Dr. Robert L. Kormos is currently the Director Artificial Heart Program, Co-Director Heart Transplantation at UPMC and Medical Director of Vital Engineering.
Prior to coming to the University, Dr. Kormos earned a BA in Psychology from the University of Western Ontario. He then pursued his MD at the same university where he was chosen as a member of the Deans Honor's List. After completing a summer elective at Royal Free Hospital in London, England, within the Department of Neurology, Dr. Kormos was awarded his medical degree from the University of Western Ontario in 1976 and continued on to his residency training.
Following a mixed internship through Toronto Western Hospital and the University of Toronto, Dr. Kormos began a three-year stay as a resident of Neurosurgery at Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto General Hospital, St. Michael's Hospital and Wellesley Hospital. He also completed residencies of General Surgery and Cardiovascular Surgery. During this time, Dr. Kormos was appointed senior clinical fellow of Cardiovascular Surgery and was a lead developer of a protocol for a short-term ventricular assist device.
Dr. Kormos first arrived at the University in 1985 as he was seeking to complete his research and clinical fellowships in transplantation. Dr. Kormos was welcomed to the University faculty in 1987 as an assistant professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery.
Dr. Kormos is internationally regarded for his clinical and research work in organ transplantation and in the use of cardiac assist devices as temporary or permanent support for patients with end-stage heart disease.
He is the recipient of multiple awards including the President's Award at the 7th Annual Scientific Session of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation in 1987. He was also elected to serve as president of the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation from 1999-2000. As a further honor, Dr. Kormos was listed in the 2001 America's Top Doctors published by Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd.
Dr. Kormos has gained an interest in a series of research areas while at the University. His research efforts have included investigational use of the Jarvik artificial heart as a bridge to cardiac transplantation, right ventricular function studies for cardiac surgery (heart and lung transplantation and post-left ventricular assist device insertion), and the investigation of an axial flow blood pump as a chronic ventricular assist device. In 2000, he began directing his research personnel in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study to assess the efficacy and safety of Zenapax in combination with Cellcept, Cyclosporine and Corticosteroids in patients undergoing cardiac transplantation. Currently, Dr. Kormos is continuing his contributions to his field and striving towards improving the processes of artificial organ development and clinical organ transplantation.
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CONTACT INFORMATION
Robert L. Kormos, M.D.Phone: (412) 648-6259
Email: kormosrl@upmc.edu