Dr. Brian Houston is a cardiologist specializing in the management of advanced heart failure, including the care of patients before and after heart transplantation or left ventricular assist device (LVAD). After graduating from Emory University School of Medicine, Dr. Houston completed residency at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. He was invited to serve as an assistant chief of service of the Thayer Firm at Johns Hopkins Hospital. He remained at Johns Hopkins for his general cardiology fellowship and spent an additional year of fellowship there training in the care of advanced heart failure, LVADs, and transplantation. Dr. Houston has been invited to present his research work at international scientific meetings. He has a particular interest in cardiac sarcoidosis and in the effects of LVAD support on the gastrointestinal tract, blood, and the right side of the heart. He is currently the director of mechanical circulatory support, Heart Failure system medical director, holds the Volpe SmartState Endowed Chair, and is the section co-chief for Advanced Heart Failure at MUSC.