Pediatrics CertifiedBrian Reemtsen, MD

Brian Reemtsen, M.D., is a Professor of Surgery and Section Chief in the division of congenital cardiac surgery for the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) at Arkansas Children’s Hospital (ACH). He is the Director of the Heart Institute at ACH. Dr. Reemtsen holds the Log a Load for Kids of Arkansas Endowed Chair in Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery.

Dr. Reemtsen earned his medical degree from New York Medical College. He completed his internship and residency at the University of California at Los Angeles School of Medicine, where he also served as chief resident. He trained as a fellow in cardiac surgery at the University of Washington, followed by a fellowship in congenital heart surgery at the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, England. 

A native of Michigan, Dr. Reemtsen joined ACH and UAMS in 2017, after being recruited from UCLA, where he was the Chief of congenital heart surgery for nine years. He is board certified by the American Board of Surgery, the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, and the Congenital Heart subspecialty. Dr. Reemtsen is a member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Western Thoracic Surgical Association, and the Arkansas Medical Society. His clinical interests include complex neonatal cardiac surgery, heart transplants, and surgical treatment for adults with congenital heart disease.

Research interests include neurodevelopmental outcomes of children following heart surgery, ABO-incompatible heart transplantation, the treatment of Ebstein’s Anomaly in the neonate.

Medical Degree

• New York Medical College - 1995

Residency

• UCLA Medical Center - 2002
• University of Washington - 2004

Fellowship

• Great Ormond Street NHS Hospital for Children - 2005