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The Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery is a recognized leader in heart, lung and esophagus surgery. Our experience with complex cardiothoracic issues and knowledge of the latest advances have helped to establish NewYork-Presbyterian|Weill Cornell Medicine as a major referral center for cardiovascular and thoracic patients from around the world.

Cardiac Surgery

The Division of Cardiac Surgery provides expert care to patients who need:

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
Valve repair/replacement
Aortic Aneurysm & Dissection Repaire
Minimally Invasive & Robotic Heart Surgery
Ventricular Assist Device & Heart Transplant

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Thoracic Surgery

The Division of Thoracic Surgery offers the most advanced surgical care for:

Lung & Esophageal cancers
Thymoma
Achalasia
Hyperhidrosis
Hiatal Hernia
Lung Volume Reduction for Emphysema
Tracheobronchomalacia (TBM)

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Cardiac Surgery

Adult & Pediatric

Thoracic Surgery

Lung & Esophagus

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NewYork-Presbyterian & Weill Cornell Medicine - Cardiothoracic Surgery

New Advances

Three-Star Rating from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS)

Weill Cornell has earned a distinguished three-star rating – the top rating – from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) for its patient care and outcomes in isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures and Mitral Valve Repair and Replacement for the 3 year period 2021 thru 2023. The three-star rating, which denotes the highest category of quality, places Weill Cornell Medicine among the elite for heart bypass surgery and mitral valve surgery in the United States and Canada. Additionally, the Weill Cornell program at NewYork-Presbyterian Queens has earned a distinguished three-star rating for its patient care and outcomes in isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) procedures.

STS, a nonprofit organization representing more than 7,600 surgeons, researchers and healthcare professionals worldwide, developed a comprehensive rating system that evaluates the quality of cardiac surgical procedures performed at hospitals across the country. The STS star rating system is one of the most sophisticated and highly regarded overall measures of quality in health care, rating the benchmarked outcomes of cardiothoracic surgery programs across the United States and Canada. The latest analysis of data for cardiac surgery covers a 3-year period, from January 2021 to December 2023.

“We are delighted to be recognized by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons as a distinguished provider of bypass surgery and mitral valve surgery for our patients,” said Dr. Leonard Girardi, Chair, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine. “This achievement is a testament to our commitment to providing the highest quality cardiovascular care to our patients at all Weill Cornell campuses.”

WCM Receives Milestone in Mitral Valve Repair for the 2nd Year

Weill Cornell's Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery has again been honored with the esteemed Mitral Valve Repair Reference Center Award from the American Heart Association and the Mitral Foundation for our second consecutive year.

This recognition underscores our sustained leadership in mitral valve repair and our unwavering commitment to delivering exemplary cardiac care

Advocating for Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement: An Interview With Leonard N. Girardi, MD

Fascinating in-depth interview with Dr. Joel Dunning, Cardiothoracic Surgeon at James Cook University Hospital.

Dr. Leonard Girardi highlighting the efficacy and durability of Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR). This was recently presented at 60th STS Annual meeting in San Antonio Texas "Drop the Wire, Pick Up the Knife: Bring SAVR Back!"

Dr. Girardi underscored the importance of putting patients first by ensuring clear communication on treatment options and post-surgical care.

Less Invasive Early Lung Cancer Study Receives Top 10 Clinical Research Achievement Award

Dr. Nasser Altorki in OR

A Weill Cornell Medicine-led research team has been awarded a 2024 Top 10 Clinical Research Achievement Award from the Clinical Research Forum in recognition of an influential 2023 New England Journal of Medicine study on early-stage lung cancer resection.

The clinical trial results were published Feb. 9, 2023 by a team led by Dr. Nasser Altorki, chief of the Division of Thoracic Surgery in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, and co-investigators from Duke University as well as investigators from 83 hospitals across the United States, Canada and Australia. The trial found that a surgery that removes only a portion of one of the five lobes that comprise a lung is as effective as removing an entire lobe for certain early-stage lung cancer patients.

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Clinical Trials

The Cardiothoracic Surgery Department conducts a robust clinical trials program to evaluate the effectiveness of new treatments and medications that have the potential to improve the management of patients with heart, lung, and esophageal disease. The outcomes of heart, lung, and esophageal operations can be improved with technical innovations.