Cornell Brooks II, MD

Cornell is an Integrated Cardiothoracic Surgery Resident at Yale. He earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Amherst College before completing medical school at the University of Illinois Chicago.

His academic interests center on adult cardiac surgery, outcomes research, and advancing quality of care through clinical investigation. He has authored or co-authored 26 peer-reviewed publications spanning topics including mitral valve surgery, coronary artery bypass grafting, regionalization of cardiac surgical care, epilepsy, and digital health. His research career began at the National Institutes of Health and Yale New Haven Hospital, and he later served as a Research Associate in the Department of Cardiac Surgery at Yale under the mentorship of Dr. Arnar Geirsson. As an AATS Scanlan Family Summer Scholar—one of only two medical students selected nationwide—he participated in complex cardiac operations while leading patient-centered outcomes research.

Beyond research, Cornell is committed to surgical education, mentorship, and developing the next generation of physician-scientists. His long-term goal is to advance the field of cardiothoracic surgery through excellence in patient care, innovation, and clinical research.