Biography

Fernando Torres, M.D., is a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center. He is the Clinical Program Development Chief in the Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine. He is also the Medical Director of Lung Transplantation and Head of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program.

Originally from Puerto Rico, Dr. Torres holds a bachelor's degree in biology and chemistry from Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he also received his medical degree. He completed internal medicine residency training at UT Southwestern Medical Center and then obtained advanced training through a fellowship in pulmonary disease and critical medicine with a focus on lung transplant and lung volume reduction at the Anschutz Medical Campus at the University of Colorado Denver. 

Certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine in pulmonary disease and critical care medicine, Dr. Torres joined the UT Southwestern faculty in 2000. 

Dr. Torres' research interests include infections in lung transplant patients, cardiopulmonary disorders, and pulmonary arterial hypertension. He has been the Principal Investigator on several studies and his investigations have resulted in numerous publications in peer-reviewed and non-peer-reviewed journals. Additionally, he has presented his findings at scientific conferences throughout the United States and around the world. 

At UT Southwestern, Dr. Torres is involved in several committees. These include the Revenue Cycle Committee, the Professional Affairs and Ethics Committee, the Solid Organ Transplant Programs Steering Committee, and the Transplant Advisory Committee. 

Dr. Torres is active in several professional societies, including the Texas Medical Association, and the International Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation Lung Transplant and Pulmonary Hypertension Councils. He is currently the Associate Editor of Advances in Pulmonary Hypertension. 

Personal Note

Outside of medicine, Dr. Torres is a member of the Mid-Cities Stamp Club.

Education

Medical School
Weill Cornell Medical College (1994)
Internship
UT Southwestern Medical Center (1995), Internal Medicine
Residency
UT Southwestern Medical Center (1997), Internal Medicine
Fellowship
University of Colorado Health Sciences Center (2000), Pulmonary Diseases & Critical Care Medicine

Research Interest

  • Lung Transplantation
  • Pulmonary Hypertension

Publications

Featured Publications LegendFeatured Publications

Efficacy and safety of ralinepag, a novel oral IP agonist, in PAH patients on mono or dual background therapy Results from a Phase 2 randomized, parallel group, placebo-controlled trial.
Torres F, Farber H, Ristic A, McLaughlin V, Adams J, Zhang J, Klassen P, Shanahan W, Grundy J, Hoffmann I, Cabell C, Escribano Subías P, Sood N, Keogh A, D'Souza G, Rubin L, Eur. Respir. J. 2019 Aug
Incidence and variables associated with 30-day mortality after lung transplantation.
Banga A, Mohanka M, Mullins J, Bollineni S, Kaza V, Huffman L, Peltz M, Bajona P, Wait M, Torres F Clin Transplant 2019 Feb 33 2 e13468

Honors & Awards

  • Cornell University - 1990
    Graduated with distinction in all subjects (1990)
  • Golden Key National Honor Society
    Member (1990)
  • C.H. Ferguson Scholarship
    (1988)
  • Incentive for Excellence
    Scholarship Prize from NSF: Physics-1988, Chemistry-1989 (1988)

Professional Associations/Affiliations

  • American College of Physicians
  • American Medical Association
  • American Thoracic Society for Heart & Lung Transplantation
  • Pulmonary Hypertension Association
  • Texas Medical Association