Department of Cardiothoracic & Vascular Surgery

The department of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery began its distinguished 50-year history of achievement in cardiac care on May 2, 1960, when Robert H. Goetz, MD, performed the world's first successful coronary artery bypass operation. Today, its talented physicians and surgeons remain at the forefront of cardiothoracic surgery and medicine. Our more recent accomplishments have been reported by ABC "World News Tonight", the New England Journal of Medicine and the National Proceedings of the Academy of Science.

In addition, the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) recognized the department with the highly coveted, multimillion-dollar clinical research award from the Cardiothoracic Surgery Network for the NHLBI UO1 cardiovascular surgery and outcomes trials. Located at the Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care at Einstein's University Hospital, Montefiore Medical Center, our renowned Cardiac Surgery Program was awarded the highest 3-star rating by the Society of Thoracic Surgeons, a non-profit organization representing more than 6,000 surgeons, researchers and healthcare professionals.