The Cardiothoracic Surgery division at Stony Brook Medicine, led by James R. Taylor Jr., MD, provides multidisciplinary care in a state-of-the-art environment. Our surgeons have extensive experience in all aspects of heart and chest surgery, and are board certified in thoracic surgery, general surgery, and surgical critical care. We offer both advanced minimally invasive alternatives and traditional surgical techniques to provide you with the most appropriate care for your unique cardiovascular condition.

Centers of Excellence

• Robot-Assisted Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery
• Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery
• Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) for Heart Failure and Cardiac Transplantation
• Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Stenting

Each center of excellence provides specialty services through a highly skilled team of physicians that is committed to your overall care. In addition to our centers of excellence, we offer sections in thoracic surgery, thoracic aortic surgery, minimally invasive bypass surgery, and integrative medicine.

Click here for a full list of our services to the Cardiothoracic Surgery Services page.

The Stony Brook Difference

Stony Brook Medicine Cardiothoracic Surgery division was the first medical center on Long Island to offer robotically assisted heart surgery. The director of our minimally invasive bypass surgery section, Frank Siefert, MD, is a nationally recognized expert in MIDCAB and other heart surgery procedures that are performed without a heart-lung machine called off-pump. Dr. Siefert has performed more than 2,000 beating heart bypass surgeries and more than 400 MIDCAB procedures. In addition to robotically assisted heart surgery, Stony Brook also offers considerable expertise in minimally invasive valve procedures performed by James R. Taylor Jr., MD, left ventricular assist device implantation performed by Allison McClarty, MD, and aortic stenting performed by Dr. McClarty and Thomas BIlfinger, MD. Each of these experts is a forerunner in cardiothoracic surgery with considerable experience in these procedures. Stony Brook Medicine is also a tertiary care center, meaning we offer highly specialized care to treat complex medical problems. We are the only tertiary care center for the eastern half of Long Island, and our clinical quality and breadth of patient care is second to none.

As part of a world-renowned research university, the cardiothoracic surgeons at the Heart Institute at Stony Brook Medicine explore causes, treatments, and prevention of cardiovascular disease not only to further the science of medicine, but also to see that you truly receive the most advanced care. We operate on the heart, but we focus on all aspects of your care. In addition to the exceptional clinical care that you will receive from the physicians at Stony Brook Medicine Cardiothoracic Surgery division, our holistic approach to your care will address spiritual, physical, and emotional needs.

Our Integrative Medicine section is available to you before and after surgery. Integrative medicine is the practice of a group of diverse health systems and practices not currently considered part of conventional medicine. Through our Integrative Medicine section affiliated with Cardiothoracic Surgery, we offer guided imagery; therapeutic touch, also called reiki; therapeutic massage; and acupuncture. Ask your physician about our integrative medicine services.

We make your overall care, comfort, and well-being a top priority. We see that you and your family receive exceptional treatment during your stay. Even after you leave us, we follow up on your care as expected, but we also invite you back for a celebration of your success with our cardiothoracic teams. Our annual celebration dinner for heart surgery patients remains our most important event of the year.

Another way in which we distinguish ourselves is customer service. Team members frequently visit patient rooms to find out how we can improve our service to you. We also provide:

• Our clinical "concierge" to help you and your family with your cardiovascular care and your referring physician;
• A service to help you and your family make reservations and locate amenities in the local community; and
• In-room services such as daily newspaper delivery, flat-screen TVs, and wireless Internet access;
• Greeters at all entrances and escorts that assist between the lobby and parking garage.

Our Team

• Thomas V. Bilfinger, MD
• Harold A. Fernandez, MD
• Sandeep Gupta, MD
• Allison J. McLarty, MD
• Frank C. Seifert, MD
• James R. Taylor Jr., MD

Cardiothoracic Surgery Services

Our highly skilled specialists will work closely with you and your physician to determine the best treatment approach for your disorder. Our cardiothoracic surgeons at Stony Brook Medicine are highly regarded for their expertise in treating patients in a high-risk state following a heart attack or heart failure. Our services include:

• Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery, including off-pump CABG, robotic minimally invasive direct coronary artery bypass (MIDCAB), and Thoracoscopic CABG
• Valve surgery, including valve repair and replacement using minimally invasive alternatives or open surgery
• Cardiac reconstructive surgery
• Adult congenital heart surgery
• Idiopathic hypertrophic subaortic stenosis (IHSS) reconstruction
• Major aortic surgery and endovascular aortic surgery for thoracic aortic aneurysm, thoracic aortic dissection, and traumatic aortic rupture
• Ventricular assist device implantation, including Destination therapy, biventricular assist device, and intra-aortic balloon pump (IABP)
• Integrative Medicine

Patient Resources

• Before Your Surgery
• What To Expect And To Do
• Your Procedure
• Cardiac Anesthesia
• After Your Surgery
• Managing Pain
• Information For Friends And Family
• Glossary Of Terms