Derek R. Serna-Gallegos, MD

Dr. Serna-Gallegos obtained his Doctor of Medicine from the Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California and completed his General Surgery Residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He went on to specialize in Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, where he remained on as faculty after completion of his training. He is currently an Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery within the Division of Cardiac Surgery, with UPMC Presbyterian as his primary practice site. Dr Serna-Gallegos specializes in both open surgery and minimally invasive endovascular treatment of aortic disease including the aortic valve.  He has a particular interest in therapy for aortic dissection and aortic aneurysm. Dr. Serna-Gallegos is board certified by both the American Board of Surgery and the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.

As a member of UPMC’s faculty Dr. Serna-Gallegos plays an integral role in the education and training of the program’s residents and fellows. He serves as the program director for the Advanced Aortic Surgery Fellowship at UPMC.  He provides hands-on instruction in the operating room, guiding trainees through aortic surgeries and endovascular and transcatheter valve techniques. He has also served as a mentor and educator to medical students. In addition to being an accomplished and skilled surgeon Dr. Serna-Gallegos is dedicated to scholarly work and research; to date he has authored or coauthored over 90 peer-reviewed articles. He also serves/has served as a principal investigator or sub-investigator on multiple ongoing clinical trials and studies at UPMC.