O.H. Frazier, MD

O. H. Frazier, M.D., is a living legend and celebrated for his contributions to the field of mechanical circulatory support and pioneering treatments for patients suffering from heart failure. He performed over 1,200 heart transplants and implanted more than 900 left ventricular assist devices, more than any other surgeon in the world. Today he serves as the Co-Director of Center for Preclinical Surgical & Interventional Research at THI. Show full bio

For more than 30 years, Dr. O. H. Frazier has been a pioneer in the treatment of severe heart failure and in the fields of heart transplantation and artificial devices that may be used either to substitute for or assist the pumping action of the human heart. As a result of his work, he become one of the top transplantation and mechanical circulatory support surgeons in the world. Dr. Frazier performed over 1,200 heart transplants and implanted more than 900 left ventricular assist devices, more than any other surgeon in the world.

Dr. Frazier’s interest in mechanical circulatory support began in 1969, when, as a student at Baylor College of Medicine, he wrote a research paper about the experimental total artificial heart, which was first implanted in 1969 by Dr. Denton Cooley. Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Dr. Frazier continued experimental work toward developing an implantable left ventricular assist device (LVAD) to aid the failing heart.In 2011, Dr. Frazier implanted the first successful continuous-flow total artificial heart using two second generation HeartMate II LVADs to replace a patient’s failing heart.

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Texas Heart Institute Positions

Current Projects

Interests

Education

  • Undergraduate:

    University of Texas

  • Medical School:

    Baylor College of Medicine

  • Residency:

    Baylor College of Medicine

  • Fellowships:

    Texas Heart Institute/Baylor College of Medicine

Academic & Clinical Affiliations

  • Baylor College of Medicine
  • Baylor St. Luke's Medical Center

Certifications

  • American Board of Thoracic Surgery
  • American Board of Surgery

Honors, Awards and Memberships

Publications

Nissim, L., Karnik, S., Smith, P. A. et al. (2023). Machine learning based on computational fluid dynamics enables geometric design optimisation of the NeoVAD blades. Sci Rep 13, 7183. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-33708-9.
Devich, R., Neuendorff, N. R., Frazier, O. H. et al. (2023). Hematopoietic stimulation during Impella 5.5 support to avoid transfusions in a Jehovah’s Witness. ASAIO J. https://doi.org/10.1097/MAT.0000000000001944.
Chu, M. W. A., Ruel, M., Graeve, A. et al. (2023). Low-dose vs standard Warfarin after mechanical mitral valve replacement: a randomized trial. Ann Thorac Surg 115, 929–938. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.athoracsur.2022.12.031.
Smith, P. A., Wang, Y. and Frazier, O. H. (2023). The evolution of durable, implantable axial-flow rotary blood pumps. Tex Heart Inst J 50, e227908. https://doi.org/10.14503/THIJ-22-7908.
Kiang, S., Nissim, L., Tedesco, V. et al. (2022). Modeling a magnetic levitation bearing with CFD hemocompatibility optimization. In 2022 IEEE 20th Biennial Conference on Electromagnetic Field Computation (CEFC) (1–2). Denver, CO, USA: IEEE. https://doi.org/10.1109/CEFC55061.2022.9940768.
Moctezuma-Ramirez, A., Elgalad, A., Handy, K. et al. (2022). Baseline hemodynamics including aortic and pulmonary blood flow in a chronic bovine model. Surgeries 3, 192–202. https://doi.org/10.3390/surgeries3030021.
Selzman, C. H., Feller, E. D., Walker, J. C. et al. (2022). The Jarvik 2000 left ventricular assist device: Results of the United States Bridge to Transplant Trial. ASAIO J. https://doi.org/10.1097/MAT.0000000000001750.
Broda, C. R., Frankel, W. C., Nair, A. P. et al. (2022). Continuous-flow ventricular assist device support in adult congenital heart disease: A 15-year, multicenter experience of temporary and durable support. ASAIO J. Available at: https://doi.org/10.1097/MAT.0000000000001853.
Lamba, H. K., Musfee, F. I., Chatterjee, S. et al. (2021). The influence of preoperative dialysis on survival after continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation. Interact Cardiovasc Thorac Surg, ivab357. https://doi.org/10.1093/icvts/ivab357.
Balachandran, I., Frazier, O. H. and Rogers, J. G. (2021). Doing the wrong thing for the right reasons: The demise of the HVAD. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg, S0022-5223(21)01656–1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtcvs.2021.10.058.

Recent News

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Dr. O.H. Frazier to Receive Inaugural Pushpa and Kewal Krishan Gupta Lifetime Achievement Award in Development of Therapies for Cardiovascular and Pulmonary Diseases from the ASAIO

The ASAIO Board of Trustees has named Dr. O.H. Frazier, recipient of the prestigious Pushpa and Kewal Krishan Gupta Lifetime...

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The Texas Heart Institute Leads New NIH-Funded Project to Significantly Improve LVADs

HOUSTON (March 20, 2024) — The Texas Heart Institute® and its collaborators at the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech),...

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The Texas Heart Institute Collaborates on Multi-Institutional DOD Grant To Develop Novel Left Ventricular Assist Device

Georgia Tech-led effort to improve support device options for end-stage heart failure   HOUSTON (Mar 7, 2024) — The Texas...

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