Positions

Associate Professor of Surgery

Division of Abdominal Transplantation
Baylor College of Medicine

Program Director, General Surgery Residency

Department of Surgery

Co-Director, Liver Transplant Surgery Fellowship

Baylor College of Medicine

Surgical Director, Liver and Kidney Transplantation

Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center

Addresses

Abdominal Transplant & Liver Disease (Clinic)

6620 Main St., Suite 1450
Houston, TX 77030
United States
SCHEDULE APPOINTMENT - (832) 355-1400

Education

BS from University of Houston

05/2002 - Houston, Texas United States

Biology

MD from Baylor College of Medicine

05/2006 - Houston, Texas United States

Residency at Baylor College of Medicine

06/2013 - Houston, Texas United States

General Surgery

Clinical Fellowship at Baylor College of Medicine

05/2015 - Houston, Texas United States

Liver and Kidney Transplantation

Certifications

Diplomate

American Board of Surgery

Honors & Awards

2023 Faculty Excellence Award for Teaching and Evaluation

Norton Rose Fulbright

Professional Interests

• Abdominal Transplantation
• Liver Transplantation
• Kidney Transplantation
• Hepatobiliary Surgery
• Surgical Education
• Diversity and Inclusion

Professional Statement

A native Houstonian, Dr. Cotton graduated valedictorian from the Michael E. DeBakey High School of Health Professions in 1998 and summa cum laude from the University of Houston in 2002. He completed his undergraduate medical studies as well as residency and fellowship training at Baylor College of Medicine. He joined the Baylor faculty in 2015. His clinical roles in the Division of Abdominal Transplantation include serving as primary surgeon for the liver and kidney transplant programs at the Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center. Dr. Cotton’s academic interests include undergraduate and post graduate medical education, where he is especially interested in improving access for all learners interested in careers in surgery. For Dr. Cotton, transplantation represents the epitome of medical collaboration, as each individual team member plays a vital and necessary role to create hope for the patient with end-stage disease. His clinical philosophy centers upon the delivery technically and clinically exceptional surgical care in a personal, compassionate manner.

Websites

Videos

Selected Publications

• Nguyen NT, Cotton RT, Harring TR, Guiteau JJ, Gingras MC, Wheeler DA, O'Mahony CA, Gibbs RA, Brunicardi FC, Goss JA "A Primer On A Hepatocellular Carcinoma Bioresource Bank Using The Cancer Genome Atlas Guidelines: Practical Issues And Pitfalls." World J Surg.;
• Guiteau JJ, Cotton RT, Washburn WK, Harper A, O'Mahony CA, Sebastian A, Cheng S, Klintmalm G, Ghobrial M, Halff G, Mieles L, Goss J "An Early Regional Experience With Expansion Of Milan Criteria For Liver Transplant Recipients. Am J Transplant." Am J Transplant.; Pubmed PMID: 20883543
• Harring TR, Guiteau JJ, Nguyen NT, Cotton RT, Gingras MC, Wheeler DA, O'Mahony CA, Gibbs RA, Brunicardi FC, Goss JA "Building A Comprehensive Genomic Program For Hepatocellular Carcinoma." World J Surg.;
• Cotton RT, Nguyen NT, Guiteau JJ, Goss JA "Current techniques for pediatric liver transplantation." Curr Opin Organ Transplant.;

Memberships

American College of Surgeons

Fellow

American Society of Transplant Surgeons

American Association for the Study of Liver Disease