common is the Concomitant Mini-Maze procedure, which involves cutting the breast bone and using a heart-lung machine to breathe for the patient. This is usually done during another type of heart surgery, such as a valve replacement, and typically only adds a few minutes to the overall surgery. There are a few other twists to the Maze procedure, but the Concomitant Mini-Maze procedure was the first.

David Haybron can tell anyone first hand just how long it takes to become a successful cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon. His journey to accomplishing his dream began more than 30 years ago when he earned his Bachelors of Science degree in biochemistry from Case Western Reserve University. Located near Cleveland, Ohio, Case Western Reserve University is known as one of the best independent research universities in the United States. Many of the graduates from this university have gone on to do many great things, and Haybron is no exception.

After his time at Case Western Reserve University, David Haybron made a break for paradise. He wasn’t setting up shop on a beach somewhere, though. Instead, he was accepted into the very prestigious and competitive medical program at the University of Hawaii. He graduated with his Masters of Science in biochemistry from the University of Hawaii, John Burns School of Medicine. This program only lets in 66 students out of the average 1,500 people who apply every year.

The program at the John Burns School of Medicine is different than the other medical programs available. It uses a curriculum based off problems, which helped expand the mind of David Haybron and other alumni. Using problems to teach helps train the mind and create medical personnel who are highly trained before they even step foot in a hospital. While at the University of Hawaii, Haybron also worked as a graduate assistant in the biochemical and biophysics department.

While learning in paradise has plenty of benefits, David Haybron decided to head back to Ohio to get his doctorate. He earned his doctorate from the Ohio State University School of Medicine. The medical program at the Ohio State University has produced some of the best and strongest medical minds through research and communication. The professors there have always been on top of the latest and greatest educational techniques. The best way they have shaped the way students learn in the past is to create pathways for students in their first and second years. This has allowed students to learn how they want, either independently or in groups.

While David Haybron was earning his doctorate, he served as a graduate teaching assistant at the Ohio State University’s anatomy department. He was also a graduate research assistant at Lakeside Veteran’s Administration Department, where he aided in the development of research for the surgical department.

After all those years of training, it was finally time for Haybron to get into action. He wasn’t a full-fledged surgeon yet, though, as all potential doctors and surgeons have to complete a residency before being set free on their own. Under the supervision of licensed personnel at the University of California, Los Angeles, he was able to perform surgery for the first time out of a learning setting. He focused on general surgery first, as that is necessary to prove a surgeon is capable of taking on more delicate tasks. Always striving to be the best, he was recognized as the best resident in the program that year and was named chief resident, which is seen as a great honor. Along with being given a couple of other responsibilities, the chief resident is assigned the task of leading his or her fellow residents.

Once his residency was done, it was back to Columbus, Ohio to undertake his specialized residency in thoracic surgery at the Ohio State University’s Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. After that, he bounced back to UCLA to complete his research fellowship in its division of cardiothoracic surgery. During the research fellowship, Haybron researched a number of medical issues such as how nitric oxide interacts with cardiovascular endothelium, myocardial reperfusion injuries and pulmonary hypertension.

Once this fellowship was completed, his dream of becoming a surgeon finally came true. He started as a managing partner at Missouri Cardiovascular Surgeons, holding that position for four years. He moved on to the position of cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon at West Penn Allegheny Health Systems. After 10 years there, he joined Reading Hospital and Medical Center before eventually landing in his current position at Pittsburgh CardioThoracic Associates.

David Haybron is involved in many different committees and organizations to improve and advance his industry. He has shared his work all around the country to educate his colleagues and help them improve their procedures. He spoke at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital, Combined ICU – Multidisciplinary Staff Conference back in 2006 concerning the Maze procedure used to treat atrial fibrillation. He has touched on the subject of atrial fibrillation a number of other times as well. First in 2001 at the Western Pennsylvania Hospital Combined Cardiology Conference. Most recently, he addressed the topic at the Blood in Motion 2011 Symposium on Thrombosis and Hemostasis, which was organized by The Institute for Transfusion Medicine.

Along with atrial fibrillation, David Haybron has also covered the subject of acute aortic dissection in a number of settings. These include the Alle-Kiske Medical Center’s Medical Grand Rounds in 2010 as well as the Western Pennsylvania Hospital’s Department of Anesthesia Grand Rounds. Not only known for his speaking abilities, he has also been published in a number of peer-reviewed journals. He had a piece published by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons in the journal The Annals of Thoracic Surgery back in 2005.

This piece examined the outcomes of performing a coronary artery bypass grafting in patients that have also been diagnosed with connective tissue diseases. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons’ sister organization published another of his articles. “Unicuspid Aortic Valve and Aortic Arch Aneurysm in a Patient with Turner Syndrome,” was published in the Asian Cardiovascular Thoracic Annals in 2008.
It is clear that he is dedicated to his field. Only those who have the will to endure all those extra years and costs of education are fit to be the people that Americans trust to save their lives on an everyday basis. Through the years, David Haybron has more than proven that he is one of the best minds in the business when it comes to cardiovascular and thoracic surgeries.

It is clear that David Haybron enjoys his profession and intends to continue saving lives for many years to come. His dedication to patients with heart conditions is evident. He does not just perform surgeries that save lives He also helps educate those in the profession on ways to improve their practice while bringing new techniques to the field.

One area that David Haybron hopes to see improvements in is the overall patient preparation for their surgery. Not enough patients follow their doctor’s orders when it comes to how they should prepare for thoracic surgery, so that information needs to be made more evident to everyone. For one thing, it is important to completely stop smoking a month before the procedure is done. It is also important to do cardio and aerobic exercises in that final month, as a strong heart is better able to handle surgery. Simply walking for 20 minutes a day can be a big benefit in the person with a sedentary lifestyle. Throw in some various leg and arm exercises and work on breathing techniques that can help calm people down before stressful situations, such as surgery.

It is important to tell the doctor about various activities that involve physical labor and stress on the body, as the doctor needs to determine when those can be resumed after the surgery. Do not take any medications with steroids, such as Advil, and let the surgeon know if you are feeling ill or have a cold.