Michael E. Mitchell

Dr. Michael E. Mitchell is Professor and Chief of Congenital Heart Surgery at the Medical College of Wisconsin, where he leads the ACGME-accredited Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgical Training Program. He holds dual leadership roles at Children's Wisconsin as Co-Medical Director of Cardiothoracic Surgery and Co-Surgical Director of the Herma Heart Institute, and is the endowed S. Bert Litwin Chair of Cardiothoracic Surgery. His clinical training includes prestigious fellowships at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Boston Children's Hospital, and Brigham and Women's Hospital.

Dr. Mitchell's research integrates surgical innovation with molecular diagnostics, focusing on:

• Bioengineered solutions for hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS)
• Genetic determinants of congenital heart defects (particularly MYH6 variants)
• Non-invasive transplant rejection monitoring using cell-free DNA biomarkers
• 3D-bioprinted patient-specific cardiac tissue models
• Surgical outcomes optimization in complex neonatal palliation

His work has advanced minimally invasive techniques and precision diagnostics in congenital cardiac care.

His recent publications demonstrate strong focus on surgical innovation (hybrid palliation for HLHS, Ross procedure modifications), translational diagnostics (cell-free DNA for rejection monitoring), and advanced modeling (iPSC-CM models of Ebstein's anomaly, 3D-bioprinted tissues). The research consistently bridges clinical cardiothoracic surgery with molecular biology and biomedical engineering.

Honors include the endowed S. Bert Litwin Chair of Cardiothoracic Surgery. His national leadership includes positions with:

• United Network for Organ Sharing (Region 7 Heart Review Chair)
• American College of Cardiology (Congenital Program Committee Co-Chair)
• Congenital Heart Surgeons' Society (Standards & Ethics Committee)
• U.S. Department of Defense medical research programs (Scientific Reviewer)

As Program Director of the ACGME Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgery Fellowship, he oversees advanced surgical training. He additionally directs medical student rotations and serves on multiple institutional committees including the Cardiovascular Scientific Advisory Committee and DiGeorge Program Planning Committee.