David G. Affleck, MD
Dr. Affleck is
very proud to live and work in his home state of Utah. The son of an orthopedic surgeon in Bountiful, Dr. Affleck
attended high school there before attending the University of Utah for his undergraduate studies in Human Biology
with a minor in Spanish. Dr. Affleck continued his post graduate studies at the University of Utah, School of
Medicine, where he received his M.D. The lure of Utah with its rugged beauty and independent spirit continued to
affect Dr. Affleck as he completed his surgical residency through University of Utah's affiliated hospitals
program. But Dr. Affleck couldn't pass up a prestigious fellowship opportunity in cardiothoracic surgery at
Washington University, School of Medicine, in St. Louis.
Always intrigued by the most complex parts of medicine and because of his love and fascination with the human
heart, Dr. Affleck chose cardiothoracic surgery as his vocation. Because everything depends on the heart, the
stakes are high and the rewards are higher. Dr. Affleck is driven to take care of patients and to improve their
lives. Being able to cure the heart so a grandfather can go fishing with his grandson again is the most rewarding
part of his work.
As a fellow at Washington University, Dr. Affleck worked among the first surgeons to develop the Mini-Maze,
minimally invasive surgical ablation technique to cure atrial fibrillation and other cardiac arrhythmias. After
completing his fellowship, Dr. Affleck returned to Utah to continue to pioneer curative surgical techniques for
patients who suffer from every classification of atrial fibrillation.
Because Dr. Affleck believes that quality of life matters more than just surviving, he has dedicated his life to
serving the millions of patients suffering from cardiac arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation. Dr. Affleck knew
when he started his medical training that cardiothoracic surgery would change completely in the coming decade,
and with his forethought and vision, he understood that he could address and surgically cure one of the most
burdensome heart diseases that will affect over 20 million Americans in the next 20 years.
Returning to Utah to set up his practice was an easy choice. Always drawn by the beauty and pioneering spirit of
the West, it wasn't difficult to establish a surgical practice in a place that reflects his values and ideals.
Dr. Affleck serves this area well because he is the only cardiothoracic surgeon in the region providing surgical
options for atrial fibrillation.
Dr. Affleck's highest priority is to improve the lives of his patients. His regard for the quality of life of his
patients is compelling. Dr. Affleck understands that anyone who has a heart condition lives in constant fear, and
he understands his patients' concerns and is the ultimate patient advocate. He gives his patients and their
families the opportunity to make the best medical decision possible by offering comprehensive surgical and
medical options for their heart ailments.
After completing a Spanish speaking mission for his church, Dr. Affleck married and is the proud father of 4
children.