He obtained an undergraduate degree at Stanford University (Bachelor of Science 1966) a medical degree at Yale Medical School (Doctor of Medicine 1970) and completed an internship at Johns Hopkins Hospital (1971) and residencies and fellowships at Stanford University Hospital (1972 and 78) the National Institutes of Health (1974).
Reitz is one of the foremost cardiac surgeons in the world and, during his term as chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic surgery, he played a major role in keeping Stanford at the forefront of education, research and patient care in cardiac surgery. He joined the surgical faculty at Stanford University (1978) then became Chief of cardiac surgery at Johns Hopkins University (1982-1992) and Chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Stanford (1992–2005). In 1981, Reitz and his team performed the first successful heart-lung transplant, which also was the first time a lung had ever been transplanted.
In 1995 he conducted another pioneering operation: he performed the first Heartport procedure, using a device that allows minimally invasive coronary bypass and valve operations.
Reitz also played a major role in the resident education program at Stanford, which he reorganized and maintained as one of the top two or three programs in the country.
