Dr. David A. Fullerton, MD

Clinical Trials

• Medtronic Evolut Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Low Risk Patients

Media Releases

Get to know Thoracic Surgeon Dr. David A. Fullerton, who serves patients in Aurora, Colorado.

Dr. Fullerton is a board-certified thoracic surgeon practicing in Aurora, Colorado. He holds several titles at the University of Colorado School of Medicine, including Head of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Professor of Surgery, John T. M. Wright Endowed Chair in Heart Valve Surgery, Director of Cardiothoracic Surgical Research, as well as Director of the University’s Thoracic Surgery Residency Program. In addition, he is the Cardiac Surgeon-in-Chief and Co-Director of the Cardiothoracic Surgical Intensive Care Unit for the University of Colorado Hospital.

Dr. Fullerton is also affiliated with Children’s Hospital Colorado, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, and Denver Health Medical Center.

Dr. Fullerton earned his undergraduate degree from Southern Methodist University and graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of Missouri School of Medicine. After completing a residency in general surgery at the University of Washington, he moved to the University of Colorado for a residency in thoracic surgery. Dr. Fullerton remained on the faculty at the University of Colorado for the next 6 years before being recruited to Northwestern University in Chicago as Chief of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Director of the Thoracic Surgery Residency Program. He was recruited to the University of Colorado in 2003.

Dr. Fullerton has been the recipient of several awards throughout his career, including America’s Top Doctors from 2006 to 2011, Best Doctors in America from 2006 to 2009 and 2011, and Award for Excellence in Mentoring and Advising by the University of Colorado – Academy of Medical Educators in 2009.

Dr. Fullerton has held prominent leadership positions in several other organizations, including the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, the American College of Surgeons, the Thoracic Surgery Foundation for Research and Education, the International Society of Heart Transplantation, the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the Residency Review Committee-Thoracic Surgery, and many more. He is a past President of the Western Thoracic Surgical Association. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of CTSNet, Inc, as well as the Joint Council on Thoracic Surgery Education. Furthermore, he is President of the Thoracic Surgery Directors Association. 

Dr. Fullerton is board-certified in surgery and surgical critical care by the American Board of Surgery, as well as board-certified in thoracic and cardiac surgery by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. 

Thoracic surgery refers to operations on organs in the chest, including the heart, lungs, and esophagus. Examples of thoracic surgery include coronary artery bypass surgery, heart transplant, lung transplant, and removal of parts of the lung affected by cancer. Thoracic surgeons treat injuries, diseases, and congenital abnormalities in a patient’s chest, including surgery to remove tumors, manage disorders or repair trauma to the heart, blood vessels, lungs, esophagus, and diaphragm. Dr. Fullerton’s clinical interests include adult cardiac revascularization, adult heart and lung transplantation, pediatric cardiac transplantation, surgical ablation for atrial fibrillation, myocardial revascularization, heart valve replacement, and congenital coronary malformations.

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