Sean McCarney, MD

Sean McCarney, MD is a board certified cardiac surgeon specializing in thoracic transplantation, mechanical support, and high-risk adult cardiac surgery. He performs high-risk cardiac surgery and advanced heart failure therapeutics with Methodist Hospital's Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Program.

After studying biology and chemistry while playing football at the University of San Diego, Dr. McCarney undertook graduate work in pathology at University of Chicago and cellular and molecular biology at University of Pennsylvania. He made his way back home to attend medical school at University of Illinois at Chicago. He stayed in Chicago for an internship at Stroger Cook County Hospital, Rush University and a residency in general surgery at University of Illinois, Metropolitan Group Hospitals.

Dr. McCarney then completed a residency in cardiothoracic surgery at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System in New Hyde Park, NY before becoming a Clinical Associate in Transplantation and Mechanical Circulatory Support at Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland.

When McCarney saw his first heart surgery he immediately knew it was what he wanted to do. "When I go into an operating room it very much echoes stepping onto a football field on game day", he said. "It has the same level of communication and coordination, with everyone playing a role in orchestrating the best outcome."

In the Spring of 2020, Dr. McCarney participated in the 500th heart transplant for the Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Program. Methodist Hospital is the first and only heart transplant program in South Texas to reach this clinical milestone. His unique areas of practice include minimal impact LVAD insertion and high-risk adult cardiac surgery.

Dr. McCarney is a member of several professional organizations, including the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation, Society of Thoracic Surgeons and American College of Surgeons.

Dr. McCarney believes the best outcomes happen when the whole team works together and that includes not just the surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses, but also the patient and family.