Alexander Brescia, M.D., M.Sc.

Alex was born in Maryland and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He attended undergrad at the University of Notre Dame, where he double majored in Science Preprofessional Studies and Chinese. After spending 6 months in a lung immunology basic science lab and the next 6 months as a U.S. Student Ambassador at the Shanghai Expo USA Pavilion in Shanghai, China, he completed his medical degree at Saint Louis University School of Medicine. During cardiothoracic residency at the University of Michigan, he has been a member of the Thoracic Surgery Residents Association Executive Committee and served as the President during the 2020-2021 academic year. His research interests include studying the impact of the rapid dissemination of transcatheter technology (e.g., transcatheter aortic valve replacement) on access, outcomes, and resource utilization in cardiac surgery. Additional interests include adult cardiac and aortic surgery clinical outcomes, as well as acute postoperative opioid prescribing and the development of new persistent opioid use among thoracic and cardiac surgical patients.

Mentors:
Steven F. Bolling, MD
Donald S. Likosky, PhD
G. Michael Deeb, MD
Richard Prager, MD
Shinichi Fukuhara, MD
Kiran Lagisetty, MD
Gorav Ailawadi, MD

Describe the impact mentorship programs have had on your residency experience.
My mentorship team has been an invaluable resource during both clinical training and dedicated research time. The collection of individuals who have mentored me in clinical outcomes, health services research, and career development have not only greatly enhanced my training and prospective career but have also taught me how to mentor younger co-residents during training.

Why did you choose to train at Michigan Surgery?
I chose to train at Michigan because it is the most well-rounded and best cardiothoracic surgery training program in the country. The depth of training in adult cardiac, general thoracic, and congenital cardiac surgery you receive at the University of Michigan is unmatched and being afforded the opportunity to train here has been a privilege. As one of the few I-6 programs matching multiple residents per year, we have one of the largest integrated CT training programs in the country, which enhances camaraderie among co-residents during every aspect of training.

What do you like best about living in Ann Arbor?
Ann Arbor is a vibrant city which includes the University of Michigan but is much more than a college town. Notably in the summer, there are events being held every weekend which draw people from inside and outside Michigan. An underrated part of living in Ann Arbor is the extremely close Detroit airport, which has been ranked one of the top airports in the country and makes travel simple and easy. Finally, from going “up north” to the central and western parts of state, Michigan has a ton to offer and endless opportunities to explore.  

What are your hobbies?
I thoroughly enjoy following St. Louis sports teams, namely the St. Louis Cardinals. Prior to medical school, a friend and I started a men’s custom suit company OneLine Tailored which is still operational. I also enjoy watching and playing sports and spending time with my family.