Texas Health Heart & Lung Surgical Specialists

04/23/2026

Total cholesterol. HDL. LDL. Triglycerides. What do they all mean when it comes to heart and brain health? Learn how to break down the numbers: https://bit.ly/4uatIV8

You just got your blood work back, and there's a page full of cholesterol numbers staring at you. Total cholesterol. HDL. LDL. Triglycerides. What does it all mean? And more importantly, what should you do about it?

04/15/2026

Announcement from Moritz C. Wyler von Ballmoos, M.D., PhD., MPH, FAHA, FACC Chairman, Cardiovascular & Thoracic Surgery.

Please join me in welcoming Dr. Sharon Beth Larson to Texas Health Harris Methodist Hospital. Trained at the University of Minnesota and Duke University, Dr. Larson brings extensive expertise in adult cardiac surgery, with specialized training in thoracic transplantation and mechanical circulatory support.

Before joining Texas Health, Dr. Larson served as a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at the University of Iowa, where she was also the Surgical Director of the ECMO Program. Under her leadership, the program achieved Platinum Level Designation with the ELSO (The Extracorporeal Life Support Organization) Award for Excellence in Extracorporeal Life Support, the highest international recognition awarded by ELSO.

Most recently, she served as an Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Baptist Health Sciences University and as the Surgical Director of Cardiac Transplant, Mechanical Circulatory Support, and ECMO at Baptist Memorial Hospital in Memphis.

Dr. Larson holds leadership roles in several national and international professional organizations, including the ISHLT - International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, Women In Thoracic Surgery, Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, the Lillehei Surgical Society, and as the Secretary for the Women in Heart Transplantation and MCS.

Her clinical and research interests include heart and lung transplantation, mechanical circulatory support, management of cardiogenic shock, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, device trials for heart failure and valvular heart disease, and anticoagulation strategies for mechanical heart valves.

Dr. Larson brings a combination of clinical excellence, program development experience, and a passion for education and teaching that will further advance the care we provide to patients across the region.

At Texas Health, we are dedicated to developing world-class cardiovascular programs through collaboration, innovation, and an unwavering focus on patient outcomes.

Please join me in warmly welcoming Dr. Larson as she begins this exciting new chapter with our team.

04/14/2026

Diet plays a crucial role in heart health. But which diet is the right diet to support cardiovascular well-being? For insights into the DASH diet, Mediterranean diet and others, visit with a Texas Health cardiologist today:

At Texas Health Heart & Vascular Specialists, we provide a convenient, connected, and coordinated experience right to the community.

04/09/2026

When he’s not tinkering with electronics or playing his guitar, Dr. Justin Collier can likely be found performing an advanced robotic surgery or providing first response emergency care to a trauma victim. Meet the skilled cardiothoracic surgeon: https://bit.ly/3AYi2hr

📍 Texas Health Heart and Lung Surgical Specialists

Make an appointment with Justin David Glenn Collier, MD in Plano, TX. Specialist in Cardiothoracic Surgery, General Surgery at Texas Health Heart and Lung Surgical Specialists.

04/07/2026

How serious are heart palpitations? Get answers about the cause, symptoms, treatment options, and more from the American Heart Association.

If you have questions about heart palpitations, we have expert advice.

03/26/2026

Congratulations to Dr. Moritz Wyler von Ballmoos on his appointment to the newly established STS Presidential Task Force on Artificial Intelligence.
In this capacity he will lead efforts to evaluate how artificial intelligence can revolutionize cardiothoracic surgery, ultimately benefiting patients and surgeons alike, while guiding the specialty as it navigates the evolving role of artificial intelligence.

03/24/2026

Good news for coffee lovers diagnosed with atrial fibrillation. Current research doesn’t support the need to give up that jolt of caffeine. However, a cup of coffee does come with a few caveats. Learn more: https://bit.ly/4b6H0cJ

03/19/2026

When it comes to diagnosing and treating valvular disease, it pays to have an internationally recognized heart valve surgeon like Dr. Moritz Wyler von Ballmoos on hand. Just ask Greg Hunt. Read his story: https://bit.ly/4srGD3D

For years, Greg Hunt lived an active, full life with little more than a routine note in his medical chart: a heart murmur. It never slowed him down. At 65, Greg was working, golfing whenever he could, and enjoying time with his family. He had already recovered smoothly from both a hip replacement an...

03/12/2026

Chest pain is scary. When it strikes, making the right treatment choice matters. Here’s what to know to better understand when chest pain is an emergency and when a visit to urgent care is the right choice: https://bit.ly/4kZO6V9

Chest pain? Learn when to call 911 vs. go to urgent care. Understand heart attack symptoms, decision factors, and how Texas Health can help across North Texas.

03/10/2026

Chase Spangler is lucky to be alive after surviving what is commonly known as the widowmaker heart attack. Learn what cardiothoracic surgeon Carlos Macias, M.D., attributed the North Texan's heart event to and the life-saving treatment the 26-year-old received: https://cbsn.ws/4sgGno0

A North Texas man's life was saved after a massive "widowmaker" heart attack at just 26 — quick CPR and surgery gave him a second chance.

03/06/2026

Greg Hunt lived with a heart murmur most of his life. It never was a problem, until suddenly became one. Learn how Greg ended up in the Structural Heart Center at Texas Health Fort Worth for the treatment of heart valve disease. Read for more: https://bit.ly/3ZU2HaS