Physicians

All of the highly skilled surgeons at Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons are board certified in their area of specialty and keep their knowledge and skills current with continuing medical education. Many of our doctors have added skills in various areas of specialization.

Individually and collectively, the physicians of CTVS have amassed a record of medical "firsts" for Central Texas including performing the first kidney and heart transplants in the area. From our founding in 1958, our physicians together with the clinical team of physician assistants, nurses and technicians have shared a common commitment to people and their health as well as to the community. Outside of medicine, our physicians have various interests and are involved in numerous civic and community organizations.

Cardiothoracic Surgeons

Pediatric Cardiothoracic Surgeons

Stephen J. Dewan, M.D.
Kenneth A. Fox, M.D.

San Angelo Office

Jason E. Felger, M.D.

Vascular Surgeons

Physicians Emeriti

A fully trained surgeon is a physician who, after medical school, has gone through years of training in an accredited residency program to learn the specialized skills of a surgeon. One good sign of a surgeon’s competence is a certification by a national surgical board approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties. All board certified surgeons have satisfactorily completed an approved residency training program and have passed a rigorous specialty examination.

When a physician is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, F.A.C.S, it is a further indication of his/her qualifications. Surgeons who become Fellows of the College have passed a comprehensive evaluation of their surgical training and skills; they also have demonstrated their commitment to high standards of ethical conduct. This evaluation is conducted according to national standards that were established to ensure patients receive the best possible surgical care.

**All Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons physicians are board certified and approved by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

**All Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgeons physicians are Fellows or Candidates of the American College of Surgeons.

Physician Assistants

CTVS employs Physician Assistants (PAs) to participate in a wide array of clinical duties. PAs are medical professionals licensed by the state of Texas to practice medicine with physician supervision. PAs receive post graduate education in intensive medical programs accredited by The Accreditation Review Commission on Education for the Physician Assistant (ARC-PA) and are certified by The National Commission on Certification of PAs (NCCPA).

Our experienced PAs are credentialed at each hospital and work closely with the surgeons to assist with preoperative consults, postoperative hospital care, surgical assisting, minor procedures and office follow-up, with a focus on patient education. They are a vital liaison in the medical team to ensure comprehensive care for all of our patients.

Rebecca Risher, PA-C
Rebecca Risher is an Austin native. She attended the University of Texas at Austin and graduated with high honors from the University of Texas Medical Branch with a Bachelors of Science in Physician Assistant Studies in 2000. Rebecca has been a PA with CTVS since 2000 and is the manager of the CTVS PA team. She completed her Masters in Physician Assistant Studies in 2002. Rebecca is a member of Texas Academy of Physician Assistants, American Academy of Physician Assistants and is a Fellow member of the Association of PAs in Cardiovascular Surgery.
Matthew Pharis, PA-C
Matthew Pharis is originally from Farmington, New Mexico. He is a veteran of the U.S. Army where he served as an infantryman and as an intelligence analyst. He learned Russian while at the Defense Language Institute in 1993. Matthew earned a Bachelors degree in Russian Literature from The University of Texas at Austin in 1995 and a Masters of Physician Assistant Studies from The University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas in 2004. He has worked for CTVS since 2004 and is a member of both the American and Texas Academy of Physician Assistant Associations.
Coby Phillips, PA-C
Coby Phillips, PA-C is a Texas Native. Her hometown is Waco, TX. She attended Texas A&M University and graduated with a BS in Biomedical Science. After working in Indiana in outpatient rehabilitation, she returned to the Dallas area, worked in Orthopaedics, and obtained her Massage Therapy licensure. The next move was to Fort Worth to obtain her masters in physician assistant studies from the University of North Texas Health Science Center. After graduation from PA school, she settled into Austin at an orthopaedic surgery practice. Coby joined CTVS in February of 2005. She is an active member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, Texas Academy of Physician Assistants, and the Central Texas Physician Assistant Society.
Laura Davis, PA-C
Laura Davis is originally from Stewartstown, Pennsylvania. She received a Bachelors of Science degree from James Madison University in 1997 and a Masters of Science in Physician Assistant Studies from Seton Hall University in 2000. Prior to joining CTVS in 2005, Laura practiced as a Surgical Physician Assistant in the Washington, DC area at Shady Grove Adventist Hospital and Sibley Memorial Hospital. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants and is a member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants.
Jennifer Clarner, PA-C
Jennifer Clarner is originally from La Vernia, Texas. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Medical Technology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1998. She worked in the laboratory for five years as a Medical Technologist before attending PA school. Jennifer received her Masters degree in Physician Assistant Studies from The University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 2005. She joined CTVS in 2005 and is a member of Central Texas Physician Assistant Society.