Cardiothoracic Surgery near Jersey City, NJ

Biography: Joshua R. Sonett MD FACS is the Edward C. and Anne K. Weiskopf Professor of Surgical Oncology (in Surgery) at CUMC, Chief of General Thoracic Surgery and Director, The Price Family Center for Comprehensive Chest Care, Lung and Esophageal Center. He is instrumental in making the Thoracic Surgery section at Columbia University Medical Center one of the best in the U.S. and he is one of the youngest professors of surgery at a major academic institution in the United States. Dr. Sonett is best known for his work on the multidisciplinary treatment of lung and esophageal malignancies. Leading work in minimally invasive treatment of lung and esophageal cancer, Dr. Sonett and his team at Columbia are innovators in the development and teaching techniques of Video Assisted Thoracic Surgery (VATS) and Minimally Invasive Esophageal (MIE) surgery, allowing surgeons to incorporate these techniques into their daily practices. Dr. Sonett and his team make up one of the few programs in the country to employ a combination of maximal chemo and radiation and surgical therapies in the treatment of locally advanced lung malignancies. He is also a leader in multi-modality therapies for lung and esophageal cancers, and a pioneer in endo-bronchial palliation of benign and malignant airway stenosis. In the clinical area of lung transplantation, Dr. Sonett is best known for developing an extended-donor lung transplant criteria protocol. Extended donor criteria (EDC) applies to the use of organs that don't meet the usual criteria for transplantation due to various health problems, but are still healthy enough for a successful transplant (Liver MD 2006). Dr. Sonett and his team have been aggressively trying to alleviate the donor shortage by evaluating lungs that may be rejected from other centers (CS News 2005). Between 2001 and 2003, 53 percent of the lungs transplanted at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia were extended donor criteria lungs, with no difference in survival between EDC lung recipients and regular lung recipients. The Columbia programs has a 95% survival rate after one year and 83% after three years, which far surpasses the national average of 79% and 62% respectively (CS Lung News 2006). Dr. Sonett has been an invited speaker and principal and co- investigator of numerous clinical trials, author of numerous publications in renown journals such as the Journal of The American College of Cardiology, Annals of Thoracic Surgery, and the Journal of Heart and Lung Transplant, among many others. Dr. Sonett received his MD from Brody School of Medicine at East Carolina University Medical School, and completed his surgical residency at the University of Massachusetts, and Thoracic Fellowship at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Professional Memberships include the New York Thoracic Society, The Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Fellow of the American College of Surgeons and member of the American Association for Thoracic Surgeons Dr. Sonett has received numerous award and honors including annual awards to America's Top Doctors, Castle Connolly America's Top Doctors for Cancer, New York Magazine's Best Doctors, the Barbara Neibauer Celebration of Life Award, Foundation for Thymic Cancer and the Humanitarian Award, Chesed of New Square.

Biography: Dr. Lyall Gorenstein is a regionally recognized thoracic surgeon in the New York-Presbyterian/Columbia University Medical Center department of surgery.Dr. Gorenstein is Associate Professor of Surgery at the Columbia University Medical Center, and a leader in the clinical management of lung cancer, esophageal cancer, benign esophageal disorders, hyperhidrosis and pectus excavatum. Dr. Gorenstein received his MD degree at the University of Toronto Medical School, in 1983, and did his general surgery residency at the University of Toronto, Department of Surgery from 1983-1988, followed by a Fellowship at the Ontario Cancer Institute with a research focus in multi-drug resistance, from 1988-1989 . This was followed by a fellowship at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas in Thoracic Surgery from 1989-1990, completing his Fellowship training from 1990- 1992 at the University of Toronto, Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. Dr. Gorenstein is a member of a number of organizations and societies including the Rockland County Medical Society, Medical Society, State of New York, New York State Thoracic Society, Society of Thoracic Surgeons, Fellow, American College of Surgery, New York State Medical Society, the General Thoracic Surgery Club and the International Society of Sympathetic Surgery. He has published and authored numerous abstracts and presentations, as well as book chapters over the years in notable publications such as the Surgical Oncology Clinician, the Annals of Thoracic Surgery and the Journal of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery. He has served on numerous hospital committees including tumor boards, credentialing committees and intensive care committees, and is currently Surgical Director, Minimal Access Thoracic Surgery, Director, Columbia University Hyperhidrosis Center and the Annals of Thoracic Surgery Adhoc reviewer. Dr. Gorenstein is a noted Castle Connolly Top Doctor in Thoracic Surgery, for the past 17 years. He is also recognized as a Hudson Valley Top Doctor in thoracic surgery.

Biography: Andrew B. Goldstone, MD, PhD is a member of the Section of Pediatric and Congenital Cardiac Surgery in the Division of Cardiac, Thoracic, and Vascular Surgery at the NYP/Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital at Columbia University Irving Medical Center and Weill-Cornell Medical Center. Dr. Goldstone trained in pediatric heart surgery at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the nation's first children's hospital. Prior to that, he completed residency in cardiothoracic surgery at the University of Pennsylvania. He earned his medical degree from the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, where he graduated first in his class. Dr. Goldstone is also a graduate of Duke University, where he graduated summa cum laude with a degree in Chemistry, and Stanford University, from which he earned his PhD in Epidemiology and Clinical Research. With a focus on neonatal surgery, complex biventricular repair, pulmonary artery reconstruction, and the surgical management of heart failure, Dr. Goldstone treats the full spectrum of congenital heart disease, with patients spanning from birth through adulthood. He believes in a personalized approach to the treatment of heart disease, tailored to each patient's specific needs. As the father of a child who required chest surgery at birth, he understands the importance of an individualized approach to care, as well as the unique challenges faced by parents of children with complicated medical conditions. Dr. Goldstone has been recognized nationally and internationally for his clinical and basic science research. By applying rigorous statistical methods, his research group leverages population-based data to investigate questions that could not otherwise be answered by the conventional randomized trial. His work has led to changes in the guidelines for the management of heart valve disease. His long-term goal is to continue adding high-level evidence to better inform the surgical treatment of pediatric and adult cardiovascular disease. In the lab, he focuses on mechanisms underlying collateral artery formation and cardiac regeneration. Dr. Goldstone has authored several publications in the top medical and scientific journals, including The New England Journal of Medicine, Cell, Circulation, and the Journal of the American College of Cardiology. He has also served in several national leadership roles, including as President of the Thoracic Surgery Resident's Association (TSRA) and as the Resident Director to the Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS) Board of Directors. Dr. Goldstone was born and raised in Manhattan, and is a proud graduate of New York City public schools, including the Bronx High School of Science. Click here for a complete list of publications from Dr. Goldstone.

Biography: Dr. Percy Boateng, MD is a Cardiothoracic Surgery Specialist who practices in New York, NY. He is 58 years old and has been practicing for 27 years. Dr. Percy Boateng, MD is affiliated with Mount Sinai Morningside and Mount Sinai Hospital.

Biography: Dr. Ebright joined Columbia University Irving Medical Center after serving on the faculty at Boston University School of Medicine for six years. There, he was Director of the Center for Thoracic Oncology and Co-Director of the Lung CyberKnife Program. At Columbia, he sees patients for thoracic surgery and serves as Vice Chair of Surgery at Stamford Hospital, a Columbia partner site in Connecticut. He has numerous publications in peer-reviewed journals and has authored book chapters on a variety of topics related to thoracic surgery. In addition, he has been selected as a Castle Connolly Top Doctor, as identified in Boston, New York and Connecticut magazines.

Biography: Dr. Iribarne graduated with his Bachelor's degree summa cum laude from Yale University and then earned his Medical degree at Havard University. He completed his general surgery training at Columbia University and then followed with his Cardiothoracic surgery training at Duke University that included an additional advanced fellowship in aortic and endovascular surgery. Dr. Iribarne has also completed post-doctoral research fellowships in NIH Cardiothoracic Surgical Trials Network Data Coordinating Center at Mount Sinai Medical Center and the Cardiac Surgery Research Laboratory at Columbia University Medical Center. He also holds a Masters degree in Biostatistics from Columbia University - Mailman School of Public Health.Clinically, Dr. Iribarne has interest and experience in performing all types of adult cardiac surgery including coronary artery bypass, aortic and mitral valve replacement and repair, aortic aneurysm surgery (including endovascular repair with TEVAR) and catheter-based structural heart procedures (TAVR and TEER).

Care Philosophy: As a surgeon specializing in adult congenital and advanced heart failure, my focuse is on providing you with the best care possible. I believe in combining surgical expertise with compassion and a holistic approach to healing. I understand that you are not just a medical case but a unique person with individual needs. I work closely with a team of specialists to make sure you receive comprehensive care. I stay updated on the latest advancements in surgery to give you the best possible outcome. Your well-being, both physically and emotionally, is my priority. I want you to feel empowered and supported throughout your journey to better health.

Biography: Dr. Persida Drotar, MD is a Cardiothoracic Surgery Specialist who practices in Jersey City, NJ. Dr. Persida Drotar, MD is affiliated with Jersey City Medical Center.

Biography: John M. Karamichalis, MD is an experience board certified cardiothoracic surgeon with subspecialty certification in Pediatric cardiac surgery by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery. He joined Columbia University Medical Center January 2021 and has been appointed as the Associate Program Director of the Columbia University Cardiothoracic Surgery Residency Program. He is experienced in the entire field of pediatric cardiac surgery with areas of expertise including the Ross procedure, valve repair procedures, and minimally invasive cardiac surgery. He takes particular interest in patient outcomes, performance measures for surgeons, and pediatric cardiac surgery program development. He is a Fellow of the American College of Surgeons, a member of the Congenital Heart Surgeons Society and recipient of many awards throughout his career. He was recently awarded the title of Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of England (FRCS) ad eundem. He holds an advanced research Doctorate degree from The University of Oxford Medical Sciences Division based on his world renown work at Boston Children's on technical performance and outcomes in pediatric cardiac surgery.

Biography: Dr. Shinobu Itagaki, MD is a Cardiothoracic Surgery Specialist who practices in New York, NY. He has been practicing for 22 years. Dr. Shinobu Itagaki, MD is affiliated with Mount Sinai Hospital.

Biography: Jesus Gomez-Abraham, MD, is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon at RWJBarnabas Health, and part of the Northern Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, operating out of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Dr. Gomez-Abraham is the Associate Director Surgical Director of the Lung Transplantation Program. In this role, he will help RWJBarnabas Health's Heart and Lung Transplant and Mechanical Circulatory Support Programs. Dr. Gomez-Abraham earned his Medical Doctorate from University of The Andes in Merida, Venezuela. He then completed General Surgery Residencies at North Shore Long-Island Jewish Health-New York Beth Israel System and at Drexel University Hospital. Subsequently, completing a Cardiovascular Disease Fellowship at Thomas Jefferson University. Dr. Gomez-Abraham spent the last five years at Temple University as a transplant and ventricular assist device surgeon, leading it to become the largest heart and lung transplant program in the US over the last two years. Dr. Gomez-Abraham's areas of clinical expertise include CAD-CABG surgery, Aortic and Mitral Valve Repair and Replacement, Arrhythmia surgery, ECMO, VAD-MCS-Total Artificial Heart surgery, Heart Transplantation and Lung Transplantation.

Biography: Dr. Andrea Wolf, MD is a Cardiothoracic Surgery Specialist who practices in New York, NY. She is 49 years old and has been practicing for 22 years. Dr. Andrea Wolf, MD is affiliated with Mount Sinai Hospital and Mount Sinai Brooklyn.

Biography: Dr. Margarita Camacho is a board-certified cardiothoracic surgeon at RWJBarnabas Health, and part of the Northern Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, operating out of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center. Dr. Camacho's current role is as Surgical Director for RWJBarnabas Health's Heart Transplant Program. Prior to joining Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in 2005, Dr. Camacho served as Clinical Associate at the Cleveland Clinic where she received the Charles Bryan Award for clinical excellence. She received her medical degree from New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY and completed fellowships in cardiothoracic surgery and pediatric cardiothoracic surgery at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. In 2012, she was honored by The Executive Women of New Jersey, and received the 2014 Healthcare Professional of the Year Award from the New Jersey Hospital Association. She is President of the New Jersey Chapter of the American Medical Women's Association, Vice President-elect of the New Jersey Society of Thoracic Surgeons, and has been named several times to Castle Connolly's Top Doctors lists. She lectures nationally, including to Washington D.C. policy makers. Dr. Camacho is past chair of the Society of Thoracic Surgeons Workforce on End-stage Cardiopulmonary Disease and past President of the Society of Women in Thoracic Surgery.

Care Philosophy: Ours is truly an outstanding staff. The physicians, anesthesiologists, cardiologists, nurses and administrative staff are some of the most capable people in the country, and they are right here at Weill Cornell Medical Center. The quality of our care is the result of a team effort. I am not only speaking of the surgical team, I mean everyone--from the doctors to the people who clean the operating rooms. Being the best means taking pride in what you do, caring a little more and going a little further--everyone here does, and its evidence is in our results.

Care Philosophy: "I am humbled to be an Attending Cardiac Surgeon in the Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine. Throughout my academic career, I have been lucky enough to train with the giants of coronary artery bypass surgery. While bypass surgery may appear as one of the more basic cardiac operation, the complexities of the patient and the variations of the operation require exquisite attention to detail to keep patients safe, which is my main priority. With the support of the incredible staff, including the cardiac anesthesia team, nurses, technicians and surgeons, I have the utmost confidence that I am in the best possible environment to provide the highest level of care to my patients."