10 Best Cardiac Surgeons in New York City for Open-Heart Surgery and Valve Repair

Highlight: World-Renowned Aortic & Valve Surgeon, Avoids Unnecessary Surgery — Upper East Side

Address: 525 E 68th St, M-404, New York, NY 10065

Phone: +1 212-746-5194

Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Sat–Sun Closed

Dr. Girardi is widely recognized as one of the foremost aortic surgeons in the world. His results in aortic root aneurysm repair and aortic valve replacement are consistently exceptional — one patient’s father underwent aortic root repair with valve replacement and had largely forgotten he’d had major surgery just nine months later. Equally remarkable is Dr. Girardi’s willingness to tell patients they do not need surgery: when presented with a patient who had been scheduled for open-heart surgery elsewhere, he reviewed all imaging and data and determined the genetic condition was stable — recommending annual monitoring instead. That clinical honesty, at the level of a world-class surgeon, is rare and invaluable.

Highlight: Mitral & Tricuspid Valve Repair Specialist, ICU Under 24 Hours — Upper East Side

Address: 525 E 68th St, M-404, New York, NY 10065

Phone: +1 212-746-6707

Hours: Weill Cornell clinic hours — contact for availability

Dr. Mick specializes in complex mitral and tricuspid valve repair — one of the most technically demanding areas of cardiac surgery. In a standout case, she performed a simultaneous mitral valve repair, tricuspid valve repair, and removal of multiple lung lesions — a triple-procedure surgery. The patient spent under 24 hours in the ICU and would have been discharged within three days without a complication. Dr. Mick explains everything in clear language and responds promptly to patient portal messages — a level of postoperative engagement that out-of-town patients specifically praise. Her executive assistant Kristina is cited by name for exceptional logistical support.

Highlight: Quintuple Bypass, Ross Procedure, Three-in-One Complex Surgery — Upper East Side

Address: 525 E 68th St, M-404, New York, NY 10065

Phone: +1 212-746-5172

Hours: Weill Cornell clinic hours — contact for availability

Dr. Lau’s case portfolio is extraordinary in its complexity. He performed a quintuple (five-vessel) bypass with such precision that the patient was discharged in five days with a remarkably smooth recovery. He performed the Ross procedure (double valve replacement) combined with ascending aortic aneurysm repair and mitral valve ring placement — three distinct procedures in a single operation — on a patient who described him as someone whose “reputation precedes him.” Dr. Lau’s bedside manner is consistently praised across cases of varying complexity: “calm, collected, and confident,” making sure every concern is addressed at each visit.

Highlight: Valve-Sparing Aortic Surgery, Silent Quadruple Bypass, Highly Recommended by Columbia Cardiologists — Washington Heights

Address: 177 Fort Washington Ave, Milstein Building 7435, New York, NY 10032

Phone: +1 212-305-6380

Hours: Available 24 hours — contact for outpatient scheduling

Dr. Takayama is one of Columbia’s leading cardiac surgeons, specializing in valve-sparing aortic root surgery and complex coronary bypass. He saved a patient’s life after a “silent” quadruple bypass — a coronary event with no prior warning symptoms. A patient who was “interviewing” top cardiac surgeons in New York noted that Dr. Takayama’s Columbia cardiologist colleague specifically recommended him, and that he was both on time and thorough in his first consultation. His team moved quickly to schedule urgent surgery for a patient in her third trimester of pregnancy — coordinating around a genuinely complex personal and medical situation.

Highlight: Saved One Patient’s Life Twice, Long-Term Surgical Monitoring — Upper East Side

Address: 525 E 68th St, M-404, New York, NY 10065

Phone: +1 212-746-5197

Hours: Mon–Fri 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Sat–Sun Closed

Dr. Port is a cardiothoracic surgeon at Weill Cornell who has been credited with saving one patient’s life not once but twice — a statement that speaks not just to surgical skill but to a long-term committed relationship with patient care. He is described as having exceptional clinical instincts and operating with apparent ease on the most complex cases. His follow-up is long-term: he monitors progress after surgery for months and stays vigilant for potential complications. PAs Olga and Alina are each cited by name for their outstanding support during what can be an emotionally overwhelming time.

Highlight: Endocarditis Emergency Specialist, Saved Life When Prior Physician Minimized Risk — Upper East Side

Address: 100 E 77th St, New York, NY 10075

Phone: +1 212-434-3000

Hours: Mon–Sun 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM | Available for emergencies

Dr. Brinster’s most telling review comes from a patient whose husband arrived for what appeared to be a “standard” bicuspid valve replacement — only for the team to discover active infectious endocarditis, a life-threatening emergency requiring entirely different and more complex surgery. Dr. Brinster handled it. Another review credits him with saving a husband’s life when a prior physician had minimized the severity of his condition. With five years of follow-up and continuing good health, that outcome speaks for itself. His entire care team — nurses, PAs, office staff — is described as among the most compassionate and professional in the city.

Highlight: Minimally Invasive Valve Surgery Pioneer, Robotic Cardiac Surgery — Kips Bay

Address: 530 First Ave, #9V, New York, NY 10016

Phone: +1 646-501-0264

Hours: Mon–Fri — contact for outpatient scheduling

NYU Langone’s cardiothoracic surgery program is one of the leading centers in the country for minimally invasive and robotic cardiac surgery. The team pioneered video-assisted minimally invasive mitral valve repair — smaller incisions, less blood loss, faster recovery, and equivalent outcomes compared to conventional open surgery. For patients who qualify, this approach means avoiding full sternotomy (splitting the breastbone). The program also handles non-blood-transfusion cardiac surgery for patients who decline blood products. The 14th-floor postoperative care unit is specifically praised by a patient who had been treated at four hospitals, calling NYU Cornell the best.

Highlight: Thoracic Oncology & GIST Tumor Surgery, Patient Trust Through Transparency — Upper East Side

Address: 525 E 68th St, M-404, New York, NY 10065

Phone: +1 212-746-5156

Hours: Weill Cornell clinic hours — contact for availability

Dr. Altorki is among Weill Cornell’s most accomplished thoracic surgeons — specializing in lung surgery, esophageal procedures, and thoracic oncology including GIST tumor removal. He is praised for extraordinary punctuality (rare in academic medicine), warm and genuine bedside manner, and a clear explanation of all options with time to think. Three years post-lung cancer surgery, patients describe him as a caring, dedicated human being. Important note from a reviewer: for post-surgical oncological management of lung cancer, consider multidisciplinary coordination with oncology — Dr. Altorki’s strength is the surgery itself.

Highlight: Top-Ranked National Heart Program, LVAD & Heart Transplant — Upper East Side / East Harlem

Address: 1190 5th Ave, New York, NY 10029

Phone: +1 212-659-6800

Hours: 24/7 for emergencies | Outpatient Mon–Fri

The Mount Sinai Cardiac Surgery Program is consistently ranked among the top programs in the United States by U.S. News & World Report. Surgeons including Dr. David Adams (mitral valve), Dr. Anelechi Anyanwu (mitral and tricuspid), and Dr. Joanna Chikwe (valve and aortic) lead nationally recognized teams. The program performs one of the highest volumes of mitral valve repairs in the country and is a major referral center for LVAD (left ventricular assist device) implantation and heart transplantation. For patients with advanced heart failure or rare congenital conditions requiring multi-disciplinary surgical planning, Mount Sinai is a primary destination.

Highlight: Heart Transplant & MCS Leader, Adult Congenital Heart Surgery — Washington Heights

Address: 177 Fort Washington Ave, New York, NY 10032

Phone: +1 212-305-6380

Hours: 24/7 for emergencies | Outpatient Mon–Fri

Columbia’s Division of Cardiac Surgery at NewYork-Presbyterian is one of the oldest and most distinguished cardiac surgery programs in the United States, performing over 1,500 cardiac operations annually. The program is a national leader in heart transplantation and mechanical circulatory support (LVAD), under the direction of Dr. Yoshifumi Naka. Dr. Hiroo Takayama leads valve-sparing aortic surgery. The adult congenital heart disease surgery program is one of the few in the country that manages patients born with complex cardiac anomalies through their entire adult lives. A destination for the most complex, highest-acuity cardiac surgical cases in New York.