About Dr. Gorman
Robert C. Gorman, MD, is Professor of Surgery, Director of Cardiac Surgical Research and a member of the Bioengineering Graduate Group at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Gorman received a BS in chemical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and a MD from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey. Dr. Gorman completed residencies in general surgery and cardiothoracic surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Since joining the Faculty of University of Pennsylvania in 1999, Dr. Gorman has developed a research organization dedicated to the translation of basic scientific findings into effective and less invasive therapies for structural heart disease. The unique skill set of his research group has attracted collaborative international relationships in both academia and industry.
Dr. Gorman’s research interests include the pathophysiology and treatment of structural heart disease, cardiac imaging, valve calcification and biocompatibility of synthetic surfaces.
Dr. Gorman has been continuously funded for the past 15 years by National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association, philanthropic organizations and industry. He has managed 42M dollars of research funding during his career.
Dr. Gorman has served on over 60 advisory committees for the National Institutes of Health, the American Heart Association and several international funding organizations. He has published over 250 original articles, chapters and reviews. He is currently on the editorial board of Annals of Thoracic Surgery. Dr. Gorman has mentored over 40 post-doctoral fellows, medical students, graduate students and undergraduates.
Dr. Gorman has integrated an active entrepreneurial approach to his research effort. He has 14 issued or pending patent applications which form the core intellectual property support for five start-up companies.
Faculty Appointments
2010 - present
Professor of Surgery
Perelman School of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
2005 - 2010
Associate Professor of Surgery
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1999 - 2005
Assistant Professor of Surgery
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1996 - 1999
Instructor of Cardiothoracic Surgery
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1995 - 1996
Instructor of Surgery
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1990 - 1995
Assistant Instructor of Surgery
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1990 - 1995
Assistant Instructor of Surgery
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Hospital and Administrative Appointments
2003 - present
Director of Cardiac Surgical Research
1999 - 2010
Active Surgeon, Veterans Affairs Medical Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1999 - 2010
Active Surgeon, Pennsylvania Hospital
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1999 - 2010
Active Surgeon
Presbyterian Medical Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1999 - 2010
Attending Surgeon
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1985 - 1989
MD - Robert Wood Johnson Medical School/
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey
Piscataway, New Jersey
1984 - 1985
Study in the Department of Bioengineering
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (no degree awarded)
1981 - 1984
BSChE (Chemical Engineering, Summa Cum Laude)
Newark College of Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Newark, New Jersey
Postgraduate Training and Fellowship Appointments
1996 - 1999
Resident in Cardiothoracic Surgery
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1995 - 1996
Chief Resident in Surgery
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1994 - 1995
Senior Resident in Surgery
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1992 - 1994
Research Fellow
Harrison Department of Surgical Research
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1990 - 1992
Junior Resident in Surgery
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
1989 - 1990
Intern in Surgery
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Awards
2010
New Jersey Institute of Technology Outstanding Alumnus Award
2007 - 2012
AHA Established Investigator Award, American Heart Association,
2004, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Spencer Morris Prize Examiner, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
2000
Society of University Surgeons Foundation Fellowship (Declined)
2000 - 2002
American Surgical Association Foundation Fellowship
1996
Resident Scholar Award
Department of Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
1995
Resident Scholar Award
Department of Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
1994
Resident Scholar Award
Department of Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
1993
National Research Service Award (NIH)
1993
Resident Scholar Award
Department of Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
1992
National Research Service Award (NIH)
1991
Resident Scholar Award
Department of Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
1991
Resident Scholar Award
Department of Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
1990
Resident Scholar Award
Department of Surgery, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
1988
Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society
1984-85
University Fellowship, University of Pennsylvania, Department of Bioengineering
1984
Valedictorian (1 of 722), New Jersey Institute of Technology (GPA 4.0/4.0)
1984
NJIT Academic Achievement Award
1984
NJIT Alumni Association Outstanding Student Award
1984
NJIT Alumni Association Outstanding Student in Chemical Engineering Award
1984
Dr. Charles L. Mantell Emeritus Professor of Chemical Engineering Merit Award
1984
Dr. Joseph Joffe Distinguished Professor of Chemical Engineering Emeritus Merit Award
1983
Stauffer Chemical Foundation Chemical Engineering Scholarship
1983
Omega Chi Epsilon, National Chemical Engineering Honor Society
1980 - 1981
In top 1% of all Plebe Midshipmen, United States Naval Academy, Class of 1984
Research
The principal goal of the Gorman Cardiovascular Research Group (GCRG) is to develop more effective and, when possible, less invasive approaches to the treatment of structural cardiovascular disease. We are committed to:
- A better understanding of all aspects of structural cardiovascular disease.
- The design, development and commercialization of new, effective and less invasive treatment strategies for structural cardiovascular disease.
- The development and maintenance of clinically relevant large animal models of structural cardiovascular disease.
- Testing of emerging technologies developed by corporate/ academic colleagues.
- The design, development and implementation of new and novel imaging modalities that can guide emerging therapeutic technologies and allow for better clinical risk stratification for individual patients.
- The education of surgical, medical, engineering and radiology trainees at all academic levels.
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