Baptist Health Paducah - Cardiothoracic surgeon Austin Ward returns to Paducah to practice with Baptist Health Medical Group

August 13, 2020

Cardiothoracic surgeon Austin Ward, MD, has joined Nicholas Lopez, MD, at Baptist Health Medical Group Cardiothoracic Surgery.

(Paducah, Ky.)  Aug. 13, 2020 — Cardiothoracic surgeon Austin Ward, MD, has joined Nicholas Lopez, MD, at Baptist Health Medical Group Cardiothoracic Surgery.

Dr. Ward is thankful to be returning home to practice medicine. He was born at Western Baptist Hospital, now Baptist Health Paducah, and a love for math and physics spurred his interest in medicine, especially cardiothoracic surgery.  

“I feel like I hit the jackpot with the chance to come back to my hometown and do what I love every day,” Dr. Ward said. “I love that every patient presents a new challenge or problem to solve. This is where I have the opportunity to use my hands to influence physiology and outcomes every day. It is an honor and privilege to be trusted with the cardiothoracic surgical care of patients and I am thankful for the opportunity to provide world-class care without patients having to travel out of our community.”

Dr. Ward graduated from the University of Kentucky College of Medicine, completed a general surgery residency at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine and a cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.

He specializes in cardiothoracic surgery, treating valvular and ischemic heart disease, as well as benign and malignant diseases of the lungs and esophagus. He focuses on valve repair and replacement, including minimally invasive valve surgery and transcatheter treatments, coronary artery bypass surgery, including multiple arterial grafting, and minimally invasive treatment of lung diseases.

Dr. Ward will be part of the area’s only heart team to offer TAVR (transcatheter aortic valve replacements), an innovative new procedure that offers a minimally invasive alternative to traditional heart surgery.  

BHMG Cardiothoracic Surgery is located in Walker Medical Park 1, Suite 300, on the Baptist Health Paducah campus. The office phone is 270.443.5564.