Heidi Burns is originally from South Dakota. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Nutrition from the University of Minnesota in 2009. She worked in the field of organ, tissue and eye donation for five years before attending physician assistant school. She earned her Physician Assistant certification from Red Rocks Community College in Lakewood, Colorado, and her Master of Medical Science degree in Physician Assistant Studies from Saint Frances University in Loretto, Pennsylvania in 2014. After graduation, she moved to Texas and went on to practice in total joint orthopedics, reconstructive plastic surgery, and cardiothoracic surgery before joining CTVS in 2022. She is certified by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants, and is an active member of the American Academy of Physician Assistants, American Association of Surgical Physician Assistants, Association of Physician Assistants in Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery, and the Central Texas Physician Assistant Society.