Kim de la Cruz

About
^{Kim de la Cruz}

Aortic Surgeon Kim de la Cruz, MD, FACS, FACC, FCCP is board certified in Thoracic Surgery and is the Director of Aortic Surgery for Methodist Healthcare System.Dr. de la Cruz is passionate about complex thoracic aortic pathologies and innovating novel approaches to their management. He specializes in the clinical evaluation and surgical treatment of diseases of the aorta, including the aortic valve and root, ascending aorta, aortic arch, descending thoracic aorta, and thoracoabdominal aorta. Not only has he been instrumental in the training of future cardiothoracic and aortic surgeons, but de la Cruz has been recognized for his contributions by receiving awards for excellence in patient care and in teaching. He has authored and co-authored over 50 peer-reviewed articles, and over 10 book chapters.In coming to the Methodist Healthcare, de la Cruz brings the experience of being part of the team with the most experience in the management of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms and dissections in the world. He would like to continue this practice of excellence and of expanding what we know about Cardiologys and their treatment here in San Antonio. It is rewarding for me to see very ill and frail patients go home with improved quality of life because of the surgical and medical management that we provide. I am greatly honored by the appreciation given by patients and their families throughout the years, says Dr. de la Cruz as he looks forward to providing the same impeccable care to the people of San Antonio.He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, American College of Cardiology, and American College of Chest Physicians. He is a member of numerous other professional organizations, including the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Association for Academic Surgery, International Society for Minimally Invasive Cardiothoracic Surgery, European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery, Cooley Hands Society, Michael E. DeBakey International Surgical Society, and Denton A. Cooley Cardiovascular Surgical Society.He is committed to our vision of excellent evidence-driven patient care and our mission to improve the quality of life of patients with Cardiology. At Methodist Healthcare System, Dr. de la Cruz will build a world-class aortic surgery program that could become the model for others in the country.