Cardiothoracic Division

The University of North Carolina performs approximately 1694 cardiac and thoracic surgeries each year.  These cases usually require anesthesiologists who have additional training in this field.  The members of the cardiothoracic team are dedicated to quality patient care, which includes not only supportive training of medical students and residents, but also continuing to further their own education as new advances in the field arise.  Many of our residents have gone on to do a cardiothoracic anesthesia fellowship as a result of the excitement and encouragement they received from this team.

The members of the cardiothoracic anesthesia team include:

• Dr. Warner Lucas, Professor of Anesthesiology and Division Chief, received his medical degree from the University of Florida and completed his anesthesia training at the University of North Carolina.  He is also board certified in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery.  Dr. Lucas is actively involved in resident selection and resident and medical student education.  He is active in clinical and laboratory research and has a special interest in and is certified in transesophageal echocardiography.
  
  
• Dr. Ed Norfleet, Professor and Vice-chair of the Department of Anesthesiology, has spent over thirty years of his medical career leading our department in its mission of clinical service and education.  He graduated from medical school at the University of North Carolina and completed his Anesthesia training in Chapel Hill.  Dr. Norfleet is active on numerous medical committees and has been recognized for his excellence in teaching and public service.  He was recently presented the prestigious Distinguished Faculty Award by the alumnae of our University.
  
  
• Dr. Brian Barrick, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, received his dental degree from the University of North Carolina and his medical degree from Vanderbilt University before completing his anesthesiology residency at UNC in 2005.  Dr. Barrick has a special interest in thoracic anesthesiology.  He also participates as an instructor in the patient simulator and difficult airway courses.
  
  
• Dr. Robert Kyle, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, is the newest member of the cardiothoracic anesthesia team.  Dr. Kyle graduated from University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, and completed a residency in anesthesiology at Bay State Medical Center, as well as a cardiothoracic anesthesiology fellowship at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston, MA.  He is also interested in Obstetric anesthesia and difficult airway management.

The division members compliment one another in both educational and clinical endeavors.  They share a humanistic approach to patient care and provide a supportive environment for educating both medical students and residents.  They all have active lives away from work.  Dr. Norfleet is an accomplished rosarian and fisherman and a noteworthy Tar Heel historian.  He spends time on many do-it-yourself projects and enjoys boating.  Dr. Lucas, when not running ultra-marathons, is tending to a small cattle farm on the edge of town.  Dr. Kyle enjoys sports and listening to music.  All members of the division share the belief that quality patient care requires continuing medical education and dedication.