The Texas Heart Institute is pleased to welcome Dr. Joseph G. Rogers, the third physician President in its illustrious history. Dr. Rogers steps into the role at the Institute, where he will also serve as CEO, following in the footsteps of his predecessors, Drs. Denton A. Cooley and James T. Willerson. A total of five presidents have led the institution since its founding, including two non-physician presidents, Gerald Maley, and James Cuthbertson.

 

“The Texas Heart Institute has a rich history and unique legacy as a center for pioneering cardiovascular discovery,” Dr. Rogers noted, “I plan to build on that foundation to enhance THI’s impact by emphasizing excellence across all of the Institute’s focus areas.”

 

Dr. Rogers takes over at the Texas Heart Institute following a tenure at the Duke University Health System as its Chief Medical Officer; he also served as a Professor of Medicine in Cardiology at the Duke University School of Medicine. At Duke and in his earlier career at Washington University, where Rogers received training as both a clinical and research fellow, he led clinical program development in transplant, heart failure, and mechanical circulatory support.

 

Dr. Rogers has authored more than 250 publications and has maintained a research portfolio with NIH funding throughout his career.  He remains deeply involved in leading-edge LVAD research, including serving as the principal investigator on several national studies.

 

In addition to clinical and research roles, Dr. Rogers maintained a focus on graduate medical education and spearheaded initiatives to guide clinical quality and patient safety. Across his work, he emphasized the importance of diversity and inclusion programs, outreach, and community engagement, which he plans to prioritize at THI.

 

“The Texas Heart Institute is an iconic organization that is nationally and internationally recognized for its contributions to patient care, innovative discovery, and education. I firmly believe that THI is well-positioned for even greater impact in the coming years, and I look forward to serving the Institute as we work to realize our aspirational goals,” Dr. Rogers concluded.

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