Just a few weeks after celebrating the completion of his cardiac surgery residency at the University of Kentucky, Andrew Gorton, M.D., commenced his professional practice as the newest surgeon and faculty member of the UK Division of Cardiac Surgery.
Gorton is the most recent alum of the University of Kentucky's Integrated 6-Year Cardiothoracic Residency Program. The six years that he spent in training to be a cardiac surgeon in Kentucky were apparently not enough. Like other residents before him, he and his family decided to set down roots in Lexington and begin his professional practice serving the heart care needs of patients in the Commonwealth.
“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Gorton to our highly skilled Adult Cardiac Surgery team. He is a veteran who proudly served our country, a devoted husband and father, and an exceptional physician with superb surgical skills," commented Hassan Reda, M.D., Division Chief of Cardiac Surgery. "With many opportunities available to him, we feel especially fortunate that he chose to continue his career within the UK family.”
It is common for residents to take off a month or two before starting their clinical practice. Gorton, however, was so anxious to begin serving as an assistant professor in the UK Department of Surgery and clinical provider with the Gill Heart and Vascular Institute that he chose to begin his practice right on the heels of completing his residency in June.
"I spent significant time this past year investigating academic and private practice opportunities available to a new cardiac surgeon,” said Gorton. “Ultimately, the opportunity at the University of Kentucky, where we see the full spectrum of cardiovascular pathology, was the perfect fit. The people of Kentucky are always so grateful. It is rewarding to provide world-class care in the Commonwealth. The ability to continue to educate residents and medical students and join a supportive, collaborative practice is icing on the cake.”
Prior to his college and post-graduate education, Gorton served five years in the United States Marine Corps. He was assigned to the Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) in Cherry Point, North Carolina from 2007 to 2012. He rose to the rank of Sergeant, supervised three departments in his division, and trained junior Marines on the support and maintenance of aircraft from 11 flying squadrons.
After his discharge from military service, Gorton attended the University of Michigan, where he graduated with honors in Biochemistry. He completed his master’s degree at Loyola University in Chicago. He remained in the city to attend medical school at the University of Illinois Chicago (UIC) and then matched into UIC's General Surgery Residency program.
His experience with open heart surgery while a medical student steered him towards a career in cardiac surgery. While Gorton loved Chicago and general surgery, he did not hesitate when the opportunity came to transfer to the University of Kentucky's Integrated Cardiothoracic Surgery Program. This brought him the training in his preferred specialty and the ability to practice in a region similar to where he grew up in Southeast Missouri.
At UK, Gorton earned the respect and esteem of the faculty and residents. Throughout his training, he received all three of the resident program's annual awards: Most Valuable Resident Colleague in 2021-22; Most Academic Contributions in 2022-23 and 2023-24; and the Highest In-Training Exam Score in 2025-26. He not only had the highest in-training exam scores from among his peers but also achieved the highest scores in the nation. He also received recognition for Excellence in Medical Student Education in the 2021-22 academic year due to a commitment involving medical students in the care of patients.
Outside of UK he has presented at multiple regional and national meetings, including the American Association of Thoracic Surgeons, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, International College of Angiology, and the International College of Surgeons.
Gorton is eager to begin his professional career at the University of Kentucky and continuing to care for heart patients in the Commonwealth, educate future generations of medical students and resident surgeons, and contribute to the progression of the field of Cardiac Surgery with the research power of the University.