A Message from Robert Michler, MD and Mario Garcia, MD - Heartline Fall 2012 - Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care - New York City

At Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care, technical innovation, surgical expertise and clinical excellence are the hallmarks of our program. These qualities drive our ongoing pursuit of novel treatments, and afford our patients opportunities that they may not find elsewhere.

A prime example of this is transcatheter aortic-valve replacement (TAVR) surgery, a ground-breaking therapy for the treatment of aortic valve disease that is now available at Montefiore. This is a very exciting addition to our repertoire because it means that, for the first time, we can offer patients who were formerly deemed high risk for conventional surgery a promising option for their valvular disease. We are actively evaluating prospective candidates for enrollment in our TAVR program and encourage you to contact 718-920-7000 for more information or to make a referral.

TAVR is just one of the many advanced procedures available to patients through our Comprehensive Heart Valve Repair Program. As leaders in the management of aortic and mitral valve surgery we offer patients from throughout the region the full range of therapeutic options for their condition. We take a multidisciplinary approach to evaluating and caring for patients and hold a proven track record of success-a fact that is exemplified by our participation in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Cardiothoracic Surgery Network's (CTSNet) mitral valve repair trials.

We are proud to announce that we continue to lead the national enrollment in the CTSNet's mitral valve and atrial fibrillation trials, and we look forward to publishing the results of the mitral valve studies, which draw to a close later this year.

Throughout 2011 we maintained our status as a preeminent cardiac care provider, performing more than 1,000 heart surgeries-including 29 heart transplants and 47 mechanical heart procedures (31 implantable and 16 extracorporeal ventricular assist devices)-with exceptional results. In recognition of our excellence in heart surgery outcomes, the Society of Thoracic Surgery awarded us the prestigious 3 Star ranking for the second year in a row, placing Montefiore among the top programs nationally.

We remain firm in our commitment to our patients and community, and over the past year we have significantly expanded our outreach to clinics in the Bronx, South Bronx, Westchester County and Manhattan. We have also developed additional resources, such as our Cardiac Wellness Center, which opened two months ago, with the goal of enhancing the overall cardiovascular health of the people we serve. The Wellness Center is providing critical education and assistance to those who want to reduce their cardiovascular risk factors and change their diets.

Looking forward, we will be hosting our "Success with Heart Failure" conference on October 18 and 19. This conference provides an opportunity for cardiologists and surgeons from across the nation to learn about the clinical decisions associated with heart failure management in adult and pediatric patients.

We will continue to keep you informed about the work being performed here at Montefiore-work that is benefiting patients from around the region and beyond. As always, thank you for your continued support and for the trust you put in our team.

Sincerely,

Robert E. Michler, MD Surgeon-in-Chief, Professor and Chairman, Department of Cardiovascular and Thoracic Surgery and the Department of Surgery Samuel I. Belkin Chair Co-Director, Montefiore Einstein  Center for Heart and Vascular Care		Mario J. Garcia, MD Professor and Chief, Division of Cardiology Pauline Levitt Chair in Medicine Co-Director, Montefiore Einstein Center for Heart and Vascular Care