Congratulations to Dr. Benjamin Haithcock on his promotion to Professor of Surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery.
Dr. Haithcock received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor in 1993. He spent one year in a Post Baccalaureate Premedical Program at Michigan State University then earned his M.D. from Michigan State University in 1998. Dr. Haithcock continued his medical training as a General Surgery Resident at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit, Michigan from July 1998 through June of 2004. While there, he completed a Surgical Research Fellowship in the Cardiovascular Laboratory at Henry Ford Hospital. In July 2004 he began his Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency here at UNC Chapel Hill, which he completed in July of 2007. With the completion of his residency, Dr. Haithcock joined the UNC faculty as an Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. In November of 2014, Dr. Haithcock was promoted to a Clinical Associate Professor.
Dr. Haithcock has made significant contributions to the clinical mission of the Department of Surgery and The University of North Carolina. His patient care has been described as exemplary, knowledgeable and compassionate, and his professionalism is a noted focal point of patients and colleagues alike. Dr. Haithcock truly enjoys working at UNC Chapel Hill and serving the patient population. He appreciates the broad spectrum and diversity of patients that are attracted and referred to UNC. Patients appreciate his listening and teaching skills as they maneuver through some (oftentimes) stressful situations. His expertise and continued daily medical efforts with the department are stabilizing influences for patients and staff.
Dr. Haithcock’s primary focus is on lung transplantation. In 2008 he began serving as the Surgical Director of the Lung Transplant Program with UNC Hospitals. This program is one of the oldest and most respected programs in the country and is a recognized national leader in lung care. Since 2011, Dr. Haithcock has held the Section Chief leadership position of the Section of Thoracic Surgery in the UNC Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery. Through his direction, the thoracic oncology and lung transplantation programs continue to thrive.
As further evidence of his commitment to patient care, Dr. Haithcock received the Cardiovascular Thoracic and Transplant Award of Excellence for dedication to the advancement of surgical science and patient care with the design of the Haithcock Rib Plate. This innovative design was born out of his desire to develop a rib plate that had fewer complications than those he had commonly used. He also received specialized education with the HeartMate 3 LVAD surgical training and HeartMate II LVAD surgical implantation training. Both of these devices can be used to make meaningful differences in patient’s lives.
Dr. Haithcock has a passion for teaching and integrates teaching into all his clinics and research. Beginning early in his UNC career, he has been a respected clinical educator supervising resident physicians, medical students during Multidisciplinary Thoracic Oncology Clinics, in the operating room at UNC hospitals, and during hospital rounds. He has served as the residency Program Director of the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery continually since May of 2013. His involvement with the program allows him to educate both medical students and residents. His passion for teaching is evidenced by numerous awards over the years.
Dr. Haithcock’s teaching history also includes both national and regional presentations, Grand Rounds, broadcast interviews, lectures and preceptorships.