Robert Ferguson, DO, is a board-certified cardiovascular and thoracic surgeon who is highly skilled in performing a wide range of cardiothoracic surgeries with a focus on minimally-invasive techniques. Let’s get to know more about Dr. Ferguson, his unique skillset and what he loves most about winter.
Q: Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m originally from West Virginia, but have lived in North Carolina for five years now. My wife Chelsea works as a nurse anesthetist in the WakeMed operating room, and we have a beautiful 16-month-old daughter who keeps us busy.
As a teen, I was heavily involved in sports (basketball, baseball and football) — which sparked my interest in preventive medicine, diet and exercise. As an undergraduate, I studied exercise physiology but quickly learned I wanted to use my holistic philosophies for more than personal training — which led me to medical school.
Q: What are some of your favorite winter activities?
I personally love winter. Being from West Virginia, we always had snow during this time of year. There is nothing better than sitting by a fireplace watching the snow fall. When I’m outside, you’re likely to find me snowboarding or trout fishing. On the sports front, we love college sports and specifically our West Virginia Mountaineers – I hope to see them make a run in the NCAA tournament this year.
Q: Talk about your background as an osteopathic physician and how that guides your patient care philosophy.
Osteopathic physicians have a firm belief in treating the entire patient — mind-body-spirit — with a heavy focus on preventive medicine. When these are considered holistically, the body has a remarkable ability to heal itself. With this in mind, I knew I wanted to pursue my medical degree from an osteopathic medical school — and today, I feel this approach allows me to best serve my patients before, during and after surgery.
Q: How did you choose to become a cardiothoracic surgeon?
As a child of a construction worker, I grew up building and using my hands. Throughout my medical school rotations, I found myself enjoying all surgical subspecialties. This ultimately led me to pursue general surgery. While learning general surgery, I found my interest in the heart and lungs tied very closely to the passion I developed for the cardiovascular system very early in life through sports. I fell in love with the anatomy and physiology of the heart and lungs, so I decided to pursue a career in cardiothoracic surgery.
Q: What is most rewarding about being a cardiothoracic surgeon?
The patients are, by far, the most rewarding part of my job. It takes great trust to allow someone to operate on your most vital organs — the heart and lungs. With this bond, I can do everything from removing cancers to restoring blood flow to the ailing heart. The patients’ lives are forever changed. Nothing is better than seeing a patient come back to clinic after surgery and hearing how much better they feel or how they are so relieved to be cancer-free.
This article is a reprint from Heart to Heart Magazine. Subscribe today for your free copy.
