Dr. Wearden is a pediatric cardiothoracic surgeon, Surgical Director of Pediatric Heart and Lung Transplantation, Director of Pediatric Mechanical Cardiopulmonary Support program, and Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC. Dr. Wearden currently is spearheading two National Institutes of Health-funded projects to develop an internal and external ventricular assist device (VAD) for young children to help keep their blood pumping during life support or as a bridge to heart-lung transplant. Dr. Wearden completed medical school and surgical residency and earned a doctorate in pharmacology and toxicology from West Virginia University. He completed his cardiothoracic surgery residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and was Chief Clinician Fellow in pediatric cardiac surgery at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto. Dr. Wearden was also director of surgery for preclinical testing at the McGowan Institute for Regenerative Medicine.
Current role