The Robert and Kelly Day Chair in Cardiothoracic Surgery is held by Richard Shemin, M.D., Chief of the Division of Cardiac Surgery, vice chair of the Department of Surgery, and a Distinguished Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine. Dr. Shemin is a distinguished leader in the field of cardiothoracic surgery. He has held roles as Chair of The American Board of Thoracic Surgery, Director of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American Association of Thoracic Surgery, and Governor of the American College of Surgeons. He is the current President of the Board of the Greater Los Angeles Chapter of the American Heart Association.
As a pioneer of less invasive procedures for aortic valve replacement, aortic aneurysm replacement and robotic mitral valve repair, Dr. Shemin has been crucial to the growth of UCLA’s reputation as a world-renowned cardiothoracic surgery center. As the Program Director for the ACGME Cardiothoracic Residency Program, he is committed to training the next generation of cardiothoracic surgeons. He has received several teaching awards. Recently he was inducted into the prestigious American College of Surgeons Academy of Master Surgeon Educators.