Ryan Butts

Ryan Butts is a Professor of Pediatrics and Pediatric Cardiology at UT Southwestern Medical Center, affiliated with the Heart Center - Children's. He holds leadership roles within UTSW's administrative structure. His education includes an MD from the Medical University of South Carolina (2005), followed by pediatrics residency at Texas Children’s Hospital and a pediatric cardiology fellowship in South Carolina. He transitioned to faculty positions in 2011, focusing on advanced cardiovascular care.

His research primarily addresses pediatric heart transplantation, congenital heart disease, and mechanical circulatory support. Key areas include optimizing donor acceptance protocols, reducing transplant rejection risks, and improving outcomes for single-ventricle patients. He has pioneered studies on ventricular function analysis via pressure-volume loops, SGLT-2 inhibitors in heart failure, and novel desensitization strategies for transplant candidates.

His work emphasizes translational research bridging clinical practice and innovation. Recent focus areas include ex vivo organ perfusion techniques, pediatric-specific ventricular assist devices, and managing long-term complications like coronary allograft vasculopathy. Collaborative efforts through networks like ACTION (Advancing Care Through Innovation and Novel Therapies) drive multi-center studies on heart failure management and transplant outcomes.