Chelsea M. Loria, MD

Why I chose a career in CT surgery: When I was in college, my brother suffered a traumatic spinal cord injury that completely changed his quality of life. As I progressed through medical school, my brother’s story served as a constant reminder that I not only want to save lives but also provide a greater quality of life for my patients. Scrubbing into my first aortic valve replacement, I was mesmerized by the delicate and precise nature of cardiac surgery. I was able to follow that patient through her first post-op visit, and I witnessed how her surgery had given her a wonderful, new, active life. I was hooked. Every experience after that only continued to confirm my passion for this field.

Why I chose IU School of Medicine: After completing medical school at the IU School of Medicine, I knew there was no better place for me to train. The culture of IU is family. Cardiothoracic surgery has the potential for the highest highs and the lowest lows. At either of those points (and really every moment in between) it is crucial to be surrounded by a group that is not simply a team, but a family. I have seen my fellow residents celebrate together after successfully completing their first TVR “skin-to-skin”, and I have seen them mourn together during incomprehensible loss. There are so many strengths to this training program, but the most important thing about IUSM is this: we take care of each other.

Professional/ Research Interests: One of the reasons I chose to pursue cardiothoracic surgery as a career is that I truly love each branch. I enjoy congenital for its anatomy, dynamic physiology, and family-based care. I enjoy thoracic for its broader scope of pathophysiology and the opportunity to work with cancer patients. However, I feel most passionate about cardiac surgery, particularly, valvular heart disease. The potential of these surgeries to drastically improve a patient’s quality of life is what initially drew me to this field, and I believe it will be what continues to drive me throughout my career. In addition, I hope to pursue an academic career so that I can advance the field through education and research.

Personal Interests/ Hobbies: My favorite thing to do is spend time with my husband, Matt, and our dog, Scoober. Together we enjoy running, rollerblading, and on warm days, paddle boarding on the lake near our home. We love to host board game night with family and friends. My favorite game is “The Game of Things” because it is the perfect mix of creativity, competition, and fun. On my own, I enjoy taking dance lessons (particularly ballet) and visiting local coffee shops.

McCurdy CM, Faiza Z, Namburi N, et al. Eleven-Year Experience Treating Blunt Thoracic Aortic Injury at a Tertiary Referral Center [published online ahead of print, 2020 Jan 18]. Ann Thorac Surg. 2020;S0003-4975(20)30035-7. doi:10.1016/j.athoracsur.2019.11.046

Martinez Licha CR, McCurdy CM, Maldonado SM, Lee LS. Current Management of Acute Pulmonary Embolism. Ann Thorac Cardiovasc Surg. 2020;26(2):65-71. doi:10.5761/atcs.ra.19-00158