Shahab Akhter, MD

Assistant Professor of Surgery

Dr. Shahab Akhter specializes in adult cardiac surgery for patients with advanced heart failure. His surgical expertise is in: mitral, aortic and tricuspid valve repair and replacement; high-risk coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG); ventricular remodeling; and heart transplantation. He also specializes in the surgical treatment of thoracic aortic aneurysms and dissections.

Dr. Akhter uses minimally invasive surgical techniques for the treatment of atrial fibrillation. These techniques reduce blood loss, scarring and the recovery time associated with surgery.

An active researcher, Dr. Akhter studies molecular mechanisms of myocardial hypertrophy and how they lead to heart failure. His basic science laboratory investigates the regulation of G protein-coupled receptor signaling in the heart. Dr. Akhter also studies molecular mechanisms of donor heart dysfunction and novel strategies to improve myocardial protection in cardiac surgery. His research is funded by the National Institutes of Health, the Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education and the American Surgical Association Foundation.

Practice Locations

University of Chicago Medical Center
5841 S. Maryland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637

Center for Advanced Medicine
5758 S. Maryland Avenue
Chicago, IL 60637

Year Started Practice

2002

Board Certifications

Surgery
Thoracic Surgery

Medical School

University of Chicago

Internship

Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC

Residency

Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC

Fellowship

University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI

Memberships

American College of Surgeons
American Heart Association
Association for Academic Surgery
Central Surgical Association
David C. Sabiston Jr. Surgical Society
International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation
John Alexander Society
Mont Reid Surgical Society
Society of Thoracic Surgeons
Society of University Surgeons