Abbas Ardehali


Abbas Ardehali is an Iranian-American cardiothoracic surgeon. He is the surgical director of UCLA's Heart, Lung, and Heart-Lung Transplant programs, and was the principal investigator behind technology that allows for the transportation of a breathing human heart or lung for an extended period of time.

Early life and education

Abbas Ardehali was born in Tehran, Iran and moved to the United States at age sixteen. After completing school, he attended Rutgers University, where he received his Bachelors of Science Degree. He then went on to complete his MD at Emory University School of Medicine in 1986. Originally pursuing a career in Cardiology, he completed his Internal Medicine internship and residency at the UC San Francisco School of Medicine. He additionally completed his Cardiology fellowship at the UC San Francisco School of Medicine in 1990.

Career

Ardehali decided to take up Cardiothoracic surgery as a profession. He completed his surgical internship, surgical residency, and Thoracic surgical residency at UCLA School of Medicine.
He now serves as the surgical director of UCLA's Heart and Lung Transplant program. He is the William E. Connor Chair in Cardiothoracic Transplantation, and a Professor of Surgery and Medicine at UCLA School of Medicine, Division of Cardiothoracic surgery. The program is the largest lung transplant program on the west coast and leads to the best results in patient outcomes.
Ardehali was involved developing technology that allows for transporting a breathing human heart or lung for an extended period of time. Abbas Ardehali was the first surgeon in the United States to perform a 'breathing lung' transplant.

Awards

He and his wife, Mitra Ardehali, live with their two daughters in Los Angeles, California. Abbas Ardehali served as a Trustee of the Brentwood School from 2013-2015.

Selected publications

Dr. Abbas Ardehali has authored multiple book chapters, published more than 100 peer-reviewed publications, and currently holds numerous patents that are issued or filed.