Alberto Rostro, LP, CCP

Mr. Alberto “Betto” Rostro grew up in an immigrant family on the West Side of San Antonio where he developed a deep bond for the community he now currently serves. As a first-generation college student, he graduated from the University of Texas Health at San Antonio with a Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Care. His devotion to the care of his patients with respiratory diseases further inspired him to widen his knowledge and practice. It was in his final training in the adult intensive care unit at Johns Hopkins Hospital that he became enthusiastic about further studying the role of a cardiac perfusionist.

After graduation, he attended Rush University in Chicago for his Master of Science in Cardiovascular Perfusion. While attending Rush, he was the only student to present his thesis, “The Effects of Cardiopulmonary Bypass on Renal Function”, at the 2013 AmSECT International Conference Scientific Session. In addition to his research, his training encompassed both adult and pediatric perfusion.

His first position as a licensed perfusionist was at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. There he extensively developed experience and skills in complex perfusion procedures and Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO). After several years in Baltimore, he joined the UT Health San Antonio Cardiothoracic Department and joined a strong team of perfusionists. He considers them his second family and feels blessed to be working with such a caring and dedicated team of perfusionists, surgeons, anesthesiologists, and nurses.

Currently, Mr. Rostro is focused on the development and training of perfusion students. As a mentor and instructor, he strives for his students to practice the highest quality of care, safety, and critical thinking during surgery. He is passionate about their clinical development and excellence as it is part of the core values of UT Health San Antonio. He believes with this mindset students will flourish into strong health professionals and continue to improve healthcare in our community. Outside of work, he leads an avid outdoor lifestyle including backpacking, mountaineering, running marathons, and cycling.