Ray A. Blackwell, M.D. — Heart Surgeon
Ray A Blackwell, M. D. joined the Heart Surgery Team in 1996.
Following graduation from Glastonbury Connecticut High School’s A Better Chance Program, Dr. Blackwell continued his education at Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Medical School. He trained in General Surgery at Beth Israel Medical Center in New York City and Cardiothoracic Surgery at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia.
His areas of interest include acquired adult cardiovascular diseases, robotics, blood conservation, arterial revascularization, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, ECMO (extracorporeal life support) and ventricular assist devices. He is board certified in Thoracic Surgery.
Dr. Blackwell is a member of several professional societies, including the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Southern Thoracic Surgical Society, American Medical Association and Medical Society of Delaware. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, American College of Cardiology and American College of Chest Physicians.
Other professional activities include serving as a board member of Christiana Care Health Services, President of the Board of the New Castle County American Heart Association, a councilor of the Delaware Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, Vice Chair of the Delaware Medical Education Foundation and Co-Chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee and Health Care Equity Committee. He previously served on the Board of Medical Licensure and Discipline and the Physician Assistant Advisory Council.
Service is an important component of Dr. Blackwell’s life. He has served as a regional recruiter for Dartmouth College and Dartmouth Medical School. His motivational lectures have been heard by inner city youth, college students and medical students. He is an active mentor for premedical students and received an award for exemplary mentorship from the NUCLEUS Program at the University of Delaware.
Dr. Blackwell has authored several publications and holds a patent for an operating room lighting system. He has been involved with multiple clinical trials either as a principal investigator or a sub-investigator.
Dr. Blackwell is married and has three daughters. He is involved in multiple competitive sports, but is most involved with track competition. He holds several American and World Records for age group competition. Other interests include genealogy, outdoor sports, history and aviation.