UH Cardiac Surgeon Leads Team Generating Great Outcomes at UH Parma

UH Clinical Update | February 2024

Gregory Rushing, MD

By nature, Greg Rushing, MD, is a friendly, gregarious fellow. Part way through his college studies in microbiology at the University of Mississippi, he realized the solitary life of lab research was not for him.

“It was so lonely being in the lab by myself all the time,” he says, even though the work he was doing interested him – including the efforts to find a cure for Bartonella henselae, also known as cat scratch fever, and a vaccine for HIV.

“But I was working on other people’s ideas and dreams, and I wanted it to be about my ideas and dreams.”

He decided to go to medical school and become an infectious disease doctor. Then a research mentor who was a vascular surgeon exposed him to other options on rounds, and he chose instead to become a surgeon.

Talent in Action

Today, Dr. Rushing is a cardiothoracic surgeon – and one with great impact. UH CEO Cliff A. Megerian, MD, FACS, Jane and Henry Meyer Chief Executive Officer Distinguished Chair, recently recognized Dr. Rushing with a “Dinner with the Doc” honor for his professionalism and effectiveness within UH Parma Medical Center’s cardiac surgery program, increasing volume 222 percent from 2020 to 2022.

He was nominated for the award by James Hill, MD, Chief Operating Officer at UH Parma Medical Center. Dr. Hill noted that, “Our national quality forum coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) surgery process measures are at an impressive 100 percent. His dedication to his patients and profession has been unwavering.”

Path to UH

Greg Rushing grew up in the small town of Tavares, Fla. – about a 45-minute drive north of Orlando. Many of his relatives were alums of “Ole Miss,” so that’s where he went. He returned to his home state for medical school, to the University of South Florida in Tampa. His residency was in general surgery, and he planned on vascular surgery after that. Then came another change of plan.

“I decided on cardiac surgery because I so enjoyed the wire and catheter skills we were doing when first training. We were doing a lot of endovascular work,” he says. “Then I thought I would never get to do open surgery, and I realized in cardiac surgery I could do both.”

Dr. Rushing and his wife, Amy Rushing, MD, a trauma surgeon, were working at the Wexner Medical Center at The Ohio State University when she was recruited to be the trauma medical director at UH Cleveland Medical Center. Both joined UH in 2020.

On the Leading Edge of Cardiac Care

Transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) has led to a paradigm shift in the care of patients with aortic stenosis, Dr. Rushing says. “The technology we now have to deliver valves to the heart is astounding,” he says. The time in the hospital is much shorter and recovery is much quicker, because the surgery is minimally invasive, which also brings the possibility of strokes way down.

Surgery for atrial fibrillation (AFib) has also come a long way.

AFib once was treated with a traditional ‘open’ surgery, which required a heart-lung machine. Now, instead of a full sternotomy, small incisions create a far less painful recovery.

Atmosphere for Success

But Dr. Rushing brings more than his technical expertise to patients - his patient satisfaction score is 100 percent. He gives much credit to his colleagues and leaders.

“It’s easier to build a program with a great team to support you, and at UH Parma, we have great support from the administration,” he says. “We have ICU nurses, anesthesiologists and cardiologists who all wanted the surgery program to succeed.”

During planning, Dr. Rushing recalls: “When we asked, ‘Can we improve our transesophageal echocardiography?’ The answer was yes. ‘Can we improve our outpatient facility for clinic?’  Yes. ‘Can we have specially trained nurses to take care of post-op heart surgery patients?’ Yes. I was set up for success by a good team.”

The second part, he adds, is this: “If you’re a nice guy, people will refer patients to you. It’s all about the three As: one is affable. Are you nice? Two is able. You’ve got to have great results, and we do. The third is available – you have to pick up when people call you.”

Details matter. One of Dr. Rushing’s first requests was for white boards in patient rooms, so he could sit down with patients and explain the procedure.  

“I’ll draw a little cartoon of the heart and draw pictures of what the surgery will do,” he adds. “Most people do better with pictures than they do with words.”

Their knowledge and understanding removes the fear of the unknown. And, what they do know is that they have a caring surgeon who has taken the time to speak to them, and carefully listen to their concerns.

To nominate a physician for this honor, please click here. The next deadline is May 2.