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  1. UAMS Health
  2. Providers
  3. Jay K. Bhama, M.D.

Jay K. Bhama, M.D. Cardiovascular Surgeon

Primary Appointment Location

Cardiothoracic Clinic
(Part of Heart Center)
4110 Outpatient Circle
Outpatient Center
Second Floor, Suite 2H
Little Rock, AR 72205

Appointment Phone Number
(501) 686-8000
New and Returning Patients
View Location View All Locations

Overview

Patient Type
Adults
Language
English

Patient ratings are not available for this provider. Why not?

Why are there no ratings?

There is no publicly available rating for this medical professional for one of three reasons:

  • He or she does not see patients
  • He or she sees patients but has not yet received the minimum number of Patient Satisfaction Reviews. To be eligible for display, we require a minimum of 30 surveys. This ensures that the rating is statistically reliable and a true reflection of patient satisfaction.
  • He or she is a resident physician.
Jay K. Bhama, M.D.

Make an Appointment With Dr. Bhama

Appointments for new patients are by referral only.

Existing patients can either request an appointment online through UAMS MyChart, contact the clinic directly or call the UAMS Health appointment line at (501) 686-8000.

About Dr. Bhama

Clinical Biography

Jay K. Bhama, M.D., is a heart surgeon, professor and chief of the Division of Cardiovascular Surgery in the Department of Surgery.

He will lead the cardiovascular program at UAMS by working alongside Paul Mounsey, M.D., director of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine in the Department of Internal Medicine. Both departments are in the UAMS College of Medicine.

Bhama is a nationally recognized heart surgeon with significant health care leadership experience within the cardiovascular arena. With a special interest and expertise in heart valve surgery as well as mechanical circulatory support, Bhama brings a unique skillset to the cardiovascular program at UAMS.

Bhama divides his time between UAMS and Baptist Health Medical Center-Little Rock, where he serves as the Heart Failure and Transplant Institute’s surgical director for heart transplantation and co-director for mechanical circulatory support (MCS) and left ventricular assist devices (LVAD).

Bhama formerly was professor and chief of the adult cardiac surgery program at University of Iowa Health Care in Iowa City. Under his leadership, the program became a regional leader in heart valve surgery, structural heart disease and MCS/LVAD. A national expert and thought-leader in the field of heart failure surgery, Bhama also was director of the heart transplantation, MCS, and extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation programs. Prior to that, Bhama was associate director of the cardiothoracic (heart and lung) transplant and artificial heart programs at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Bhama earned his medical degree from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and completed a general surgical residency in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, also at Baylor. He completed cardiothoracic surgical training at George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore. He also completed an advanced cardiac surgery fellowship at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and a fellowship in cardiothoracic transplant and mechanical circulatory support at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

Bhama is a diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and American Board of Thoracic Surgery and is a fellow of the American College of Surgeons, American College of Cardiology, and American College of Chest Physicians. Castle Connolly Medical Ltd. has named him one of the nation’s top doctors in thoracic and cardiac surgery based upon peer nominations.

Bhama is widely published, with over 100 peer-reviewed publications. He holds several patents on innovative medical devices and serves as a reviewer for the field’s leading medical journal. He is also the state’s only cardiothoracic surgeon member of the prestigious American Association for Thoracic Surgery.

Bhama has been in practice for over 15 years and his clinical interests focus on heart failure surgery, such as left ventricular assist devices and heart transplantation, as well as general cardiac surgery, including heart valve surgeries such as complex mitral valve repair. His research focuses on clinical outcomes after heart transplant and MCS procedures and the development of innovative medical devices for the management of advanced heart failure.

Dr. Bhama's Academic Background

Faculty Appointments

Surgery — Cardiovascular Surgery Division
Professor

Education

Medical School
Baylor College of Medicine
Residency
George Washington University Health Sciences Center
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Residency
Johns Hopkins University Hospital
Cardiothoracic Surgery
Fellowship
Mayo Clinic
Advanced Cardiothoracic Surgery
Fellowship
University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine
Cardiothoracic Transplant & Mechanical Circulatory Support

Professional Certifications

  • American Board of Thoracic Surgery
  • American Board of Surgery

Conditions Treated

UAMS providers care for a broad range of conditions, some of which may not be listed below.

  • Heart Attack
  • Heart Failure
  • Heart Valve Disorder
  • Thoracic Aortic Aneurysms

Medical Treatments and Procedures Performed

UAMS providers perform and prescribe a broad range of treatments and procedures, some of which may not be listed below.

  • Aneurysm Repairs
  • Coronary artery bypass operations
  • Heart Valve Repair and Replacement

Dr. Bhama's Areas of Expertise

Image of a male cardiologist gesturing while discussing diagnosis with an unrecognizable female patient.

Heart and Vascular Care

Being a patient at UAMS Health means that you have access to the experts. They work together to give you care that covers all areas of cardiovascular medicine.

View Area of Expertise

Locations Where Dr. Bhama Practices

Exterior of Outpatient Center

Cardiothoracic Clinic (Part of Heart Center) , Primary Location

4110 Outpatient Circle
Outpatient Center
Second Floor, Suite 2H
Little Rock, AR 72205

Appointment Phone Number
(501) 686-8000
New and Returning Patients
View Location Get Directions
UAMS Medical Center exterior

UAMS Medical Center

4301 W. Markham St.
Little Rock, AR 72205

Appointment Phone Number
(501) 686-8000
New and Returning Patients
View Location Get Directions
Exterior of Outpatient Center

Heart Center

4110 Outpatient Circle
Outpatient Center
Second Floor, Suite 2H
Little Rock, AR 72205

Appointment Phone Number
(501) 686-5311
New and Returning Patients
View Location Get Directions
Exterior of Outpatient Center

Aortic Center (Part of Surgery Clinic)

4110 Outpatient Circle
Outpatient Center
Fourth Floor
Little Rock, AR 72205

Appointment Phone Number
(501) 686-6176
New and Returning Patients
View Location Get Directions

Make an Appointment With Dr. Bhama

Appointments for new patients are by referral only.

Existing patients can either request an appointment online through UAMS MyChart, contact the clinic directly or call the UAMS Health appointment line at (501) 686-8000.

UAMS Health LogoUAMS HealthUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Mailing Address: 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: (501) 686-7000
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