- Other Post Graduate Training - University of California at San Francisco (1991-1994)
- Fellowship - Stanford University Hospital (2001-2003), Transplant Surgery
- Residency - Stanford University Hospital (1998-2001), General Surgery
- Research Fellowship - Stanford University Hospital (1997-1998), General Surgery
- Residency - Stanford University Hospital (1996-1997), General Surgery
- Internship - Stanford University Hospital (1995-1996), General Surgery
- Medical School - University of California at San Francisco (1988-1995)
- Graduate School - University of California at San Francisco (1991-1994)


Dev M. Desai, M.D., Ph.D.
Program Director - Transplant Surgery Fellowship, UT Southwestern Medical Center; Chief, Pediatric Transplantation - Children's Medical Center Dallas
- Distinguished Scholar in Medical Research
- Surgery - Surgical Transplantation
- Kidney & Liver Transplantation Surgery
- Pediatric Transplant Surgery
Biography
Dev M. Desai, M.D., Ph.D., is the Regents Distinguished Scholar in Medical Research and a Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics in the Division of Surgical Transplantation at UT Southwestern Medical Center, where he also serves as Director of the Transplant Surgery Fellowship. He specializes in pediatric and adult liver, kidney, pancreas, and intestinal transplantation, as well as open and laparoscopic hepatobiliary and pancreatic surgery, portal hypertensive vascular decompression procedures, and laparoscopic donor nephrectomy.
Dr. Desai earned his medical degree at the University of California, San Francisco, where he also completed a doctorate in immunology. He performed his residency in surgery and fellowship in transplant surgery at Stanford University Medical Center.
Certified by the American Board of Surgery and the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, he joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2007.
In addition to his roles at UTSW, he is the Chief of Pediatric Transplantation at Children’s Medical Center Dallas.
Dr. Desai gives presentations and lectures around the world on his translational research in transplantation. The author of numerous scholarly articles and book chapters, he also serves on the editorial board of the American Journal of Robotic Surgery and as a reviewer for the Hepatology Journal, Journal of Pediatric Nephrology, Pediatric Transplantation Journal, and journals published by Nature Publishing Group.
He serves on the boards of the Society of Asian Academic Surgeons and the National Pediatric Liver Review Board for the United Network of Organ Sharing, as well as the Medical Advisory Board of the Southwest Transplant Alliance. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and a member of the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, the American Surgical Association, the Halsted Surgical Society, the International Pediatric Transplant Association, and the Society of University Surgeons.
In 2017, Dr. Desai earned the Dallas Innovates Award for his work with Smart Pills, which are pills with internal sensors that help physicians monitor children’s health.
Education & Training
Professional Associations & Affiliations
- American College of Surgeons
- American Society of Transplant Surgeons
- American Surgical Association
- Halsted Surgical Society
- International Pediatric Transplant Association
- Society of Asian Academic Surgeons
- Society of University Surgeons
Honors & Awards
- Joel J. Rosyln Lecturer 2022, Academic Surgical Congress
- Dallas Innovates Award 2017, Dallas Innovates
- #6, 25 Biggest Healthcare Innovations in 25 Years 2017, Children’s Hospital Association
- America’s Top Surgeons, 2010, 2012, 2013, Consumers’ Research Council of America
- John Henry Smith Award 2000, Stanford University School of Medicine
- Medical Research Award 1994, American Association of Physicians from India
- Henry Christian Memorial Award 1990, American Federation of Clinical Research
- Dean’s Prize in Medical Research 1989-1990, University of California, San Francisco
Books & Publications
-
Books
-
Liver transplantation in Anesthesiologist’s Manual of Surgical Procedures (5th ed.)
Desai DM, Esquivel CO (2014), Philadelphia, Lippincott Williams Wilkins -
Rejection in Medical Care of the Liver Transplant Patient (3rd ed.)
Collins BH, Desai DM (2006), Blackwell Science -
The spleen in First Exposure to General Surgery
Desai DM (2006), McGraw-Hill
-
Liver transplantation in Anesthesiologist’s Manual of Surgical Procedures (5th ed.)
-
Publications
-
Management of sensitized pediatric patients prior to renal transplantation.
Pirojsakul K, Desai D, Lacelle C, Seikaly MG Pediatric nephrology (Berlin, Germany) 2016 Jan -
Glycogen storage disease type III diagnosis and management guidelines.
Kishnani PS, Austin SL, Arn P, Bali DS, Boney A, Case LE, Chung WK, Desai DM, El-Gharbawy A, Haller R, Smit GP, Smith AD, Hobson-Webb LD, Wechsler SB, Weinstein DA, Watson MS Genetics in medicine : official journal of the American College of Medical Genetics 2010 Jul 12 7 446-63 -
Liver transplantation for glycogen storage disease type Ia.
Reddy SK, Austin SL, Spencer-Manzon M, Koeberl DD, Clary BM, Desai DM, Smith AD, Kishnani PS Journal of hepatology 2009 Sep 51 3 483-90 -
Antegrade retrieval of double J stents with capture of the bladder end in three young children.
Koral K, Desai D, Gargollo P, Snodgrass W Clinical imaging 2012 Sep-Oct 36 5 626-8 -
Liver Transplantation
Desai, Esquivel Anesthesiologist’s Manual of Surgical Procedures, 3rd Ed 2003 Lippincott Williams Wilki
-
Management of sensitized pediatric patients prior to renal transplantation.
Research
- Clinical immunosuppression trials
- Medication adherence
- Molecular biomarkers of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders
Clinical Focus
- Kidney & Liver Transplantation Surgery
- Pediatric Transplant Surgery
- Hepatobiliary Surgery
Results: 1 Locations
Children's Medical Center of Dallas
1935 Medical District DriveDallas, Texas 75235 214-730-5437 Directions to Children's Medical Center of Dallas