David Fullerton, MD
Professor, Surgery-Cardiothoracic

Professional Titles

• Chief

Recognition & Awards

• America's Top Doctors, Castle Connolly (2011)
  
• Recipient, Best Doctors in America (2011)
  
• America's Top Doctors, Castle Connolly (2009)
  
• Recipient, Best Doctors in America (2009)
  
• Award for Excellence in Mentoring and Advising, University of Colorado, Academy of Medical Educators (2009)
  
• America's Top Doctors, Castle Connolly (2008)
  
• America's Top Doctors, Castle Connolly (2007)
  
• Recipient, Best Doctors in America (2007)
  
• Recipient, Best Doctors in America (2006)
  
• America's Top Doctors, Castle Connolly (2006)
  

Teaching

Publications

• Gergen AK, Kemp C, Ghincea CV, Feng Z, Cleveland JC Jr, Pal JD, Rove JY, Fullerton DA, Aftab M, Reece TB: Challenging paradigm limits of retrograde cerebral perfusion during lower body circulatory arrest. J Surg Res 2023;283:699-704.
• Suarez-Pierre A, Iguidbashian JP, Stuart C, King RW, Cotton J, Carroll AM, Cleveland JC Jr, Fullerton DA, Pal JD: Appraisal of donation after circulatory death: How far could we expand the heart donor pool? Ann Thorac Surg 2022;114:676-682.
• Zhai Y, Yao Q, The E, Ao L, Fullerton DA, Meng X: Aging exacerbates cardiac dysfunction and mortality in sepsis through enhancing TLR2 activity. Front Cardiovasc Med 2023; 10:1293866.
• Suarez-Pierre A, Iguidbashian J, Kirsch MJ, Cotton JL, Quinn C, Fullerton AD, Reece TB, Hoffman JRH, Cleveland JC Jr, Rove JY: Importance of social vulnerability on long-term outcomes after heart transplantation. Am J Transplant 2023; 10:1580-1589.
• The E, Zhai Y, Yao Q, Ao L, Li S, Fullerton DA, Dinarello CA, Meng X: Recombinant IL-37 exerts an anti-inflammatory effect on human aortic valve interstitial cells through extracellular and intracellular actions. Int J Biol Sci 2023;19:3908-3919.
• Suarez-Pierre A, Iguidbashian J, Vigneshwar N, Breithaupt J, Fullerton DA, Reece TB, Hoffman JRH, Cleveland JC Jr, Rove JY: Variability in heart yield from donation after brain death between organ procurement organizations: An opportunity for improvement. ASAIO J 2023;69:e322-e332
• Li X, Zhai Y, Yao Q, The E, Ao L, Fullerton DA, Yu KJ, Meng X: Up-regulation of myocardial klotho expression to promote cardiac functional recovery in old mice following endotoxemia. Res Sq 2023;May 22:rs.3.re-2949854.
• Deng XS, Meng X, Fullerton DA, Stone M, Iguidbashian J, Jaggers J: Complement cross talks with H-K-ATPase to upregulate Runx2 in human aortic valve interstitial cells. J Surg Res 2023; 286:118-126.
• Suarez-Pierre A, Iguidbashian J, Kirsch MJ, Cain MT, Aftab M, Reece TB, Fullerton DA, Robe JY, Cleveland JC Jr, Hoffman JRH: Association of cardiac preservation solution with short-term outcomes after heart transplantation: J Cardiovasc Med 2024:25:158-164.
• Iguidbashian JP, King RW, Carroll AM, Cotton JL, Stuart C, Fullerton DA, Meguid RA, Suarez-Pierre A: Conditional survival in lung transplantation: An organ procurement and transplantation network database analysis. ASAIO J 202369:e333-341.
• Luo Z, The E, Zhang P, Zhai Y, Yao Q, Ao L, Zeng Q, Fullerton DA, Meng X: Monocytes augment inflammatory responses in human aortic valve interstitial cells via ß2-integrin/ICAM-1-mediated signaling. Imflamm Res 2022; 71:681-694.
• Venardos N, Gergen AK, Jarrett M, Weyant MJ, Reece TB, Meng X, Fullerton DA: Warfarin induces calcification of the aortic valve via ERK1/2 and B-catenin Signaling. Ann Thorac Surg 2022;113:824-835.
• Griffin BR, Bronsert M, Reece TB, Pal JD, Cleveland JC, Fullerton DA, Faubel S, Aftab M: Creatine elevations from baseline at the time of cardiac surgery are associated with postoperative complications. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2022;163:1378-1387.
• Iguidashian J, Cotton J, King RW, Carroll AM, Gergen AK, Meguid RA, Fullerton DA, Suarez-Pierre A: Survival following lung transplantation: A population -based nested case-control study. J Card Surg 2022; 37:1153-1160.
• Suarez-Pierre A, Iguidashian J, Stuart C, King RW, Cotton J, Carroll AM, Cleveland JC, Fullerton DA, Pal JD: Appraisal of donation after circulatory death: How far could we expand the heart donor pool? Ann Thorac Surg 2022;114:676-682.
• 309. Zhai Y, Ao L, Yao Q, The E, Fullerton DA, Xianzhong M: Elevated expression of TLR2 in aging hearts exacerbates cardiac inflammatory response and adverse remodeling following ischemia and reperfusion injury. Frontiers Immunol April 14, 2022.
• Gergen AK, Jarret MJ, Anqi L, Meng X, Akshay P, Fullerton DA, Weyant MJ: Toll-like receptor 4 mediates reflux-induced inflammation in murine reflux model. Sem Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2022; 34:1324-1335.
• Valle JA, Fullerton DA, Cleveland JC Jr, Messenger JC, Carroll JD: Reply: Rational dispersion of TAVR: The role of training centers. J Am Coll Cardiol 2022:37:1153-1160.
• Zhang P, The E, Luo Z, Zhai Y, Yao Q, Ao L, Fullerton DA, Xu D, Meng X: Pro-inflammatory mediators released by activated monocytes promote aortic valve fibrocalcific activity. Mol Med 2022; 28:5.
• Gergen AK, Madsen HJ, Li A, Cheng L, Meng X, Fullerton DA, Pratap A, Weyant MJ: Simvastin inhibits histologic changes associated with gastroduodenal reflux in a murine model. Dig Dis Sci 2022;67:4732-4741.
• Suarez-Pierre A, Choudhury R, Carroll AM, King RW, Iguidbashian J, Cotton J, Colborn KL, Kennealey PT, Cleveland JC, Pomfret E, Fullerton DA: Measuring the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on solid organ transplantation. Am J Surg 2022, 224:437-442.
• Vigneshwar NG, Masood MF, Vasic I, Krause M, Bartels K, Lucas MT, Bronsert M, Selzman CH, Thompson S, Rove JY, Cleveland JC Jr, Pal JD, Fullerton DA, Aftab M: Venovenous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation support in patients with COVID-19 respiratory failure: A multicenter study. JTCVS Open 2022, 12: 211-220.
• The E, de Graff DM, Zhai Y, Yao Q, Ao L, Fullerton DA, Dinarello CA, Meng X: interleukin 38 alleviates aortic valve calcification by inhibition of NLRP3. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2022;119:e2202577119.
• Zhai Y, Ao L, Yal Q, The E, Fullerton DA, Meng X: Elevated expression of TLR2 in aging hearts exacerbates cardiac inflammatory response and adverse remodeling following ischemia and reperfusion injury. Front Immunol 2022;13: 891570.
• Pratap A, Li A, Westbrook L, Gergen AK, Mitra S, Chauhan A, Cheng L, Weyant MJ, McCarter M, Wani S, Meguid RA, Cohen M, Fullerton DA, Meng X: Glypican 1 promotes proliferation and migration in esophagogastric adenocarcinoma via activating AKT/GSK/B-catenin pathway. J Gastrointest Oncol 2022;13:2082-2104.
• Kemp C, Ghincea CV, Feng Z, Gergen AK, Cleveland JC Jr, Rove JY, Aftab M, Fullerton DA, Reece TB: Evaluating the risk of spinal cord ischemia in zone 2 frozen elephant trunk replacement. Am J Surg 2022;224:1057-1061.
• Venardos N, Reece TB, Cleveland JC Jr, Aftab M, Pal J, Fullerton DA, Rove JY: Training for multiple arterial grafting: A Thoracic Surgery Resident survey. Ann Thorac Surg 2021;111:190-1907
• Jarrett MJ, Yao Q, Venardos N, Weyant MJ, Reece TB, Meng X, Fullerton DA: Simvastatin Downregulates Osteogenic Response in Cultured Human Aortic Valve Interstitial Cells. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2021;161:e261-e271.
• Jarrett MJ, Houk AK, McCuistion PE, Weyant MJ, Reece TB, Meng X, Fullerton DA: Wnt signaling mediates pro-inflammatory activity in human aortic valve interstitial cells. Ann Thorac Surg 2021;112:519-525.
• Mack MJ, Fullerton DA, Fann JI: The answers you get depend on the questions you ask: Insights from the recent EXCEL Trial controversy. Ann Thorac Surg 2021;111:1743-1745
• Ikeno Y, Ghincea CV, Roda GF, Cheng L, Aftab M, Meng X, Weyant MJ, Cleveland JC Jr, Fullerton DA, Reece TB: Optimizing nicorandil for spinal cord protection in a murine model of complex aortic intervention. Semin Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2021; Jan 12 (online ahead of print).
• Gergen AK, Jarrett MJ, Li A, Cheng L, Tilva KR, Madsen HJ, Meng X Fullerton DA, Weyant MJ: Expression of adhesion molecules in a gastroduodenal reflux murine model. Ann Thorac Surg 2021 (online ahead of print).
• Ikeno Y, Ghincea CV, Roda GF, Cheng L, Meng X, Wyant MJ, Cleveland JC Jr, Fullerton DA, Aftab M, Reece TB: Reactive oxygen species mediate nicorandil-induced metabolic tolerance to spinal cord injury. Ann Thorac Surg 2021;112:38-44.
• Ikeno Y, Ghincea CV, Roda GF, Cheng L, Meng X, Wyant MJ, Cleveland JC Jr, Fullerton DA, Aftab M, Reece TB: Reactive oxygen species mediate nicorandil-induced metabolic tolerance to spinal cord injury. Ann Thorac Surg 2021;112:38-44.
• Venardos N, Gergen AK, Jarrett M, Weyant MJ, Reece TB, Meng X, Fullerton DA: Warfarin induces calcification of the aortic valve via ERK1/2 and B-catenin Signaling. Ann Thorac Surg 2021; online ahead of print
• Gergen AL. White AM, Mitchell JD< Meguid RA, Fullerton DA, Scott CD, Weyant MJ: Introduction of robotic surgery leads to increased rate of segmentectomy in patient with lung cancer. J Thorac Dis 2021;13:762-767.
• Zhao P, Yao Q, Shang PJ, The E, Zhai Y, Ao L, Jarrett MJ, Dinarello CA, Fullerton DA, Meng X: Single-cell RNA-seq reveals a critical role for novel pro-inflammatory EndMT in mediating adverse remodeling in coronary-on-a-chip. Sci Adv 2021;7:eabg1694. PMID: 34417174.
• Griffin BR, Bronsert M, Reece TB, Pal JD, Cleveland JC, Fullerton DA, Gist KM, Jovanovich A, Jalal D, Faubel S, Aftab M. Thrombocytopenia after cardiopulmonary bypass is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Ann Thorac Surg 2020;110:50-57
• Yao Q, The E, Ao L, Zhai Y, Osterholt MK, Fullerton DA, Meng X: TLR4 stimulation promotes human AVIC fibrogenic activity through upregulation of neurotrophin 3 production. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21. Pii: E1276. PMID 32074942
• The E, Yao Q, Zhang P, Zhai Y, Ao L, Fullerton DA, Meng X: Mechanistic roles of matrillin-2 and Klotho in modulating the inflammatory activity of human aortic valve cells. Cells 2020; 9 pii: E385. PMID: 32046115
• Vigneshwar NG, Kohtz PD, Lucas MT, Bronsert M, Weyant MJ, Masood M, Itoh A, Rove JY, Reece TB, Cleveland JC, Pal JD, Fullerton DA, Aftab M: Clinical predictors of in-hospital mortality in venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. J Card Surg 2020;35:2512-2521
• Gergen AK, Kohtz PK, Halpern AL, Li A, Meng X, Reece TB, Fullerton DA, Weyant MJ: Activation of toll-like receptor 2 promotes proliferation of human lung adenocarcinoma cells. Anticancer Res 2020;40:5361-5369
• Zhang P, The E, Nedujmaran B, Ao L, Jarett MJ, Xu D, Fullerton DA, Meng X: Monocytes enhance the inflammatory response to TLR2 stimulation in aortic valve insterstitial cells through prarcrine up-regulation of TLR2 level. Int J Biol Sci 2020; 16:3062-3074
• Shah PB, Welt FGP, Mahmud E, Phillips A, Kleiman NS, Young MN, Sherwook M, Batchelor W, Wang DD, Davidson L, Wyman J, Kadavath S, Sxerlip M, Mermiller J, Fullerton D, Anwaruddin S: Triage considerations for patient referred for structural heart disease intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic: an ACC/SCAI position statement. Catheter Cardiovascular Interv 2020: 96:659-663
• Shah PB, Welt FGP, Mahmud E, Phillips A, Kleiman NS, Young MN, Sherwook M, Batchelor W, Wang DD, Davidson L, Wyman J, Kadavath S, Sxerlip M, Mermiller J, Fullerton D, Anwaruddin S: Triage considerations for patient referred for structural heart disease intervention during the COVID-19 pandemic: an ACC/SCAI position statement. JACC Cardiovascular Interv 2020;13:1484-1488
• Bhagat R, Bronsert MR, Henderson WG, Scott CD, Weyant MJ, Mitchell JD, Fullerton DA, Meguid RA: Analysis of discharge destination after open vs minimally invasive surgery for lung cancer. Ann Thorac Surg 2020; 109:375-382
• Bell MT, Reece TB, Smith PD, Mares J, Weyant MJ, Cleveland JC Jr, Freeman KA, Fullerton DA, Puskas F. Reproducable Paraplegia by Thoracic Aortic Occlusion in a Murine Model of Spinal Cord Ischemia-reperfusion. J Vis Exp. 2014 Mar 3;(85). PubMed PMID: 24637534
• Steinberg BA, Zhao Y, He X, Hernandez AF, Fullerton DA, Thomas KL, Mills R, Klaskala W, Peterson ED, Piccini JP. Management of postoperative atrial fibrillation and subsequent outcomes in contemporary patients undergoing cardiac surgery: insights from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons CAPS-Care Atrial Fibrillation Registry. Clin Cardiol. 2014 Jan;37(1):7-13. PubMed PMID: 24353215
• Bell MT, Puskas F, Bennett DT, Herson PS, Quillinan N, Fullerton DA, Reece TB. Dexmedetomidine, an a-2a adrenergic agonist, promotes ischemic tolerance in a murine model of spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2014 Jan;147(1):500-6. PubMed PMID: 24035379
• Bell MT, Puskas F, Agoston VA, Cleveland JC Jr, Freeman KA, Gamboni F, Herson PS, Meng X, Smith PD, Weyant MJ, Fullerton DA, Reece TB. Toll-like receptor 4-dependent microglial activation mediates spinal cord ischemia-reperfusion injury. Circulation. 2013 Sep 10;128(11 Suppl 1):S152-6. PubMed PMID: 24030400
• Piccini JP, Zhao Y, Steinberg BA, He X, Mathew JP, Fullerton DA, Hegland DD, Hernandez AF, Mills RM, Klaskala W, Peterson ED. Comparative effectiveness of pharmacotherapies for prevention of atrial fibrillation following coronary artery bypass surgery. Am J Cardiol. 2013 Oct 1;112(7):954-60. PubMed PMID: 23850476
• Bell MT, Agoston VA, Freeman KA, Puskas F, Herson PS, Mares J, Fullerton DA, Reece TB. Interruption of spinal cord microglial signaling by alpha-2 agonist dexmedetomidine in a murine model of delayed paraplegia. J Vasc Surg. 2013 Jul 10. [Epub ahead of print] PubMed PMID: 23850057
• Nadlonek NA, Lee JH, Weyant MJ, Meng X, Fullerton DA. ox-LDL induces PiT-1 expression in human aortic valve interstitial cells. J Surg Res. 2013 Sep;184(1):6-9. PubMed PMID: 23849774
• Nadlonek N, Lee JH, Reece TB, Weyant MJ, Cleveland JC Jr, Meng X, Fullerton DA. Interleukin-1 Beta induces an inflammatory phenotype in human aortic valve interstitial cells through nuclear factor kappa Beta. Ann Thorac Surg. 2013 Jul;96(1):155-62. PubMed PMID: 23735716
• Zeng Q, Song R, Ao L, Weyant MJ, Lee J, Xu D, Fullerton DA, Meng X. Notch1 promotes the pro-osteogenic response of human aortic valve interstitial cells via modulation of ERK1/2 and nuclear factor-?B activation. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol. 2013 Jul;33(7):1580-90. PubMed PMID: 23640488
• Ward ST, Smith D, Andrei AC, Hicks GL Jr, Shemin RJ, Calhoon JH, Reed C, Verrier ED, Fullerton DA, Lee R. Comparison of cardiothoracic training curricula: integrated six-year versus traditional programs. Ann Thorac Surg. 2013 Jun;95(6):2051-4; discussion 2054-6. PubMed PMID: 23602065
• Sadaria MR, Yu JA, Meng X, Fullerton DA, Reece TB, Weyant MJ. Secretory phospholipase A2 mediates human esophageal adenocarcinoma cell growth and proliferation via ERK 1/2 pathway. Anticancer Res. 2013 Apr;33(4):1337-42. PubMed PMID: 23564770
• Walker LA, Fullerton DA, Buttrick PM. Contractile protein phosphorylation predicts human heart disease phenotypes. Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol. 2013 Jun 15;304(12):H1644-50. PubMed PMID: 23564307
• Smith PD, Bell MT, Puskas F, Meng X, Cleveland JC Jr, Weyant MJ, Fullerton DA, Reece TB. Preservation of motor function after spinal cord ischemia and reperfusion injury through microglial inhibition. Ann Thorac Surg. 2013 May;95(5):1647-53. PubMed PMID: 23541432
• Griffin BR, Kohtz PD, Bronsert M, Reece TB, Cleveland JC Jr, Fullerton DA, Faubel S, Aftab M. Postoperative Complications Are Not Elevated in Well-compensated ESRD Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: End-Stage Renal Disease Cardiac Surgery Outcomes. J Surg Res
• Griffin BR, Teixeira JP, Ambruso S, Bronsert M, Pal JD, Cleveland JC, Reece TB, Fullerton DA, Faubel S, Aftab M: Stage 1 acute kidney injury is independently associated with infection following cardiac surgery. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg
• Halpern AL, Kohtz PD, White AM, Houk AK, Rehring JF, Hanson L, McCarter MD, Joshi M, Meng X, Fullerton DA, Weyant MJ: Secretory phospholipase A2 IIa mediated expression of growth factor receptors in esophageal adenocarcinoma. Dig Dis Sci
• Griffin BR, Bronsert M, Reece TB, Pal JD, Cleveland JC, Fullerton DA, Faubel S, Aftab M: Creatine elevations from baseline at the time of cardiac surgery are associated with postoperative complications. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2020
• Ghincea CV, Anderson DA, Ikeno Y, Roda GF, Eldeiry M, Bronsert MR, Anukst K, Fullerton DA, Reece TB, Aftab M: Utility of neuromonitoring in hypothermic circulatory arrest cases for early detection of stroke: Listening through the noise. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2020
• Venardos N, Reece TB, Cleveland JC Jr, Aftab M, Pal J, Fullerton DA, Rove JY: Training for multiple arterial grafting: a thoracic surgery resident survey. Ann Thorac Surg 2020
• Halpern AL, Boshier PR, White AM, Houk AK, Helmkamp L, Mitchell JD, Meguid RA, Low DE, Fullerton DA, Weyant MJ: A comparison of frailty measures at listing to predict outcomes after lung transplantation. Ann Thorac Surg 2020
• Jarrett MJ, Houk AK, McCuistion PE, Weyant MJ, Reece TB, Meng X, Fullerton DA: Wnt signaling mediates pro-inflammatory activity in human aortic valve interstitial cells. Ann Thorac Surg 2020
• Jarrett MJ, Yao Q, Venardos N, Weyant MJ, Reece TB, Meng X, Fullerton DA: Simvastatin Downregulates Osteogenic Response in Cultured Human Aortic Valve Interstitial Cells. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg
• Gergen AK, Jarrett MJ, Li A, White AM, Meng X, Fullerton DA, Weyant MJ: Secretory phospholipase A2 inhibition attenuates adhesive properties of esophageal Barrett’s cells. J Surg Res 2020
• Gergen AK, Kohtz PD, Halpern AL, White AM, Meng X, Fullerton DA, Weyant MJ: Statins inhibit toll-like receptor 4-mediated growth of human esophageal adenocarcinoma cells. J Surg Res 2020.
• Gergen AK, Jarret MJ, Anqi L, Meng X, Akshay P, Fullerton DA, Weyant MJ: Toll-like receptor 4 mediates reflux-induced inflammation in murine reflux model. Sem Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2021; (in press).
• Suarez-Pierre A, Choudhury R, Carroll AM, King RW, Iguidbashian J, Cotton J, Colborn K, Kennealey PT, Cleveland JR JC, Pomfret E, Fullerton DA: Measuring the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on solid organ transplantation. Am J Surg 2021 (in press).
• Gergen AK, Jarrett MJ, Li A, White AM, Meng X, Fullerton DA, Weyant MJ: Secretory phospholipase A2 inhibition attenuates adhesive properties of esophageal Barrett’s cells. J Surg Res; in press
• Gergen AK, Jarrett MJ, Li A, White AM, Meng X, Fullerton DA, Weyant MJ: Secretory phospholipase A2 inhibition attenuates adhesive properties of esophageal Barrett’s cells. J Surg Res; in press

Professional Memberships

• Society of Thoracic Surgeons, President Elect
• Western Thoracic Surgical Association, President
• The American Surgical Association, Membership Committee
• Residency Review Committee for Thoracic Surgery, Chair
• Thoracic Surgery Directors Association, President
• The American Geriatrics Society, Research Agenda Setting Council
• International Society of Heart Transplantation, Member
• Rocky Mountain Cardiac Surgical Society, Member
• Association for Academic Surgery, Member
• American Heart Association (AHA), Member
• Society of University Surgeons, Member
• American Association for the Advancement of Science, Member
• Society of Critical Care Medicine, Member
• The American Physiological Society, Member
• Surgical Infection Society, Member
• American College of Surgeons (ACS), Governor
• American Association for Thoracic Surgeons, Member
• Society of Clinical Surgery, Member
• Cardiac Surgery Biology Club, Member
• American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Chair, Cardiac Exam Committee
• Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education, Secretary