Ronald T. Cotton, M.D. ’06, Res. ’13, Fel. ’15, is an associate professor in the Division of Abdominal Transplantation in the Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery at Baylor College of Medicine. A native Houstonian, Dr. Cotton graduated as valedictorian from the Michael E. DeBakey High School for Health Professions in 1998. Upon graduation, he joined the third class of the Houston Premedical Academy, an 8-year B.S./M.D. partnership between the University of Houston and Baylor. Dr. Cotton graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in biology from UH in 2002. He completed his undergraduate medical studies, general surgery residency and abdominal transplant surgery fellowship at Baylor in 2006, 2013 and 2015, respectively. He joined the Baylor faculty in 2015.
His primary clinical roles include serving as the primary surgeon (surgical director) for the liver and kidney transplant programs at the Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center. His clinical philosophy centers upon the delivery of technically and clinically exceptional surgical care in a personalized, compassionate manner. Dr. Cotton’s academic interests center on undergraduate and graduate medical education, where he is especially interested in improving access for all learners interested in surgical careers. He serves as a faculty advisor for Baylor’s Student Surgical Society as well as the Student National Medical Association and has mentored numerous medical students and house staff throughout his career. Dr. Cotton was previously the director of Baylor’s core clerkship for medical students and is currently the program director for both Baylor’s General Surgery Residency as well as its Abdominal Transplant Surgery Fellowship.
Dr. Cotton is married to Amber Callis Cotton, DDS, who graduated as salutatorian from the Michael E. DeBakey High School of Health Professions in 1998 and practices pediatric dentistry as a partner at Villalon-Callis Pediatric Dentistry in Sugarland, Texas. The two keep their hands full with three wonderful children: Cameron (6 years old), Corinne (3 years old), and Clara (18 months old).
