Peter C. Kouretas, MD, PhD, is Professor of Surgery in the UCSF Department of Surgery and surgical director of the Pediatric Heart Transplantation.

Dr. Kouretas earned his MD, PhD at Georgetown University in Washington, DC. After a surgical internship at UC Irvine, he completed his general surgery residency at the University of Virginia. Dr. Kouretas then completed his cardiothoracic surgical residency at the University of Pennsylvania, also serving as Chief Resident in Pediatric Heart Surgery at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr. Kouretas then went on to a clinical fellowship in pediatric and congenital heart surgery as well as pediatric heart transplantation at Stanford University. 

Prior to joining the faculty at UCSF, Dr. Kouretas was the chief of pediatric cardiothoracic surgery and co-director of the pediatric heart center at Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital. Dr. Kouretas’ background also includes serving as the director of the pediatric mechanical circulatory program at Primary Children’s Medical Center at the University of Utah. 

Dr. Kouretas’ clinical and research interests focus on pediatric heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support.  The use of cardiac devices as a bridge to transplantation as well as recovery is a focus of the pediatric heart failure program at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. 

The continuity of care of adults with congenital heart disease is also a focus of the Pediatric Heart Program at UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals.  Dr. Kouretas has a special interest in aortic disease in this population, particularly valve sparing aortic root procedures in the Marfan population. 

Dr. Kouretas is a member of numerous professional societies, including the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, The Western Thoracic Surgical Association, and the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation.  Dr. Kouretas has published extensively and is actively involved in multiple clinical and research protocols.