Dr. Ferraris is a native of Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania and completed his medical degree at Jefferson Medical College in Philadelphia. Dr. Ferraris earned a doctorate in chemistry at the University of Colorado in Boulder. He obtained postgraduate training in General Surgery and Cardiothoracic Surgery in the United States Army. Currently, Dr. Ferraris holds the position of Tyler Gill Professor of Surgery in the Division of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery at the University of Kentucky Chandler Medical Center. He is actively engaged in the training of thoracic residents. He is on the Editorial Board of the Journal of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgery and of the Annals of Thoracic Surgery. He served as a guest reviewer for multiple specialty journals. Dr. Ferraris has authored multiple articles on blood loss after cardiac operations, platelet thrombin receptor function, the effect of drugs (especially aspirin) on postoperative bleeding, and various aspects of outcome analysis including the preparation of practice guidelines for thoracic surgeons. He conducts research in these areas. During the last 30 years, Dr. Ferraris participates in the training of thoracic surgery residents. His initial experience with thoracic residency training began in the U.S. Army where he was the assistant program director for the Thoracic Surgery Residency at the Letterman Army Medical Center. After leaving the Army, he became the Program Director of the Thoracic Residency at Albany Medical College. Dr. Ferraris also served as the Program Director of the Thoracic Surgery Residency at the University of Kentucky. He is actively involved in resident education, and research.