A native Hoosier, Dr. Whitson completed his undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at Purdue University, his medical doctorate at Indiana University and his PhD at the University of Minnesota in Surgery, investigating the immunobiology of minimally invasive surgery. His general surgery training was at the University of Minnesota where he also completed a Clinical Fellowship in Surgical Infectious Diseases. Dr. Whitson subsequently completed his cardiothoracic surgery training at the University of Minnesota.