Dr. Dworkin

Gary H. Dworkin, MD RPVI was born in Cleveland Ohio and is a board-certified cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon.

In 1967, when Dr. Dworkin was only 10 years old, his eyes fell on the cover of an issue of LIFE magazine. The headline appeared above the picture of a bed-ridden patient attended by two nurses. It read: “Gift of a Human Heart.” The story was of the very first heart transplant, performed in Cape Town, South Africa. “That was my inspiration to become a cardiovascular surgeon,” Dr. Dworkin says. And he became one, with a long list of accomplishments to his credit.

Dr. Dworkin was a Clinical Associate in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Cleveland Clinic from July 1991 to July 1992. Earlier, his bachelor’s and master’s degrees were earned from Northwestern University through its combined, four-year BA/MS honors program. His medical degree is from the Medical College of Ohio in Toledo. His internship, general surgery residency and cardiovascular and thoracic surgery fellowship were at the Medical College of Virginia in Richmond. After leaving Cleveland Clinic in 1992, Dr. Dworkin joined Cardiac Surgical Associates in Tampa Bay, Fla., contributing to its becoming one of the largest private practice adult and pediatric cardiovascular and thoracic surgical groups in the country.

Elected by his peers, Dr. Dworkin is now a Past-President of the Florida Society of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgeons. This organization established in 1967, includes the majority of all cardiothoracic surgeons actively practicing in the State of Florida. Its goal is to provide continuing education and advocacy for cardiothoracic surgeons to ensure the highest level of patient care. The Society also holds an annual meeting to provide topical and valuable educational opportunities in science, as well as political and economic information useful to its members.

Dr. Dworkin’s affiliation with the Cleveland Clinic has continued over many years serving on the Cleveland Clinic Alumni Board, and as its President. He is now a Past-President of the Cleveland Clinic Alumni Association.

Among Dr. Dworkin’s accomplishments are observing, teaching and performing cardiovascular and thoracic surgery in Europe, Canada, China and Latin America. He has led five medical missions to the Dominican Republic, providing cardiovascular surgical care to the disadvantaged. He is a member of the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American College of Phlebology, the American Venous Forum and is Certified as a Registered Physician in Vascular Interpretation (RPVI). Dr. Dworkin is an avid runner, swimmer, fitness expert and author. Dr. Dworkin and his two sons, Alex and Jack, enjoy foreign travel, fishing, scuba diving, running and speaking Spanish.