Hello, my name is Dr. Karen Thompson, and I am a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon at UF Health Heart and Vascular Surgery in Leesburg, Florida. Cardiac surgery is my main focus with professional expertise in coronary artery bypass grafting, valvular surgery and surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation. Additionally, I am actively involved in the structural heart program which includes the Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR) and Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair (Mitral Clip) procedures.

I graduated with honors, earning my osteopathic medical degree from Midwestern University of Chicago and was the recipient of the Dean’s Commendation Award. After medical school, I completed my osteopathic internship at Illinois Masonic Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. My postdoctoral training included a five-year general surgery residency at Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. Following the completion of my residency in cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Mississippi, I continued to pursue a two-year adult cardiothoracic surgery fellowship at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.

In addition to my clinical and surgical expertise, I have spent time as a clinical faculty member at Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois, where I received specialty training in mitral valve surgery, working with nationally renowned valve experts.

I am board-certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery and have active memberships in the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the Southern Thoracic Surgical Association, the Florida Medical Association and the Florida Society of Thoracic Surgeons and Cardiovascular Surgeons.

I have a passion for cardiac surgery but also embrace the philosophy that the best treatment for heart disease is prevention. I believe that healthy relationships, nutrition, exercise and stress reduction are important components of good cardiac health. My interests include quality time with my family and friends, travel, CrossFit, tennis and my faith.