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Arizona honors Gulshan Sethi with $1M endowed surgery chair
Over his career, he performed more than 15,000 open-heart surgeries.
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Pranavi Sharma - Fri, 10, Apr 2026
- 03:39 EDT
- 16
Dr. Gulshan Sethi with his cardiothoracic surgery team / University of Arizona
Dr. Gulshan Sethi, an Indian-origin cardiothoracic surgeon, is being honored with an endowed professorship at the University of Arizona College of Medicine – Tucson, established through $1 million in gifts and commitments from donors recognizing his career in surgical care, research and training.
Sethi earned his MD from the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences in 1964.
The university said the Gulshan Sethi, MD Endowed Professorship in Cardiothoracic Surgery reflects his contributions over more than three decades. Sethi joined the university in 1988 and retired in 2017 as professor emeritus of surgery. He currently serves as part-time faculty and is director of clinical services at the Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine. He maintains an active practice in Tucson, Arizona.
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During his tenure, Sethi helped shape cardiothoracic surgery and cardiovascular research. In 1989, he performed Arizona’s first single-lung transplant and established the Circulatory Science Program, described as the first master’s-level program in pharmacology and perfusion technology. Over his career, he performed more than 15,000 open-heart surgeries, published more than 250 peer-reviewed articles and trained multiple generations of surgeons.
“His pioneering work in cardiothoracic surgery formed the foundation for significant advances in the field that are now considered routine procedures and have resulted in saving thousands of lives in Arizona and beyond,” said Dr. Michael M.I. Abecassis, dean of the College of Medicine – Tucson.
Sethi said, “I am deeply honored by this recognition.” He added that his career was shaped by mentors, colleagues and patients. “Training the next generation of cardiac surgeons was one of the greatest privileges of my career,” he said. “This professorship represents not only the past but an ongoing responsibility to advance the field through innovation, collaboration and education.”
Lead gifts came from Sethi and his family, along with several donors, and more than 55 additional contributors, including former patients, residents and colleagues, supported the fund.
University officials said the endowment will support recruitment and training in cardiothoracic surgery and contribute to broader fundraising efforts tied to the Sarver Heart Center. The initiative is part of a larger campaign aimed at expanding cardiovascular research and clinical care.
“Cardiothoracic education and patient care would not be where it is today if it were not for pioneers like Dr. Gulshan Sethi,” said Dr. Hesham Sadek, director of the Sarver Heart Center.
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