Best Cardiothoracic Surgery Specialists in Hackensack, NJ

I came to Cornell University Medical College In 1980 to start my Cardiology Fellowship training. There are many reasons I feel fortunate to have been able to continue at Weill Cornell Medical College. It has given me the opportunity to interact with an exceptional group of physicians, nurse practioners, and nurses in both cardiology and cardic surgery in a hospital which is equally well staffed in all other specialties. It has allowed me to do research in the area of regurgitant heart valve disease and to teach at many levels. Most of all it has made it possible for me to be part of a team capable of the highest level of care for any patient with cardiac disease. My highest recommendation is that , at my suggestion, many of my family and friends have come here for advanced care and I could not be more pleased with the results.

``I take great pride in being a cardiac surgeon in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine and New York Presbyterian Hospital, as I am practicing with a group of the finest cardiac and thoracic surgeons in the country. I

I relate well to children of all ages in a non-threatening way. I will explain your child's condition in terms you can understand, and I will make sure that you understand all of the treatment options, including non-surgical options. I will answer all of your questions, and will make myself available to you, if you should have more questions after you leave. You will leave my office feeling educated and empowered. I will offer your child the latest in minimally invasive techniques, with minimal pain and scarring, and faster recovery. I love my patients and treat them as if they were my own, and I take pride in my craft.

Dr. David Kalfa is a Board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon with a subspecialization in pediatric cardiac surgery. A Native of France, Dr. Kalfa graduated from Marseilles University Graduate School of Medicine with the highest level of distinction in 2004. During his certification, he developed a research program in Tissue Engineering applied to the field of Congenital Heart Diseases that led to the attainment of numerous grants including a European Research FP7 Grant. He completed a research fellowship in Fondation Alain carpentier/INSERM in Paris and received his PhD degree in 2011 with the highest level of distinction. He then performed a 2-year clinical fellowship in Congenital Cardiovascular Surgery in one of the highest-volume centers (Marie Lannelongue Hospital in Paris) with exposure to highly complicated cases from all age groups (from neonates to adults). He completed a clinical fellowship in Adult Cardiac Surgery at Laval University Hospital in Quebec, Canada (2012-2013). He was then Assistant Attending in Congenital Cardiac Surgery at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital/NYP (2013-2015) and is currently Associate Professor of Surgery (tenure track) in the Section of Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery, Columbia University, and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College.

Dr. Hiroo Takayamais Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He has more than 20 years of experience in treating patients with heart and vascular problems. As the Director of the Aortic Surgery Program and co-Director of the Aortic Center, the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, and the Marfan Clinic at NYP/Columbia, Dr. Takayama has contributed to the care of over 4,000 patients by performing a variety of aortic and cardiac surgical procedures, approximately 300-350 operations every year. Dr. Takayama is internationally recognized for his work on complex aortic surgery (minimally invasive aortic surgery, valve-sparing aortic root replacement, aortic valve repair, aortic arch and thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair), hybrid aortic surgery (thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair), myectomy for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and heart failure surgery. He is a leader in outcome research in aortic diseases and heart failure. He has published more than 300-350 manuscripts in prestigious, peer-reviewed journals and has authored numerous book chapters about heart disease. Dr. Takayama attended University of Tokyo for Medical School, did his internship at University of Tokyo, general surgery residency in University of Washington Medical Center, and cardio-thoracic surgery fellowship in New-York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center.

Dr. John Puskas, MD is a Cardiothoracic Surgery Specialist who practices in New York, NY. He is 65 years old and has been practicing for 39 years. Dr. John Puskas, MD is affiliated with Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Morningside.

"The Diagnosis of cancer can be overwhelming. At Cornell, we utilize a multidiciplinary team approach in the treatment of patients with lung and esophageal cancers. Our dedicated team is involved from the initial evaluation through the completion of a patient's post-operative course. This unparalleled attention to the patient helps to ease the burden of the diagnosis. For those of us involved in research as well as care, this is a very important time -- several novel treatment approaches recently have been developed here at Cornell, and we currently are showing promising results."

"Because of my good fortune in training with some of the pioneers in general and cardiac surgery, I had opportunities to join the faculty of many well established cardiovascular surgery programs throughout the country. I chose to return to Weill Cornell because I could not find a program anywhere in the United States that could provide the same high level of care to patients that the nurses, anesthesiologists and technicians do here at Weill Cornell. I take great pride in being a member of a team that can handle the most complex patient situation, regardless of the time, whether day or night, the circumstances or the nature of the problem."

Dr. David Kalfa is a Board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon with a subspecialization in pediatric cardiac surgery. A Native of France, Dr. Kalfa graduated from Marseilles University Graduate School of Medicine with the highest level of distinction in 2004. During his certification, he developed a research program in Tissue Engineering applied to the field of Congenital Heart Diseases that led to the attainment of numerous grants including a European Research FP7 Grant. He completed a research fellowship in Fondation Alain carpentier/INSERM in Paris and received his PhD degree in 2011 with the highest level of distinction. He then performed a 2-year clinical fellowship in Congenital Cardiovascular Surgery in one of the highest-volume centers (Marie Lannelongue Hospital in Paris) with exposure to highly complicated cases from all age groups (from neonates to adults). He completed a clinical fellowship in Adult Cardiac Surgery at Laval University Hospital in Quebec, Canada (2012-2013). He was then Assistant Attending in Congenital Cardiac Surgery at Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital/NYP (2013-2015) and is currently Associate Professor of Surgery (tenure track) in the Section of Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery, Columbia University, and Adjunct Assistant Professor of Surgery in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medical College.

Dr. Hiroo Takayamais Chief of Adult Cardiac Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He has more than 20 years of experience in treating patients with heart and vascular problems. As the Director of the Aortic Surgery Program and co-Director of the Aortic Center, the Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Center, and the Marfan Clinic at NYP/Columbia, Dr. Takayama has contributed to the care of over 4,000 patients by performing a variety of aortic and cardiac surgical procedures, approximately 300-350 operations every year. Dr. Takayama is internationally recognized for his work on complex aortic surgery (minimally invasive aortic surgery, valve-sparing aortic root replacement, aortic valve repair, aortic arch and thoracoabdominal aneurysm repair), hybrid aortic surgery (thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair), myectomy for obstructive hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and heart failure surgery. He is a leader in outcome research in aortic diseases and heart failure. He has published more than 300-350 manuscripts in prestigious, peer-reviewed journals and has authored numerous book chapters about heart disease. Dr. Takayama attended University of Tokyo for Medical School, did his internship at University of Tokyo, general surgery residency in University of Washington Medical Center, and cardio-thoracic surgery fellowship in New-York Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center.

"Because of my good fortune in training with some of the pioneers in general and cardiac surgery, I had opportunities to join the faculty of many well established cardiovascular surgery programs throughout the country. I chose to return to Weill Cornell because I could not find a program anywhere in the United States that could provide the same high level of care to patients that the nurses, anesthesiologists and technicians do here at Weill Cornell. I take great pride in being a member of a team that can handle the most complex patient situation, regardless of the time, whether day or night, the circumstances or the nature of the problem."

I am focused on integrating new technology and innovation into my clinical practice, and I am trained in the most current, cutting edge procedures. I believe that these new innovations minimize pain for the patient, while giving them the best possible surgical outcome and cosmetic result. After being trained in multiple disciplines, I am able to combine strategies to create a personalized treatment for each individual patient.

David H. Adams is the Marie-Jos?e and Henry R. Kravis Professor and Chairman of the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center. He is a recognized leader in the field of heart valve surgery and mitral valve reconstruction. As Program Director of the Mount Sinai Mitral Valve Repair Center, he has set national benchmarks with greater than 99% degenerative mitral valve repair rates, while running one of the largest valve repair programs in the United States.

Dr. John Puskas, MD is a Cardiothoracic Surgery Specialist who practices in New York, NY. He is 65 years old and has been practicing for 39 years. Dr. John Puskas, MD is affiliated with Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Morningside.

Dr. Raja Flores, MD is a Cardiothoracic Surgery Specialist who practices in New York, NY. He has been practicing for 33 years. Dr. Raja Flores, MD is affiliated with Mount Sinai Hospital, Mount Sinai Queens, Mount Sinai Brooklyn and Mount Sinai Morningside.

"The Diagnosis of cancer can be overwhelming. At Cornell, we utilize a multidiciplinary team approach in the treatment of patients with lung and esophageal cancers. Our dedicated team is involved from the initial evaluation through the completion of a patient's post-operative course. This unparalleled attention to the patient helps to ease the burden of the diagnosis. For those of us involved in research as well as care, this is a very important time -- several novel treatment approaches recently have been developed here at Cornell, and we currently are showing promising results."