Dr. Charles R. Cole, M.D.

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Get to know Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Charles R. Cole, who serves patients in Fayetteville, Arkansas.

Dr. Cole is a respected, fellowship-trained cardiothoracic surgeon in practice with Washington Regional Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery.

Located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Washington Regional Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery encompasses board-certified cardiovascular thoracic surgeons and mid-level providers. They are specialized in surgical procedures of the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other thoracic procedures.

Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, Dr. Cole spent the majority of his youth in Rogers, Arkansas, graduating from Rogers High School. He was awarded the Chancellor’s Scholarship to the University of Arkansas, among the most prestigious merit based scholarships offering full-support for tuition, fees, room, and board for four-years. He graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in Industrial Engineering and a minor in Mathematics. Next, he matriculated to the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences College of Medicine for his medical training. While in medical school, he was chosen by the Associate Dean to serve as the only medical student member of the prestigious External Review Committee and the Curriculum Committee. He was elected by his peers to be President of his medical school class and President of the Christian Medical and Dental Associations. Additionally, he was awarded The Robert and Dorothy Bowling Scholarship for academic excellence and leadership. 

Following graduation from medical school, Dr. Cole continued his training at the University of Cincinnati, completing a residency in general surgery. During his training, he pursued a dedicated two-year research fellowship at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital where he published multiple first author research articles in congenital heart surgery and developmental cardiac biology. Additionally, he authored an F32 grant, which, after first submission, received National Institute of Health funding. 

At the conclusion of his research fellowship, Dr. Cole was awarded First Place in Basic Science from the Ohio chapter of the American College of Surgeons Resident Research Forum as well as First Place at the University of Cincinnati Department of Surgery Resident Research Competition. During his chief resident year of general surgery training, residents and faculty of the University of Cincinnati elected him as a member of the medical honor society, Alpha Omega Alpha. 

Thereafter, Dr. Cole went on to the University of Colorado for a three-year fellowship in cardiothoracic surgery. Upon completion of his fellowship, he joined Washington Regional Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery.

Specializing in surgical procedures, the doctor is board-certified in thoracic and cardiac surgery by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery (ABTS). The ABTS is an American surgical organization devoted to surgery of the chest.

Furthermore, he is board-certified in surgery by the American Board of Surgery, an independent, non-profit organization located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, founded for the purpose of certifying surgeons who have met a defined standard of education, training, and knowledge.

Selected to the Executive Committee of the Northwest Arkansas Chapter of the American Heart Association in 2019, Dr. Cole is an active member of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, the American College of Cardiology, the American College of Surgeons, and the American Medical Association. He is also certified in Basic Life Support, Advanced Cardiac Life Support, Advanced Trauma Life Support, and Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery.

Cardiothoracic surgery is the field of medicine involved in the surgical treatment of organs inside the thorax. Cardiothoracic surgeons are medical doctors who specialize in surgical procedures inside the thorax, which may involve the heart, lungs, esophagus, and other organs in the chest. Alongside performing surgery, they also diagnose and treat diseases of these organs. 

Outside of the hospital, Dr. Cole enjoys golfing, fly-fishing, snow-skiing, as well as spending time with wife, Hannah, family, and friends. 

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