(Philadelphia, PA) - The University of Pennsylvania Health System, Department of Surgery, Cardiothoracic Surgery Division announces the appointment of Rohinton J. Morris, MD, as Surgical Director, Heart Transplantation and Mechanical Assist Programs. In his new role, Dr. Morris will direct management of end-stage heart failure patients and patients who require mechanical ventricular assistance and transplantation. He will also continue development of the Artificial Heart Program.

Dr. Morris has been with the Health System since 1999, and most recently was Associate Director of the program. He is also a Clinical Associate Professor of Surgery at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. Dr. Morris is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and holds memberships in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons as well as the International Society of Heart and Lung Transplantation. A long-time resident of Philadelphia, Dr. Morris was an attending cardiothoracic surgeon previously at Hahnemann University Hospital, where he also headed up the heart transplant program.

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PENN Medicine is a $2.7 billion enterprise dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and high-quality patient care. PENN Medicine consists of the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System.

Penn’s School of Medicine is ranked #2 in the nation for receipt of NIH research funds; and ranked #4 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report’s most recent ranking of top research-oriented medical schools. Supporting 1,400 fulltime faculty and 700 students, the School of Medicine is recognized worldwide for its superior education and training of the next generation of physician-scientists and leaders of academic medicine.

The University of Pennsylvania Health System includes: its flagship hospital, the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, consistently rated one of the nation’s “Honor Roll” hospitals by U.S. News & World Report; Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation's first hospital; Penn Presbyterian Medical Center; a faculty practice plan; a primary-care provider network; two multispecialty satellite facilities; and home health care and hospice.